The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
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Book Summary Information
Author: Margaret AtwoodEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-03-16
ISBN: 038549081X
Number of pages: 311
Publisher: Anchor
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780385490818
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Handmaid's Tale
Book Review: The Handmaid's Tale Critical Response
Summary: 4 Stars
In one of her most famous and highly acclaimed novels, Margaret Atwood takes her readers on a journey of insight and frightening possibilities. The Handmaid's Tale is a speculative novel situated in the near future in a place called Gilead that used to be the United States of America. Western society has made a complete and utter turnaround, destroying the concept of feminism, as well as any form of individualism. A group of puritan-like religious fanatics has turned the American government into a theocratic dictatorship in which every aspect of citizens' lives is controlled from occupation to sex partners. The central most valued part of this twisted society is fertility and reproduction. Toxic waste and chemical explosions have made prolific women scarce and sterile men abundant. With her hard as nails writing style, Atwood transports readers into the mind of a woman who is being used for breeding purposes. Her real name is no longer existent and her daughter has been ripped from her arms and given to a new family. Her husband, and the love of her life, has been frozen forever in her mind; his fate for her is undetermined. Her life now rests in her ability to produce healthy offspring and also in the hands of a man many years her senior who must give her a baby to save her life. In the tradition of George Orwell's 1984, the reader is taken on a gripping journey of isolation and witnesses the effects that a dystopia has on the individual person being surrounded by mass conformity. The purpose of this novel is to educate the reader as to how easily society could be transformed by a manipulative group of people using the excuse of "national emergency" to take away basic human rights. It explores significant issues such as feminism, sexuality, theocracy, conformity, abortion, cults, totalitarianism, infertility, religion, human rights, and popular culture. Ultimately, this novel leaves its reader with the final question of, "what are we, as a species, capable of?". The Handmaid's Tale is shown at its best through its strong imagery and symbols, allusions to both history and the present, and stylistic elements. This novel is shown weakest through its poorly developed main character, ambiguity, and lack of a satisfying ending.
The imagery and symbols of The Handmaid's Tale are very powerful. Atwood describes settings in great detail so as to give the reader an intense feeling of actually being a part of the story. The novel opens with a depiction of the gymnasium in which the narrator, Offred, is sleeping. The reader can almost smell the faint under-odour of sweat and feel the atmosphere of loneliness and sense of dread as women lie, afraid to speak, on army issue fold-up cots. Every inch of the narrator's room is described, from the worn varnished wood floor to the missing chandelier to the Nolite te bastardes carborundorum graffiti scratched by a suicidal woman in the closet. This contributes to the mood/atmosphere in an infinite number of ways. The reader agonizes with Offred over suicidal temptations and the anguish of realizing that there is, in fact, no escape. One important symbol in the novel is the hanging wall. Similar to the parading of traitors' heads on stakes in medieval Europe, the hanging wall displays those who have rebelled against Gilead and, fundamentally, God. It is a symbol of the fate for those who revolt against mass conformity. The hanging wall explains to the reader, in laymen's terms, the complete and utter lack of choice for people in Offred's position. The handmaids' or concubines' garments are also a very necessary part of the novel. Handmaids in the novel are forced to dress in identical burqa-like robes that hide their bodies entirely and white scarves to cover their heads. This is a symbol of captivity. Women are no longer free to choose something as simple as clothing or hairstyle, every aspect of their lives is regulated. Pornography in the novel is a symbol of the treatment of women prior to Gilead. It is used by figures of authority to demonstrate to women the way they were once treated as sex objects and often lived in fear of rape. This ironic contrast with the "safe" environment of theocratic Gilead provokes reaction from the reader, causing him/her to feel outraged. Atwood presents imagery and symbols with such poignancy as to make the reader feel unity with the story.
The Handmaid's Tale is a rational novel and a profound example of speculative fiction due to its allusions to both the past and the present. Atwood's theocratic/totalitarian government comes from an allusion to several different types of society that existed or still exists today. The first is to the early puritan era in the United States. In the name of religion, the Puritans forbade pleasurable activities such as dancing and singing and also persecuted non-puritans who refused to convert. In addition, Gileadian society is similar to the Nazi Germany of World War II. Discrimination against the Jewish race ran rampant and anyone who spoke out was sent to a concentration camp where he/she would be liquidated or, in other words, murdered. In Gilead, non-conformists or unwanted people such as unfertile women are sent to the Colonies, places where they perform physical labour for the government, eventually causing death. The Taliban regime exists today in many parts of the Middle East. Women are forced to cover themselves in tent-like burqas and strict laws are enforced, forbidding them to leave the house without male supervision. In Gilead, women are greatly oppressed, and, like Middle Eastern females, are forced to cover themselves for modesty reasons. A lot of The Handmaid's Tale comes from a literal interpretation of the Christian Bible. In the first of three epigrams at the beginning of the novel, the biblical story of Rachel explains how Atwood's idea of the handmaid bearing children for an infertile wife was inspired. Another biblical allusion in the novel is in a sinful, forbidden club called Jezebel's. Jezebel is the name of a very sinful queen in the Bible; therefore, the name causes one to think of wickedness. Furthermore, Marthas in The Handmaid's Tale refer to women who are infertile but useful for performing household chores. In the Bible, Martha and Mary are sisters, but where Mary chooses to listen to Jesus, Martha throws herself wholeheartedly into housework. Mary is praised and Martha, scorned. In Gilead, Martha is the one exalted. Atwood also makes allusions to religious history. Her idea for soul scrolls, prayers sold for money, can be related back to the selling of indulgences in exchange for cleansing of sins by Catholic priests in seventeenth century Europe. Allusions draw realism into an otherwise farfetched novel, sending chills down the spines of its readers. Atwood effectively uses these allusions take away from any science fiction aspect of the novel, making it undoubtedly speculative fiction.
Atwood has a distinct flair for writing and uses many stylistic elements in her novel. Similar to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher and the Rye, The Handmaid's Tale is written in a stream of consciousness type format. The reader is exposed to the moment-to-moment emotions of Offred: depression when she is depressed, uncertainty when she is considering rebellion, self-doubt at the point where she wonders whether her husband will understand her predicament, and agony when she remembers losing her beautiful little girl. Offred's many descriptions of the world around her convey feelings of boredom and her limited perception shows readers just alienated she is. The use of a series of flashbacks makes it seem like Offred is speaking directly to the reader, giving the novel a personal touch. Atwood's talent is evident in the style of The Handmaid's Tale.
While the reader respects Atwood's writing abilities, the author fails in her attempt to create a well-rounded narrator. The character of Offred is extremely passive and disappointing. Although the novel examines issues of feminism and portrays many strong women, Offred is not one of them. Throughout The Handmaid's Tale she is dependent upon the men in her life for consolation and guidance. Luke, her husband, is the one who initiates a plan of escape and it is Nick, her lover, that later finally helps her to leave Gilead behind forever. Offred often expresses dissatisfaction with her situation and yet when she is presented with the opportunity to gather top-secret information for the aid of those rebelling against the government, she is too frightened. The reader cannot help but feel for Offred's plight, but her lack of drive gives her a disappointing air. In addition, the fact that the reader never learns Offred's real name is a barrier that takes away from the personalization of her character.
Another flaw in this otherwise brilliant novel is its ambiguity during some scenarios. Offred describes two possible outcomes as to the fate of her husband, Luke. She admits, however, that she is not really sure what has happened to him. The reader never discovers Luke's whereabouts and is left puzzling over the mystery. At another part in the novel, Offred explains her first encounter with Nick, her lover. The reader reads through an entire account of the experience and is then informed that Offred created this fictitious story from her own imagination. She then proceeds to tell the reader what really happened and then admits that the second story was made up as well. Because these scenes did not really come to pass, they are rather redundant and serve no purpose except in confusing the reader. Certainly, Atwood's vagueness is an unnecessary portion of the novel.
The ending of the novel is also a disappointment to the reader. It ends with historical notes; new characters are introduced who exist farther into the future in South America and are examining Offred's story and what happened to her. Upon first reading these historical notes, one finds that they are quite mystifying. In addition, they don't answer many of the questions that need answers in order for a successful conclusion. The professors in the historical notes are able to pinpoint Offred's household but don't know her name or where she went subsequent to her escape. The historical notes are again redundant and perhaps should be omitted from the novel.
Unquestionably, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is one of the most well known Canadian novels ever written. Similar to Atwood's Oryx and Crake, it provokes questions from its readers ultimately leading to change. Margaret Atwood has written seventeen novels, winning numerous awards as a revolutionary Canadian Author. The Handmaid's Tale won several awards including the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, the Governor General's Literary Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award. It clearly deserves recognition as a great Canadian novel and is a must read that will glue your eyes to its pages.
Summary of The Handmaid's Tale
In the world of the near future, who will control women's bodies?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 only valued if their ovaries are viable.
Offred can remember the days 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....
Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.
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