The ‘Handmaid’ and the ‘Chambermaid’: A Comparative Analysis of Atwood’s Seminal Novel from a Feminist Perspective

Abstract

This article is an analysis from a feminist perspective of the two Romanian translations of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. By adopting Antoine Berman’s three pronged model of translation criticism, I attempt to identify several differences between the translations. Therefore, it will prove pertinent to see whether the translators adhere to the author’s style, are faithful to the tone, imagery, wordplay and ludic nature of the text, if they prefer to steer clear of more adventurous translation strategies and opt for a source-oriented translation, keeping to the initial structure and employing mostly syntactic strategies. Another important element that surfaces and plays a paramount role is that of the translator’s visibility, more precisely those instances wherein she makes her voice known, be it through an explanatory footnote or, perhaps, a translator’s gloss at the end of the translated text. The translators’ own backgrounds are relevant in the case at hand as well, as their experience and formation influence their preferences for a certain style and translation strategies