The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

Recommended Age: older YA readers (16+)

Content Warning(s): death, depression, domestic abuse, miscarriage, murder, rape, suicide

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Book Summary

"Now a Hulu series starring Elizabeth Moss. The Handmaid's Tale is an instant classic and eerily prescient cultural phenomenon, from "the patron saint of feminist dystopian fiction" ( New York Times ) The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men

in its population. The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment’s calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid’s Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and a tour de force."

My Thoughts

The Handmaid’s Tale is a book whose reputation I knew long before I knew anything about the plot. It has long been praised as Margaret Atwood’s best work, which naturally piqued my interest. So, when I was asked to select a book for my English class’s book club during our unit on surveillance and saw The Handmaid’s Tale among the options, my decision was already made. 

I didn’t expect this book to change my understanding of dystopian fiction as much as it did, nor did I anticipate just how many parallels I would find between Gilead and contemporary authoritarian governments. I will admit, though, that because this was a class assignment and I knew I would be assessed on my understanding of the novel, I paid closer attention to its nuances and symbolism than I otherwise might have.

I found myself considering why Atwood chose to depict Gilead the way she did, where her inspiration for the novel came from, and what scenes such as the hanging bodies symbolised—even when doing so made me confront deeply unsettling realities. I was shocked by the way Offred was treated and objectified, by the demeaning nature of her role, and by how easily some people in Gilead were stripped of their humanity and reduced to the function they served. It was even more concerning how normal Gilead’s regime had become to those living inside it, especially once you consider the fact that the regime was relatively new.

As much as this book is praised, and although I absolutely do see the value in reading it, I appreciate The Handmaid’s Tale more for the understanding it gave me than for the experience of reading it. I found the writing dense at times, and it often required patience to uncover Atwood’s deeper meanings. While many readers praise Atwood’s prose, for me, the novel’s greatest strength was its ideas.

Contrary to the common phrase that “the journey matters more than the destination,” I would argue, in this case, the destination is what makes the journey worthwhile. If you are looking for a book with explicit lessons and straightforward takeaways, this may not be the one for you. However, if you are willing to persist through a challenging read and engage with its deeper themes, I highly recommend giving this a chance.

The Handmaid’s Tale was not always an easy read, but it was a deeply thought-provoking one. Even months after finishing it, I find myself thinking about its warnings about power, freedom, and the fragility of the rights we consider to be basic.