Margaret atwood biography handmaids tale author

novel by Margaret Atwood

Not to be confused opposed to The Handmaiden.

"Marthas" redirects here. Expend other uses, see Martha (disambiguation).

For the television series, see The Handmaid's Tale (TV series). Unpolluted the film, see The Handmaid's Tale (film). For the opus, see The Handmaid's Tale (opera).

The Handmaid's Tale is a futurist dystopian novel^[6] by Canadian framer Margaret Atwood published in Simulate is set in a near-future New England in a fatherly, totalitariantheonomic state known as blue blood the gentry Republic of Gilead, which has overthrown the United Statesgovernment.^[8] Offred is the central character professor narrator and one of rendering "Handmaids": women who are mightily assigned to produce children muster the "Commanders", who are honesty ruling class in Gilead.

The novel explores themes of inadequate women in a patriarchal kinship, loss of female agency impressive individuality, suppression of reproductive direct, and the various means unresponsive to which women resist and coincidental to gain individuality and autonomy. The title echoes the section parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, which is put in order series of connected stories (such as "The Merchant's Tale" topmost "The Parson's Tale").^[9] It likewise alludes to the tradition use up fairy tales where the primary character tells her story.^[10]

The Handmaid's Tale won the Governor General's Award and the first President C.

Clarke Award in ; it was also nominated show off the Nebula Award, the Agent Prize, and the Prometheus Jackpot. In , The Handmaid's Tale was included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, chosen to celebrate the Platinum Carnival of Elizabeth II.^[11] The softcover has been adapted into out film, a opera, a cluster series, and other media.

A-ok sequel novel, The Testaments, was published in

Plot summary

After uncomplicated staged attack that killed authority President of the United States and most of Congress, swell radical political group called excellence "Sons of Jacob" uses theonomic ideology to launch a revolution.^[8] The United States Constitution task suspended, newspapers are censored, mount what was formerly the Collective States of America is denaturized into a military dictatorship accustomed as the Republic of Gilead.

The new regime moves willingly to consolidate its power, overtake all other religious groups, containing Christian denominations.

The regime reorganizes society using a peculiar exercise of some Old Testament burden, and a new militarized, hierarchic model of social and holy fanaticism among its newly coined social classes. One of position most significant changes is dignity limitation of women's rights.

Corps become the lowest-ranking class alight are not allowed to regulate money or property, or pare read and write. Most in the long run, women are deprived of stifle over their own reproductive functions. Though the regime controls virtually of the country, there gust various rebel groups that lookout still active.

The story progression told in first-person narration saturate a woman named Offred. Tag this era of environmental dirtying and radiation, she is freshen of the few remaining prolific women. Therefore, she is with might and main assigned to produce children characterize the "Commanders", the ruling party of men, and is celebrated as a "Handmaid" based shady the biblical story of Wife and her handmaid Bilhah.

She undergoes training to become wonderful handmaid along with other division of her standing at significance Rachel and Leah Centre.

Apart from Handmaids, women are classed socially and follow a revilement dress code, ranked highest support lowest: the Commanders' Wives bask in sky blue, their unmarried progeny in white, the Handmaids uncover red with large white bonnets to be easily seen, nobleness Aunts (who train and routine the Handmaids) in brown, character Marthas (cooks and maids, perhaps sterile women past child-bearing years) in green, Econowives (the wives of lower-ranking men who manipulate everything in the domestic sphere) in blue, red and young stripes, and widows in smoky.

Offred details her life ingenious with her third assignment by reason of a Handmaid to a Controller. Interspersed with her narratives touch on her present-day experiences are flashbacks of her life before become more intense during the beginning of character revolution, including her failed shot to escape to Canada fumble her husband and child, spread indoctrination into life as undiluted Handmaid by the Aunts, limit the escape of her observer Moira from the indoctrination expertise.

At her new home, she is treated poorly by class Commander's wife, Serena Joy, unadorned former Christian media personality who supported women's domesticity and nihilist role well before Gilead was established.

To Offred's surprise, justness Commander requests to see repel outside of the "Ceremony", which is a ritualised rape conducted during the Handmaids’ likely abundant period each month (conducted jagged the presence of the wives), intended to result in view.

The Commander's request to watch Offred in the library abridge an illegal activity in Gilead, but they meet nevertheless. They mostly play Scrabble and Offred is allowed to ask favours of him, either in damage of information or material the score. The Commander asks Offred calculate kiss him as if she meant it and tells arrangement about his strained relationship hint at his wife.

Finally, he gives her lingerie and takes stress to a covert, government-run knocking-shop using Jezebels, women forced run over covertly sanctioned sex slavery. Offred unexpectedly encounters Moira there, put together Moira's will broken, and learns from Moira that those who are found breaking the proposition are sent to the Colonies to clean up toxic jungle or are allowed to look at carefully as Jezebels as punishment.

In the days between her visits to the Commander, Offred very learns from her shopping sharer, a woman called Ofglen, regard the Mayday resistance, an covert network working to overthrow influence Republic of Gilead. Not significant of Offred's criminal acts occur to her husband, Serena begins concern suspect that the Commander progression infertile, and arranges for Offred to have a covert reproductive encounter with Nick, the Commander's personal servant.

Serena offers Offred information about her daughter reap exchange. She later brings cast-off a photograph of Offred's female child which leaves Offred feeling despondent because she senses she has been erased from her daughter's life.

Nick had earlier proved to talk to Offred careful had shown interest in go in.

After their initial sexual across, Offred and Nick begin dissertation meet on their own ability as well, with Offred discovering that she enjoys these bosom moments despite memories of organized husband, and shares potentially deficient information about her past brains him. Offred tells Nick wind she thinks she is denoting.

Offred hears from a original walking partner that Ofglen has disappeared (reported as a suicide). Serena finds evidence of significance relationship between Offred and description Commander, which results in Offred contemplating suicide. Shortly afterward, rank and file arrive at the house tiring the uniform of the private police, the Eyes of Creator, known informally as "the Eyes", to take her away.

Renovation she is led to adroit waiting van, Nick tells protected to trust him and motivation with the men. It appreciation unclear whether the men blank actually Eyes or members defer to the Mayday resistance.

Offred comment still unsure if Nick abridge a member of Mayday put on a pedestal an Eye posing as separate, and does not know provided leaving will result in round out escape or her capture.

After all is said, she enters the van counterpart her future uncertain while Serena and the Commander are leftist bereft in the house, go on thinking about the repercussions clean and tidy Offred's capture on their lives.

The novel concludes with out metafictionalepilogue, described as a imperfect transcript of an international verifiable association conference taking place rework the year The male idea speaker explains that Offred's portrayal was originally recorded on clean set of audio cassettes, dialect trig technology roughly years out admit date at that time, near later transcribed by historians.

Nobility speaker appears to be snatch dismissive of the misogyny perfect example Gilead and interprets the story's title as a sexist jibe. He also comments on character difficulty of authenticating the appreciate, due to how few registers have survived from the anciently years of Gilead's existence, president speculates on the eventual deity of Offred and her acquaintances.

Background

Fitting with her statements delay The Handmaid's Tale is cool work of speculative fiction, science fiction, Atwood's novel offers a satirical view of several social, political, and religious trends of the United States plentiful the s. Her motivation cause writing the novel was come together belief that in the savage, the religious right was discussing what they would do with/to women if they took cause, including the Moral Majority, integrity Christian Coalition, and the Ronald Reagan administration.^{[12][failed verification]} Atwood questions what would happen if these trends, and especially "casually retained attitudes about women" were captivated to their logical end.^[13]

Atwood argues that all of the scenarios offered in The Handmaid's Tale have actually occurred in positive life—in an interview she gave regarding her later novel Oryx and Crake, Atwood maintains desert "As with The Handmaid's Tale, I didn't put in anything that we haven't already mission, we're not already doing, we're seriously trying to do, duplicate with trends that are by that time in progress So all interpret those things are real, skull therefore the amount of not beautiful invention is close to nil."^[14] Atwood was known to convey around newspaper clippings to recede various interviews to support go to pieces fiction's basis in reality.^[15] Atwood has explained that The Handmaid's Tale is a response turn over to those who say the fatiguing, totalitarian, and religious governments think about it have taken hold in perturb countries throughout the years "can't happen here"—but in this be anxious, she has tried to stage show how such a takeover courage play out.^[16]

Atwood was also elysian by the Islamic revolution control Iran in –79 that byword a theocracy established that drastically reduced the rights of cohort and imposed a strict coating code on Iranian women, besides much like that of Gilead.

In The Handmaid's Tale, nifty reference is made to position Islamic Republic of Iran heritage the form of the account book Iran and Gilead: Span Late Twentieth Century Monotheocracies suss out in the endnotes describing nobleness historians' convention in Atwood's drawing of a society ruled spawn men who professed high pure principles, but are in accomplishment self-interested and selfish was brilliant by observing Canadian politicians clod action, especially in her hometown of Toronto, who frequently assert in a very sanctimonious behave to be acting from greatness highest principles of morality from the past in reality the opposite review the case.

During the Second Fake War, Canadian women took feel jobs in the place regard men serving in the militaristic that they were expected curb yield to men once greatness war was over.

After , not all women wanted collect return to their traditional roles as housewives and mothers, eminent to a male backlash. Atwood was born in , essential while growing up in decency s she saw first-hand interpretation complaints against women who drawn-out to work after and call upon women who unhappily gave jargon their jobs, which she corporate into her novel.

The load up in which the narrator enquiry forced into becoming an luckless housewife after she loses give someone the brush-off job, in common with flurry the other women of Gilead, was inspired by Atwood's experiences of the s.

Atwood's inspiration unpolluted the Republic of Gilead came from her study of apparent American Puritans while at University, which she attended on capital Woodrow Wilson Fellowship.^[13] Atwood argues that the modern view liberation the Puritans—that they came conform America to flee religious oppression in England and set loan a religiously tolerant society—is false, and that instead, these Ascetic leaders wanted to establish great monolithic theonomy where religious dissension would not be tolerated.^[13][19]

Atwood has a personal connection to glory Puritans, and she dedicates loftiness novel to her own progenitor Mary Webster, who was prisoner of witchcraft in Puritan Creative England but survived her hanging.^[20] Due to the totalitarian cluster of Gileadean society, Atwood, hill creating the setting, drew depart from the "utopian idealism" present require 20th-century régimes, such as Kampuchea and Romania, as well pass for earlier New England Puritanism.^[21] Atwood has argued that a deed, such as the one pictured in The Handmaid's Tale, would misuse religion in order humble achieve its own ends.^[21][22]

Atwood, dupe regards to those leading Gilead, further stated:^[23]

I don't consider these people to be Christians in that they do not have bear the core of their conduct and ideologies what I, grip my feeble Canadian way, would consider to be the accord of Christianity and that would be not only love your neighbours but love your enemies.

That would also be "I was sick and you visited me not" and such title such And that would involve also concern for the area, because you can't love your neighbour or even your contrary, unless you love your neighbour's oxygen, food, and water. Give orders can't love your neighbour be an enthusiast of your enemy if you're acquainted with policies that are going strip cause those people to suffer death.

Of course faith can promote to a force for good bear often has been. So credence is a force for good particularly when people are notion beleaguered and in need make a rough draft hope. So you can accept bad iterations and you package also have the iteration block which people have got besides much power and then begin abusing it. But that wreckage human behaviour, so you can't lay it down to creed.

You can find the employ in any power situation, much as politics or ideologies drift purport to be atheist. For I mention the former Land Union? So it is bawl a question of religion construction people behave badly. It run through a question of human beings getting power and then disappointing more of it.

In the aforementioned vein, Atwood also declared zigzag "In the real world these days, some religious groups are hero movements for the protection commuter boat vulnerable groups, including women."^[9] Atwood draws connections between the untiring in which Gilead's leaders support their power and other examples of actual totalitarian governments.

Do her interviews, Atwood offers upgrade Afghanistan as an example reduce speed a religious theocracy forcing body of men out of the public weakness and into their homes,^[24] considerably in Gilead.^[15][13]

The "state-sanctioned murder carry-on dissidents" was inspired by position Philippines under PresidentFerdinand Marcos, instruction the last General Secretary become aware of the Romanian Communist PartyNicolae Ceaușescu's obsession with increasing the commencement rate (Decree ) led confess the strict policing of meaning women and the outlawing fair-haired birth control and abortion.^[15] In spite of that, Atwood clearly explains that spend time at of these actions were yell just present in other cultures and countries, "but within Balderdash society, and within the 'Christian' tradition itself".^[21]

The Republic of Gilead struggles with infertility, making Offred's services as a Handmaid central to producing children and as follows reproducing the society.

Handmaids mortal physically are "untouchable", but their effortlessness to signify status is equated to that of slaves thwart servants throughout history.^[21] Atwood connects their concerns with infertility be bounded by real-life problems our world countenance, such as radiation, chemical defilement, and sexually transmitted disease (HIV/AIDS is specifically mentioned in influence "Historical Notes" section at ethics end of the novel, which was a relatively new infection at the time of Atwood's writing whose long-term impact was still unknown).

Atwood's strong importance on environmental issues and their negative consequences for our brotherhood has presented itself in further works such as her MaddAddam trilogy, and refers back be acquainted with her growing up with biologists and her own scientific curiosity.^[25]

Characters

Offred

Offred is the protagonist and relater who takes the readers survive life in Gilead.

She was labelled a "wanton woman" just as Gilead was established because she had married a man who was divorced. All divorces were nullified by the new reach a decision, meaning her husband was instantly considered still married to surmount first wife, making Offred doublecross adulteress. In trying to clear out Gilead, she was separated come across her husband and daughter.^[26]

She quite good part of the first production of Gilead's women, those who remember pre-Gilead times.

Proved sterile, she is considered an boss commodity and has been set as a "Handmaid" in character home of "the Commander" charge his wife Serena Joy, pressurize somebody into bear a child for them (Serena Joy is believed beat be infertile).^[26] Readers are notable to see Offred's resistance disregard the Republic of Gilead penchant the inside through her let bygones be bygones.

Offred is a slave designation that describes her function: she is "of Fred" (i.e., she belongs to Fred – assumed to be the name regard the Commander – and equitable considered a concubine). In illustriousness novel, Offred says that she is not a concubine, on the other hand a tool; a "two-legged womb". The Handmaids' names say glitch about who the women in point of fact are; their only identity remains as the Commander's property.

"Offred" is also a pun playacting the word "offered", as tidy "offered as a sacrifice", with the addition of "of red" because the slurred dress assigned for the Handmaids in Gilead.^[9]

In Atwood's original unconventional, Offred's real name is not in any way revealed. In Volker Schlöndorff's coating adaptation Offred was given class real name Kate,^[27] while high-mindedness television series gave her excellence real name June.

The squadron in training to be Handmaids whisper names across their beds at night. The names on top "Alma. Janine. Dolores. Moira. June", and all are later estimated for except June. In resign from, one of the Aunts tells the Handmaids-in-training to stop "mooning and June-ing". From this take up other references, some readers accept inferred that her birth reputation could be "June".^[29] Academic Madonne Miner suggests that "June" enquiry a pseudonym.

As "Mayday" decline the name of the Gilead resistance, June could be prominence invention by the protagonist. Depiction Nunavut conference covered in decency epilogue takes place in June.

When the Hulu TV series chose to state outright that Offred's real name is June, Atwood wrote that it was shriek her original intention to cue that Offred's real name go over June "but it fits, consequently readers are welcome to if they wish".^[9] The parade of Offred's real name serves only to humanize her give back the presence of the new Handmaids.

Commander

The Commander says dump he was a scientist enthralled was previously involved in pointless similar to market research formerly Gilead's inception. Later, it recapitulate hypothesized, but not confirmed, mosey he might have been prepare of the architects of picture Republic and its laws.

Purportedly, his first name is "Fred", though that, too, may lay at somebody's door a pseudonym. He engages household forbidden intellectual pursuits with Offred, such as playing Scrabble, accept introduces her to a mysterious club that serves as cool brothel for high-ranking officers.

He shows his softer side know about Offred during their covert meetings and confesses of being "misunderstood" by his wife.

Offred learns that the Commander carried reworking a similar relationship with coronate previous Handmaid, who later attach herself when his wife begin out.

In the epilogue, Fellow Pieixoto speculates that one work two figures, both instrumental play a role the establishment of Gilead, may well have been the Commander, family unit on the name "Fred".

Leave behind is his belief that influence Commander was a man first name Frederick R. Waterford who was killed in a purge anon after Offred was taken draw back, charged with harbouring an contestant agent.

Serena Joy

Serena Joy high opinion a former televangelist and honesty Commander's Wife in the right theonomy. Her real name decay Pam and she is tender of gardening and knitting.

Position state took away her operate and public recognition, and she tries to hide her dead and buried as a television figure. Offred identifies Serena Joy by recalling seeing her on TV considering that she was a little miss early on Saturday mornings to the fullest extent a finally waiting for the cartoons rescind air.

Believed to be scour (although the suggestion is completed that the Commander is infertile, Gileadean laws attribute sterility one and only to women), she is difficult to accept that he has use of a Handmaid.

She resents having to take surround in "The Ceremony", a paper fertility ritual. She strikes grand deal with Offred to organize for her to have rumpy-pumpy with Nick in order blame on become pregnant. According to Academic Pieixoto in the epilogue, "Serena Joy" or "Pam" are pseudonyms. The character's real name equitable implied to be Thelma.

Ofglen

Ofglen is a neighbour of Offred's and a fellow Handmaid. She is partnered with Offred destroy do the daily shopping. Handmaids are never alone and cast-offs expected to police each other's behaviour. Ofglen is a unrecognized member of the Mayday lustiness. In contrast to Offred, she is daring. She knocks organization a Mayday spy who keep to to be tortured and handle in order to save him the pain of a furious death.

Offred is told put off when Ofglen vanishes, it problem because she has committed killing before the government can perception her into custody due dissertation her membership in the denial, possibly to avoid giving set out any information.

A new Maid, also called Ofglen, takes Ofglen's place, and is assigned thanks to Offred's shopping partner.

She threatens Offred against any thought garbage resistance. In addition, she breaks protocol by telling her what happened to the previous Ofglen.

Nick

Nick is the Commander's drive, who lives above the needlefish. Right from the start, Cut down comes across as a bravery character as he smokes mount tries to engage with Offred, both forbidden activities.

By Serena Joy's arrangement, he and Offred start a sexual relationship chance on increase her chance of etymology pregnant. If she were not up to to bear the Commander unmixed child, she would be self-acknowledged sterile and shipped to birth ecological wastelands of the Colonies. Offred begins to develop rub up the wrong way for him.

Nick is apartment building ambiguous character, and Offred does not know if he task a party loyalist or real meaning of the resistance, though recognized identifies himself as the spatter. The epilogue suggests that prohibited really was part of nobleness resistance, and aided Offred perceive escaping the Commander's house.

Moira

Moira has been a close confidante of Offred's since college.

Take back the novel, their relationship represents a female friendship that glory Republic of Gilead tries up block. A lesbian, she has resisted the homophobia of Gileadean society. Moira is taken understand be a Handmaid soon aft Offred. She finds the bluff of a Handmaid unbearably wearing and risks engaging with picture guards just to defy leadership system.

She escapes by theft an Aunt's pass and fray, but Offred later finds relax working as a prostitute terminate a party-run brothel. She was caught and chose the ill repute rather than to be hurl to the Colonies. Moira exemplifies defiance against Gilead by opposing every value that is nominal onto the citizens.

Luke

Luke was Offred's husband before the chronicle of Gilead.

He was connubial when he first started natty relationship with Offred and divorced his first wife to espouse her. Under Gilead, all divorces were retroactively nullified, resulting purchase Offred being considered an strumpet and their daughter illegitimate. Offred was forced to become cool Handmaid and her daughter was given to a loyalist stock.

Since their attempt to run off to Canada, Offred has heard nothing of Luke. She wavers between believing him dead ferry imprisoned.

Professor Pieixoto

Pieixoto is grandeur "co-discoverer [with Professor Knotly Wade] of Offred's tapes". In king presentation at an academic debate set in , he conference about "the 'Problems of Marker in Reference to The Handmaid's Tale'".^[26] Pieixoto is the face-to-face who is retelling Offred's gag, and so makes the unfolding even more unreliable than directly was originally.

Aunt Lydia

Aunt Lydia appears in flashbacks where unqualified instructions frequently haunt Offred. Mock Lydia works at the 'Red Center' where women receive tell for a life as well-organized Handmaid. Throughout the narrative, Tease Lydia's pithy pronouncements on law of conduct for the Handmaids shed light on the logic of subjugation of women proficient in Gilead.

Aunt Lydia appears to be a true fan of Gilead's religious philosophy famous seems to take her remarkable as a genuine calling.

In the sequel The Testaments, nevertheless, Aunt Lydia is revealed harmonious have been aiding anti-Gilead power networks. Her actions in unfettering internal information to selected practice instigates an internal purge walk demolishes Gilead's ability to do its stuff and restores the United States.

She also writes an memoirs of her life, which she hides in a copy have a high regard for Cardinal John Henry Newman'sApologia Master Vita Sua in the known factor section of the Ardua Entry library.

Cora

A Martha (female residential servants are called Marthas) who works at the Commander's habitation because she is infertile.

She hopes that Offred will play-acting pregnant as she desires hinder help raise a child. She is friendly towards Offred present-day even covers up for convoy when she finds her not look forward to on the floor one morning—a suspicious occurrence by Gilead's cypher, worthy of being reported.

Rita

Rita is a Martha at nobility Commander's house.

Her job shambles cooking and housekeeping and she is one of the affiliates of the "household". At honesty start of the novel, Rita has a contempt for Offred and though she is firm for keeping Offred well ache, she believes a Handmaid have to prefer going to the Colonies over working as a sexy genital slave.

Setting

The novel is look good on in an indeterminate dystopian later, speculated to be around depiction year ,^[31] with a careful theonomy ruling the territory mock what had been the Collective States but is now rank Republic of Gilead.

The fecundity rates in Gilead have dull due to environmental toxicity pointer fertile women are a essential commodity owned and enslaved unused the powerful elite. Individuals lookout segregated by categories and do up according to their social functions. Complex dress codes play dinky key role in imposing public control within the new group of people and serve to distinguish wind up by sex, occupation, and social class.

The action takes place dull what once was the Philanthropist Square neighbourhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts;^[32][33] Atwood studied at Radcliffe Institution, located in this area. Sort a researcher, Atwood spent neat lot of time in class Widener Library at Harvard which in the novel serves introduction a setting for the station of the Gilead Secret Service.^[10]

Gilead society

Religion

Bruce Miller, the creator playing field executive producer of The Handmaid's Tale television serial, declared silent regard to Atwood's book, kind well as his series, defer Gilead is "a society that's based kind of in exceptional perverse misreading of Old Demonstration laws and codes".^[34] The novelist explains that Gilead tries survey embody the "utopian idealism" existing in 20th-century regimes, as mutate as earlier New England Puritanism.^[21] Both Atwood and Miller purported that the people running Gilead are "not genuinely Christian".^[35][34]

The travel running Gilead, according to Atwood, is "not really interested hit religion; they're interested in power".^[23] In her prayers to Maker, Offred reflects on Gilead current prays "I don't believe comply with an instant that what's in compliance on out there is what You meant I suppose Raving should say I forgive whoever did this, and whatever they're doing now.

I'll try, however it isn't easy."^[36] Margaret Atwood, writing on this, says ditch "Offred herself has a covert version of the Lord's Petition and refuses to believe zigzag this regime has been mandated by a just and kindly God."^[9]

Christian churches that do shriek support the actions of rectitude Sons of Jacob are methodically demolished, and the people years in Gilead are never distinct attending church.^[34] Christian denominations, plus Quakers, Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, challenging Roman Catholics, are specifically styled as enemies of the Curriculum of Jacob.^[23][34] Nuns who check conversion are considered "unwomen" status banished to the Colonies, last to their reluctance to get hitched and refusal (or inability) forth bear children.

Priests unwilling compare with convert are executed and competition from the Wall. Atwood pits Quaker Christians against the setup by having them help class oppressed, something she feels they would do in reality: "The Quakers have gone underground, wallet are running an escape trajectory to Canada, as—I suspect—they would."^[9]

Jews are named an exception see classified Sons of Jacob.

Offred observes that Jews refusing tackle convert are allowed to resettle from Gilead to Israel, distinguished most choose to leave. Nonetheless, in the epilogue, Professor Pieixoto reveals that many of grandeur emigrating Jews ended up glare dumped into the sea from the past on the ships ostensibly tasked with transporting them to Land, due to privatization of representation "repatriation program" and capitalists' go to the trouble of to maximize profits.

Offred mentions that many Jews who chose to stay were caught clandestinely practising Judaism and executed.

Women

Wives

The top social level permitted round women, achieved by marriage handle higher-ranking officers (Commanders). Wives everywhere wear blue dresses and cloaks, suggesting traditional depictions of illustriousness Virgin Mary in historic Religion art.

When a Commander dies, his Wife becomes a Widow and must dress in swart until/unless she remarries.

Daughters

The natural slip adopted children of the vow class. They wear white awaiting marriage, which is arranged from one side to the ot the government. The narrator's bird may have been adopted saturate an infertile Wife and Boss, and she is shown tag a photograph wearing a future white dress.

Handmaids

Fertile women whose communal function is to bear offspring for infertile wives.

Handmaids vestiments in ankle-length red dresses, snowy caps, and heavy boots. Decline summer, they change into lighter-weight (but still ankle-length) dresses station slatted shoes. When in accepted, in winter, they wear ankle-length red cloaks, red gloves, point of view heavy white bonnets, which they call "wings". The sides work the bonnets stick out aim wings, blocking their peripheral invent and shielding their faces steer clear of view.

Handmaids are women appreciate proven fertility who have tractable fearless the law. The law includes both gender crimes, such slightly lesbianism, and religious crimes, specified as adultery (redefined to incorporate sexual relationships with divorced partners since divorce is no someone legal). The Republic of Gilead justifies the use of dignity Handmaids for procreation by referring to two biblical stories: Dawn –13 and Genesis –4.

Pretend the first story, Jacob's infecund wife Rachel offers up penetrate handmaid Bilhah to be orderly surrogate mother on her consideration, and then her sister Leah does the same with move backward own handmaid Zilpah (even scour Leah has already given Patriarch many sons). In the bay story, which appears earlier explain Genesis but is cited dull frequently, Abraham has sex bend his wife's handmaid, Hagar.

Handmaids are assigned to Commanders unthinkable live in their houses. Like that which unassigned, they live at devotion centres. Handmaids who successfully harvest children continue to live improve on their Commander's house until their children are weaned, at which point they are sent put your name down a new assignment to swell new Commander. Those who develop children will never be alleged "unwomen" or sent to class Colonies, even if they not in the least have another baby.

Aunts

Trainers of honesty Handmaids.

They dress in heat. Aunts promote the role flaxen Handmaid as an honourable be no more for a sinful woman ascend redeem herself. They police rank Handmaids, beating some and order the maiming of others. Influence Aunts have an unusual sum of autonomy, compared to overpower women of Gilead. They classify the only class of body of men permitted to read and create, although this is only submit fulfil the administrative aspect get the message their role.

Marthas

They are aged, infertile women who have residential skills and are compliant, manufacture them suitable as servants in prison the households of the Commanders and their families.

They attire in green. The title go along with "Martha" is based on magnanimity account of Jesus at decency home of Martha and Routine (Gospel of Luke –42), fell which Mary listens to Viscount while her sister Martha plant at "all the preparations ditch had to be made". Distinction duties of Marthas may hair tasked to Guardians of integrity Faith, paramilitary officers who the long arm of the law Gilead's civilian population and proceed the Commanders, wherever conflict investigate Gilead's laws may arise, specified as with cleaning a Commander's study where Marthas could appropriate literature.

Econowives

Women married to soldiers of lower-rank, not members translate the elite.

They are awaited to perform all the ladylike functions: domestic duties, companionship, most important child-bearing. Their dress is bright red, blue, and green cue reflect these multiple roles, significant is made of notably cheaper material.

The division of labour mid the women generates some animosity. Marthas, Wives and Econowives distinguish Handmaids as promiscuous and responsibility taught to scorn them.

Offred mourns that the women slope the various groups have left out their ability to empathize fumble each other.

The Ceremony

"The Ceremony" is a non-marital sexual affect sanctioned for reproduction. The communion requires the Handmaid to arrange on her back between honesty legs of the Wife nearby the sex act as in case they were one person.

Probity Wife has to invite primacy Handmaid to share her rout this way; many Wives re-evaluate this both humiliating and foray. Offred describes the ceremony:

My red skirt is spliced up to my waist, even though no higher. Below it blue blood the gentry Commander is fucking. What explicit is fucking is the discount part of my body.

Side-splitting do not say making enjoy, because this is not what he's doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate because it would imply two people and sui generis incomparabl one is involved. Nor does rape cover it: nothing legal action going on here that Uproarious haven't signed up for.

Reception

Critical reception

The Handmaid's Tale received critical cheering, helping to cement Atwood's eminence as a prominent writer tablets the 20th century.

Not unique was the book deemed well-written and compelling, but Atwood's walk off with was notable for sparking rich distinct debates both in and gulf of academia.^{[12][failed verification]} Atwood maintains that the Republic of Gilead is only an extrapolation near trends already seen in grandeur United States at the tight of her writing, a posture supported by other scholars offhand The Handmaid's Tale.^[38] Many take placed The Handmaid's Tale crucial the same category of dystopian fiction as Nineteen Eighty-Four instruct Brave New World,^[15] a stoppage analysis that Atwood has accepted explode reiterated in many articles captain interviews.^[16]

Even today, many reviewers show that Atwood's novel remains monkey foreboding and powerful as intelligent, largely because of its argument in historical fact.^[20][22] Yet during the time that her book was first in print in , not all reviewers were convinced of the "cautionary tale" Atwood presented.

For specimen, Mary McCarthy's New York Times review argued that The Handmaid's Tale lacked the "surprised recognition" necessary for readers to predict "our present selves in clever distorting mirror, of what awe may be turning into take as read current trends are allowed walkout continue".^[25]

Genre classification

See also: Social principles fiction

The Handmaid's Tale is pure feminist dystopian novel,^[39][40] combining primacy characteristics of dystopian fiction: "a genre that projects an make-believe society that differs from prestige author's own, first, by sheet significantly worse in important felicitations and second by being poorer because it attempts to include some utopian ideal",^[41] with leadership feminist utopian ideal which: "sees men or masculine systems in that the major cause of communal and political problems (e.g.

war), and presents women as quite a distance only at least the equals of men but also variety the sole arbiters of their reproductive functions".^[42][43]

The Encyclopedia of Body of laws Fiction notes that dystopian carveds figure are almost invariably images be fond of future society, "pointing fearfully take care the way the world progression supposedly going in order determination provide urgent propaganda for a- change in direction".^[44] Atwood's designated intent was indeed to lay it on thick potential consequences of current trends.^[45]

In , reviewers hailed the unqualified as a "feminist ",^[46] sensationalist similarities between the totalitarian regimes under which both protagonists exist, and "the distinctively modern reaction of nightmare come true, rectitude initial paralyzed powerlessness of honourableness victim unable to act".^[47] Knowledgeable studies have expanded on illustriousness place of The Handmaid's Tale in the dystopian and libber traditions.^{[47][13][48][14][46]}

The classification of utopian opinion dystopian fiction as a sub-genre of the collective term, conjectural fiction, alongside science fiction, vision, and horror is a comparatively recent convention.

Dystopian novels have to one`s name long been discussed as smart type of science fiction; subdue, with publication of The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood distinguished the provisions science fiction and speculative falsehood quite intentionally. In interviews dominant essays, she has discussed ground, observing:

I like to regard a distinction between science anecdote proper and speculative fiction.

Misunderstand me, the science fiction earmark belongs on books with belongings in them that we can't yet do, such as ominous through a wormhole in move away to another universe; and unconfirmed fiction means a work wander employs the means already simulate hand, such as DNA admission and credit cards, and meander takes place on Planet World.

But the terms are fluid.^[49]

Atwood acknowledges that others may studio the terms interchangeably, but she notes her interest in that type of work is know about explore themes in ways delay "realistic fiction" cannot do.^[49]

Among first-class few science fiction aficionados, notwithstanding, Atwood's comments were considered minor and contemptuous.

(The term indefinite fiction was indeed employed zigzag way by certain New Sea writers in the s status early s to express their dissatisfaction with traditional or construction science fiction.) Hugo-winning science narrative critic David Langford observed affluent a column: "The Handmaid's Tale won the very first Character C. Clarke Award in She's been trying to live that down ever since."^[50]

Reception in schools

Atwood's novels, and especially her writings actions of speculative fiction, The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx and Crake, are frequently offered as examples for the final, open-ended concern on the American Advanced Aggregate English Literature and Composition assessment each year.^[51] As such, present books are often assigned overlook high-school classrooms to students task force this Advanced Placement course, in the face the mature themes the have an effect presents.

Atwood herself has put into words surprise that her books financial assistance being assigned to high-school audiences, largely due to her fiery censored education in the vicious, but she has assured readers that this increased attention let alone high-school students has not contrasting the material she has ungainly to write about since.^[52]

Censorship dependably the United States

The American Swotting Association lists The Handmaid's Tale as number 37 on magnanimity " Most Frequently Challenged Books of –".^[53] In , The Handmaid's Tale is still catalogued as the seventh-most challenged unqualified because of profanity, vulgarity, become more intense sexual overtones.^[54] Atwood participated beget discussing The Handmaid's Tale variety the subject of an ALA discussion series titled "One Volume, One Conference".^[55]

• In a parent throw in Toronto accused the book guide being anti-Christian and anti-Islamic as the women are veiled with the addition of polygamy is allowed.^[56] Rushowy minutes that "The Canadian Library Union says there is 'no painstaking instance of a challenge walkout this novel in Canada' on the contrary says the book was denominated anti-Christian and pornographic by parents after being placed on shipshape and bristol fashion reading list for secondary session in Texas in the s."^[57]
• A challenge as required reading dole out a Page High School Supranational Baccalaureate class and as free reading for Advanced Placement measurement courses at Grimsley High Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina as the book is "sexually categorical, violently graphic and morally corrupt".

  Some parents thought the publication is "detrimental to Christian values".^[58]

• In November , two parents protested against the inclusion of picture book on a required be inclined to list in Guilford County, Northward Carolina. The parents presented position school board with a request signed by 2, people, on time a review of the whole by the school's media consultive committee.

  According to local material reports, one of the parents said "she felt Christian set are bullied in society, conduct yourself that they're made to determine uncomfortable about their beliefs saturate non-believers. She said including books like The Handmaid's Tale contributes to that discomfort, because ticking off its negative view on creed and its anti-biblical attitudes advance sex."^[59]

• In November in Goddard, River, "The Goddard school district has removed more than two 12 books from circulation in justness district's school libraries, citing official attention and challenges to illustriousness books elsewhere."^[60]

In May , Atwood announced that, in a dive project undertaken with Penguin Chance House, an "unburnable" copy be more or less the book would be up with and auctioned off, the appointment intended to "stand as clever powerful symbol against censorship".^[61] Snatch 7 June , the only, "unburnable" copy was sold system Sotheby's in New York supplement $,^[62]

The book has been illegitimate in school libraries in Florida, Missouri, Oregon,^[63][64] Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas,^[65][66] Utah, Virginia,^[67] Wisconsin, lecture Wyoming.^[68]

In higher education

In institutions disbursement higher education, professors have grow The Handmaid's Tale to take off useful, largely because of fraudulence historical and religious basis lecture Atwood's captivating delivery.

The novel's teaching points include: introducing civil affairs and the social sciences stay in students in a more solid way;^[69][70] demonstrating the importance take in reading to our freedom, both intellectual and political;^[71] and admitting the "most insidious and approximate manifestations of power in Adventure history" in a compelling manner.^[72]

The chapter entitled "Historical Notes" energy the end of the fresh also represents a warning go along with academics who run the gamble of misreading and misunderstanding factual texts, pointing to the satirized Professor Pieixoto as an model of a male scholar who has taken over and beaten Offred's narrative with his disruption interpretation.^[73]

Academic reception

Feminist analysis

Much of birth discussion about The Handmaid's Tale has centred on its assortment as feminist literature.

Atwood does not see the Republic weekend away Gilead as a purely crusader dystopia, as not all private soldiers have greater rights than women.^[21] Instead, this society presents grand typical dictatorship: "shaped like first-class pyramid, with the powerful tactic both sexes at the high noon, the men generally outranking nobleness women at the same level; then descending levels of command and status with men enthralled women in each, all representation way down to the foot, where the unmarried men have to serve in the ranks previously being awarded an Econowife".^[21]

Econowives catch napping women expected to carry mess child-bearing, domestic duties, and fixed companionship; they are married pick up men that don't belong put your name down the elite.

When asked admiration whether her book was libber, Atwood stated that the rise of women and what happens to them are important bash into the structure and theme aristocratic the book. This aisle give an account of feminism, by default, would fashion a lot of books feminist.&#;However, she is adamant in become public stance that her book plainspoken not represent the brand hold feminism that victimizes or strips women of moral choice.^[74]

Atwood has argued that while some shambles the observations that informed picture content of The Handmaid's Tale may be feminist, her latest is not meant to discipline "one thing to one person" or serve as a national message—instead, The Handmaid's Tale job "a study of power, distinguished how it operates and nonetheless it deforms or shapes nobleness people who are living interior that kind of regime".^[15][16]

Some scholars have offered a feminist working-out, connecting Atwood's use of holy fundamentalism in the pages censure The Handmaid's Tale to a-one condemnation of its presence captive current American society.^[75][76] Atwood goes on to describe her softcover as not a critique beat somebody to it religion, but a critique longedfor the use of religion bring in a "front for tyranny".^[77] Remains have argued that The Handmaid's Tale critiques typical notions misplace feminism, as Atwood's novel appears to subvert the traditional "women helping women" ideals of interpretation movement and turns toward high-mindedness possibility of "the matriarchal meshwork and a new form clench misogyny: women's hatred of women".^[78]

Scholars have analyzed and made set of contacts to patriarchal oppression in The Handmaid's Tale and oppression read women today.

Aisha Matthews tackles the effects of institutional structures that oppress woman and more than half and connects those to blue blood the gentry themes present in The Handmaid's Tale. She first asserts think it over structures and social frameworks, much as the patriarchy and unrestricted role of traditional Christian epistemology, are inherently detrimental to justness liberation of womanhood.

She accordingly makes the connection to character relationship between Offred, Serena Exultation, and the Commander, explaining prowl through this "perversion of vocal marriage, the Biblical story imitation Rachel, Jacob, and Bilhah psychoanalysis taken too literally". Their affiliation and other similar relationships deck The Handmaid's Tale mirror distinction effects of patriarchal standards admire womanliness.^[79]

Sex and occupation

In the imitation of The Handmaid's Tale, significance sexes are strictly divided.

Gilead's society values white women's erotic commodities over those of vex ethnicities. Women are categorized "hierarchically according to class status elitist reproductive capacity" as well bit "metonymically colour-coded according to their function and their labour". Rank Commander expresses his personal form an opinion that women are considered subordinate to men, as the private soldiers are in a position pivot they have power to feel society.

Women are segregated timorous clothing, as are men. Look after rare exceptions, men wear combatant or paramilitary uniforms. All coach of men and women rush defined by the colours they wear, drawing on colour practice and psychology. All lower-status nation are regulated by this prerogative code. All "non-persons" are refugee to the "Colonies".

Sterile, undefiled women are considered to remark non-persons. Both men and squadron sent there wear grey dresses.

The women, particularly the Handmaids, are stripped of their discrete identities as they lack blasй names, taking on their determined Commander's first name in virtually cases.

Unwomen

Sterile women, the unwed, some widows, feminists, lesbians, nuns, and politically dissident women: breeze women who are incapable rule social integration within the Republic's strict gender divisions.

Gilead exiles Unwomen to "the Colonies", areas both of agricultural production mushroom deadly pollution. Joining them sense Handmaids who fail to carry a child after three biennial assignments.

Jezebels

Jezebels are women who are forced to become prostitutes and entertainers. They are protract only to the Commanders endure to their guests.

Offred portrays Jezebels as attractive and educated; they may be unsuitable whilst Handmaids due to temperament. They have been sterilized, a treatment that is forbidden to subsequent women. They operate in private but state-sanctioned brothels, unknown generate most women.

Jezebels, whose reputation comes from Jezebel in probity Bible, dress in the leftovers of sexualized costumes from "the time before", such as cheerleaders' costumes, school uniforms, and Rakehell Bunny costumes.

Jezebels can clothing make-up, drink alcohol and mix with men, but are tensely controlled by the Aunts. While in the manner tha they pass their sexual choice or their looks fade, they are discarded without any genuineness as to whether they gust killed or sent to influence Colonies.

Philosophical analysis

Many elements penalty Gilead recall details from Plato's Republic.

Gilead's social hierarchy indicate commanders, guardians, Marthas and handmaids, for example, has similarities focus on Plato's social hierarchy of philosopher-guardians, auxiliary-guardians and producers. Both societies are also home to practised state-based eugenics program, and darken gymnasiums used as educational spaces in which women are socialize into new gender roles.

Blue blood the gentry powers that be in Gilead legitimize their rule through description extensive use of propaganda, disproportionate as Plato's rulers ensure co-operation on the part of grandeur public by propagating a aristocrat lie.

According to philosopher Scheming Lamey, rather than straightforward allusions, the similarities to Plato plot combined with features that alter, at times dramatically, from Plato's original.

As Lamey writes, "the result is that Atwood's dystopia deliberately calls to mind cool distorted version of Platonism, individual that differs in ways heavy and small from the original."^[81] In the case of gymnasiums, for example, in Plato they see women socialized into roles that make them the finish even of men, while in Gilead they are where handmaids in addition first taught their duties.

Vernon Provençal has suggested that description novel is a satire work for Platonism.^[81] Lamey, however, argues avoid this interpretation cannot explain ground the book contains distorted references to philosophies beyond Platonism. Figure such references are evident impossible to tell apart mottos that handmaids are false to repeat during their practice.

"Pen is envy" is unadulterated corrupt rendering of Freud's concept of penis envy, while "From each according to her ability; to each according to cap needs" is a garbled chronicle of Marx's slogan "from contravention according to his ability, give an inkling of each according to his needs." Lamey argues that such allusions, rather than satirizing the philosophies in question, see Gilead aircraft a practice frequently used beside actual dictatorships, that of hunt to bolster their prestige roost legitimacy by twisting ideas as of now in circulation to suit their own ends.

Race analysis

African Americans, the main non-White ethnic plenty in this society, are hailed the Children of Ham. Tidy state TV broadcast mentions they have been relocated "en masse" to "National Homelands" in Ad northerly Dakota, which are suggestive slap the apartheid-era homelands (Bantustans) arrest up by South Africa achieve something forced death marches.

Ana Cottle characterized The Handmaid's Tale slightly "White feminism", noting that Atwood does away with Black mass in a few lines timorous relocating the "Children of Ham" while borrowing heavily from picture African-American experience and applying ape to White women, specifically Gilead's explicit anti-literacy laws, which was borrowed from real life anti-literacy campaigns in the United States, alongside the removal of surnames among handmaids, an ode unexpected how enslaved Africans were quite a distance given last names until Emancipation.^[82][83]

It is implied that a exact genocide has been committed averse Native Americans living in territories under the rule of Gilead.

Jews were given a alternative between converting to the present religion or being "repatriated" get as far as Israel. Converts who were then discovered with any symbolic representations or artifacts of Judaism were executed, and the repatriation suppress was privatized, with the solving that many Jews died poles apart route to Israel.

Awards

In vex media

Audio

• An audiobook of the full text, read by Claire Danes (ISBN&#;), won the Audie Reward for fiction.^[91]
• In , Canadian strip Lakes of Canada released their album Transgressions, which is voluntary to be a concept lp inspired by The Handmaid's Tale.^[92]
• On his album Shady Lights steer clear of , Snax references the contemporary and film adaption, specifically nobility character of Serena Joy, critical the song "Make Me Disappear".

  The first verse reads, "You can call me Serena Happiness. Drink in hand, in innovation of the TV, I'm soppy, adjusting my CC."

• A full chuck audiobook entitled The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition was released twist , read by Claire Danes, Margaret Atwood, Tim Gerard Painter, and others.^[93]
• An audiobook of dignity unabridged text, read by Betty Harris, was released in alongside Recorded Books, Inc.^[94]

Film

Main article: Depiction Handmaid's Tale (film)

Radio

• A dramatic portrayal of the novel for put on the air was produced for BBC Crystal set 4 by John Dryden reclaim ^[95]
• In CBC Radio commissioned Archangel O'Brien to adapt Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale for radio.

Theatre

• A stage adaptation written and sure by Bruce Shapiro played view Tufts University in ^[96]
• An operatic adaptation, The Handmaid's Tale, impervious to Poul Ruders, premiered in Kobenhavn on 6 March , bear was performed by the Above-board National Opera, in London, emit ^[97] It was the electric socket production of the – stint of the Canadian Opera Company.^[98]Boston Lyric Opera mounted a making in May ^[99]
• A stage portrayal of the novel, by Brendon Burns, for the Haymarket Amphitheatre, Basingstoke, England, toured the UK in ^[]
• A ballet adaptation choreographed by Lila York and reprimand by the Royal Winnipeg Choreography premiered on 16 October Amanda Green appeared as Offred view Alexander Gamayunov as the Commander.^[]
• A one-woman stage show, adapted depart from the novel, by Joseph Stollenwerk premiered in the U.S.

  train in January ^[]

Television

Main article: The Handmaid's Tale (TV series)

• MGM Television has produced a television series family unit on the novel for Hulu, starring Elisabeth Moss as Offred. The first three episodes were released on 26 April , with subsequent episodes following result a weekly basis.

  Margaret Atwood served as consulting producer.^[] Significance series won eight Primetime Laurels Awards in , including Passed over Drama Series and Outstanding Contain Actress in a Drama Progression (Moss).^[] The series was immature for a second season, which premiered on 25 April , and in May , Hulu announced renewal for a 3rd season.

  The third season premiered on 5 June Hulu declared season 4, consisting of 10 episodes, with production set condemnation start in March This was delayed due to the COVID pandemic.^[] Season 4 premiered removal 28 April ; season 5, on September 14, Season 6 was to premiere at picture end of , but run was delayed due to dignity SAG-AFTRA strike and is minute expected to be released buy , though no date has been announced.^[][]

Comics

• On March 26, , The Handmaid's Tale was fit into an authorized graphic newfangled illustrated by Canadian artist Renée Nault, and published by Doubleday.^[]

Sequel

Main article: The Testaments

In November , Atwood announced the sequel, aristocratic The Testaments, which was accessible in September ^[] The innovative is set fifteen years associate Offred's final scene, with excellence testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.^[]

See also

Notes

Citations