Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The modern day classic that has American citizens crying out for change.

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@shereadsbooks.sometimes

Dates read: 13/10/24 to 03/01/25

Word to describe: Discouraging

Star rating:⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Dystopian, Political Fiction, Science Fiction

Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, death, murder, religion extremity, domestic violence, homophobia, societal downfall, child kidnapping, mention of abortion, suicide and self harm.

In the ultimate dystopian Margaret Atwood predicts a future where women have no rights. Where reproductive rights are stripped away and only those with riches can be deemed fit for parenthood. When young and fertile women are dressed in red robes and white winged hats to cover their faces and are forced into sexual servitude to the rich families. Where abortions are banned, religions outside of Christianity is demonic, "non-essential" medical care is banned, women's reproductive health is only a means for male gain (oh wait - that's just modern day America let me find the right topic). Despite my middle rating of this book I can appreciate it's significance and the parallels between the unthinkable in the plot and modern day society.

The Handmaid's Tale is a revolutionary piece of literature, handed out to impressionable teens to study as they take their exams and ponder the relevance of the tale in modern day society. We live in a world where around the globe changes are happening that are making people turn towards dystopian novels like George Orwell's 1984 and, of course, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

Offred is a handmaiden though she hasn't always been. She reminisces about life pre Gilead and her young daughter, her husband, her friends, and her mother yet, when reality comes crashing down, Offred is of-Fred owned by her Commander and his wife, Serena Joy. Her fertility is her currency and the only thing that protects her. If she fails to birth her commander's child she risks social ostracising and being sent to the colonies to work amongst nuclear waste and the devastation of war. So, she stays quiet. Offred performs her religious ritual of intercourse with her commanders whilst resting her body on top of Serena Joy and thinking of anything but how demeaning the situation is. She is a rule follower - and always meant to be until hope makes an appearance.

Margaret Atwood creates a world in which despair reigns and human rights are stripped and brings the reader on a journey between the past and the present to watch the fall of civilisation and the rise of religious extremists. The shocking aspect of this book though, is not that it shows an extreme situation it is that it displays the small changes over many years that enable this fall of democracy to occur. It seemed easy. For feminists and activists fighting around the world this book represents the ultimate dystopia. Atwood is a fantastic writer and displays her gift with a story that showcases the world at its worst.

Each of Atwood's characters are written with deliberate care. And if you've ever been an English Literature student like I was you will easily recognise the importance of the characters representing different tropes and situations. Each character in the book, despite their ranking, is a victim. Serena Joy is a victim of age and is used to represent infertility and the views that women are undesirable past their fertility years (a common theme which is becoming more prevalent in today's media). Offred is a victim of circumstance, she represents the opposite side of Serena Joy - Offred is fertility and youth but it is used as a weapon against her. Moira is a victim of her sexuality and feminism, her strength becomes her weakness when she is used as a prostitute after failing to run and being deemed unworthy of being a handmaid. In short, all women are fucked in The Handmaid's Tale.

So, in short, The Handmaid's Tale represents the ultimate dystopia but one that will only affect women and one that many fear is coming our way. We must fight for abortion rights, for women's rights (and men's!), we must fight for future children and not fall victim to extremity.