Essay About Thinking Of Michel Foucault And Analysis Of Power Structures

Michel Foucaults Influence on the Handmaids Tale
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The Thinking of Michel Foucault about Gender, Society and the BodyWho was Foucault?Foucault has influenced several critical theorists, whom believe that his analysis of power structures may be able to aid the ongoing struggle against inequality French Philosopher, historian of ideas, social theorist, philologist and literary critic, 1926-1984.His theories were mainly relating to the relationship between power and knowledge, and how societal institutions use them as a form of social control – this theme is clearly prominent within The Handmaid’s Tale.Foucault referred to his way of thinking as a critical history of modernity – this is a possible interpretation of the moral message of The Handmaid’s Tale.He has been recognized for his influence of both academic and activist groups, for instance as within post-anarchismFoucault’s Thoughts on Gender:Foucault only makes few references to women or to the issue of gender in his writing – Atwood’s novel is arguably based on this matter. Foucault’s theory that sexuality and the body are merely cultural constructs rather than natural phenomena has made a noticeable contribution to the feminist critique of essentialism – women in The Handmaid’s Tale are often treated as objects with one sole purpose.While feminists have found Foucault’s analysis of the relations between power and the body eye-opening, some have also drawn attention to its limitations; in the point of view of feminist politics that aims to promote women’s autonomy, the Foucauldian account of power to reduce social agents to bodies seems problematic. Others have argued that in his late work he develops a more robust account of subjectivity and resistance which, while not without its problems from a feminist perspective, nevertheless has a lot to offer a feminist politics. Foucault’s Thoughts on Society:Foucault has been seen rejecting the idea of universal morality; he argued against the possibility of any fixed human nature – this idea can be seen expressed within the novel, for we see the inhumane treatment of other fellow human beings, particularly women.He spoke much about the relationship between power and knowledge, claiming that social control is achieved by societal institutions through their use – this idea is overtly illustrated within The Handmaid’s Tale.Foucault’s Thoughts on the Body:Foucaults viewpoint of the body as the principal target of power has been used by feminists to analyze contemporary forms of social control over womens bodies and minds – this is therefore perhaps an inspiration of Atwood for her novel.