Comparative Linguistic Research

Comparative Linguistic Research

The Representation of Power Discourse in The Handmaid's Tale: A Norman Fairclough-Inspired Critical Discourse Analysis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Masoomeh Asadollah Sharifi 1
Zohreh SafaviZadeh Sohi 2
Fatemeh Azimifard 3
Marjan Taheri Osgouei 4
1 PhD Candidate in Linguistics at Takestan Azad University
2 Assistant Professor of Takestan Azad University
3 Researcher at IRIB Research Center
4 Assistant Professor at Takestan Azad University
10.22084/rjhll.2026.31119.2378
Abstract
This study employs Norman Fairclough's critical discourse analysis framework to examine the linguistic dimensions of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. The research follows a three-tiered analytical approach: (1) examination of formal and structural textual features; (2) identification of dominant discourses and their representation of power relations through language; and (3) explanation of hegemonic reproduction and resistance processes. The findings reveal Atwood's masterful use of linguistic devices to portray the power-resistance dialectic. Within this discursive arena, the Gileadean regime manipulates language to consolidate its dominance, while the narrator's subversion of the established discursive order creates possibilities for resistance. This study highlights the efficacy of critical discourse analysis in uncovering the hidden layers of power relations within literary texts.
Keywords
Critical Discourse Analysis
Ideology
Norman Fairclough
Power Discourse
The Handmaid’s Tale
Subjects