Summary by Goodreads:
Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now…
“…remember that forgiveness too is power.”
My Thoughts:
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel told from the POV of a Handmaid named Offred. It is beautifully written. Atwood is able to take simple things and transform them into the most beautiful images with just her words. She is able to take a human emotion and describe it so accurately. Many times, I remember thinking to myself, “That’s exactly how I would describe that feeling, but I could have never come up with that explanation myself.” Just the writing, the unique view into the rawness of human emotion, and the way Atwood is able to show feelings so impeccably makes this book worth the read. And I haven’t even gotten into the amazing story yet.
The storyline kept me entranced from the very first page to the very last page, even beyond. You know when you’re so obsessed with a book you start googling every little thing about it just so it doesn’t have to end? That was me. I even stole away to the bathroom at work to read. I could never really guess what was going to happen next, which I really enjoyed. I loved the language of the story and, as mentioned before, the beautiful metaphors. The way Atwood knit her words together is a rare find. I also really enjoyed being able to see so deeply into the main character’s mind and hearing her genuine thoughts. Her thoughts sometimes jump all over the place, which was confusing at first, but as I read on it became more relatable, understandable and authentic.
(Mature content ahead. Trigger warning.)
This novel was written in the 1980s and took place in the not-so-far-off future. Yet what our society is going through in this exact moment in time is eerily similar to the novel that was written decades ago. Pro-choice is a huge part of the novel. Offred’s mother was a female activist supporting women choosing what women wanted to do with their own bodies. But according to the “Aunts” (the women teaching the Handmaids about their new lives) the birthrate went down because of abortions. So the “government” took it to the extreme and made it so women’s only duty was to replenish the earth. Odd how it’s decades later and we are still having the same debate and men are still trying to tell women what to do with their bodies.
Another instance in the novel that pertains to this day and age is concerning rape. (This novel does have a lot of mature themes, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you are easily triggered.) The women are taught that if they are raped it’s their own fault, that either a woman led these men to want to sexually abuse her or it is her punishment from God. Still, to this day, people will try to say it was a woman’s fault she was sexually assaulted. “She gave me a look,” or, “Her shorts were just so short.” So, are we going down the same path as The Handmaid’s Tale? Are we, too, going to live under male rule, men telling women what to do with their bodies, and women only being good for reproduction? I don’t believe that, but it’s interesting to see the similarities in this book and our society.
Side note…read the “Historical Notes on The Handmaid’s Tale” for the ending to make more sense. I wasn’t going to read it at first because I wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but then I realized it’s still a part of the novel and story itself.
This book inspired me to be a strong female. Even when all seemed hopeless, Offred never forgot who she really was. She never let herself get brainwashed. Offred would do anything for her daughter, which she did, but she also learned to do things for herself. No matter how horrible your situation is you can still find a way out, you can still be at peace with yourself, you can still be strong and be who you truly are inside.
“You can’t help what you feel…but you can help how you behave.”
I recommend this book to…
…those looking for a deeper read. I would recommend this book for book clubs because it has a lot of topics for discussion and debate. I think most women and men should read this book. At one point it was being read in high schools and colleges, I believe, and I don’t disagree with that. It is a dystopian novel that forewarns against the future, illuminates the mistreatment of women, and eerily mirrors what is going on in our society today. This book is not only entertaining and unique, but it’s also educational and beautiful.
Comfort Guide:
Mild swearing. Seven uses of the “F” word. Whole novel is based around mature themes such as sex, abortion, and the mistreatment of women. Several scenes of sex, but not explicitly described. Scene of childbirth. Several scenes of mild violence. Novel has an overall dark tone.
Info:
Author – Margaret Atwood
Published — 1986
Page Count – 311