In "The Handmaid's Tale," Margaret Atwood explores themes of oppression and control within a dystopian society. The quote, "It's like a fart in church," serves as a metaphor for a disruptive or inappropriate act in a place where decorum is expected. This highlights the tension between individual expression and societal expectations, emphasizing the discomfort caused by breaking social norms.

Atwood's work delves into how silence and repression can suffocate individuality and personal freedom. The analogy suggests that certain truths or behaviors, though natural and honest, may conflict with the rigid structures imposed by a totalitarian regime, underlining the irony and absurdity of such constraints.