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The Handmaid's Tale is by all means a dystopia that takes acts of social regression and combines it with the idea of an unknown tyranny that creates laws restricting their citizens and demotes women to inferiors with very limited abilities. Women are prohibited from making crucial decisions, owning property, spending money aside from that they are delegated to go out and shop with, reading, writing, and so many other things. Simply put, their purpose in the Republic of Gilead is to reproduce and serve the male citizens as needed. While I came into this novel believing that this would be able male supremacy, I felt that it was much more about an unknown tyranny known as "The Eyes" (makes me think of Big Brother from 1984 and Swiss cheese) that the Republic of Gilead in a chokehold and that it followed misogynistic ideas and used the bible to back them up. As a whole, men only had so many additional privileges. Young men were not permitted to pursue women (hence the female narrator's acts of teasing them as she walked by in a "you can look, but you can't touch" kind of way) and those that had the privilege to marry in an arranged fashion had to follow particular directions. For instance, while men were the only ones allowed to read from the bible, this bible was locked away and not to be used unless needed. Most importantly, though, sex was strictly a job and not a sought after activity. The way it is described in the book is forced, offputting, and uncomforting for everyone involved, but that is exactly what this novel is addressing with a tale of this nature.

As for the story itself, we follow a particular handmaid that we know only as "Offred." She has had another name before, but she has since been reassigned with a new name and a semi-prison like lifestyle. Before having to endure this dystopia, Offred was living with her husband, Luke, and her daughter, who is not mentioned by name. We were beginning to see elements of a tyranny before an invasion of her home country, the United States, took place and piece by piece, she began losing her freedoms until ultimately being placed in the position that she is as the story is taking place. Other residents in this story include "Aunts" that oversee the women in this society, "Marthas" that are older, but still useful (those that are useless become "Unwomen"), and Econowives, who engage in a little bit of everything, as the Handmaids top priority is to bear children.

Looking at the text in a greater picture, Margaret Atwood definitely had a great idea as to what her intent was as she was putting this novel together and putting it forth to the general public. I felt that this was a meaningful piece that explored gender, the effect that a regressing dystopia would have upon it, and the elements of human nature that even a dystopia could not interfere unless it was with deadly force. My criticism would be in its disorganization at some points and its inconsistency in others, where things were introduced and then left open-ended, kind of like a road that reaches a dead end, but yet continues about a mile or two past the dead end. While in many cases this remains a lingering issue, a concluding factor (that I will not mention) is able to clarify everything that we read and give an explanation to everything Offred brought up.

Atwood definitely thought outside the box as she put this piece together. I would not consider it the strongest dystopia I have ever read, but it is definitely one that is thought-provoking and open to so many interesting discussions. It has picked up great acclaim with questions involving women's rights in this day and age and also with a series that was picked up by Hulu and adapted. I am definitely intrigued to look into Atwood's works, for she has demonstrated a sense of being scholarly with what she writes. While this book requires patience and a focused mind, I would say read it.

You can find my Literary Gladiators discussion about this book (containing spoilers) here: