Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

This summer I’ve been reading lots of dystopian fiction, and another one that’s gotten a lot of buzz lately is Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. (The new Hulu series might have a lot to do with that.) I haven’t seen the show yet, but I’m pretty sure I read this book back in the 90’s and wanted to read it again to refresh my memory.

Originally published in 1985, the story is set in future New England, where women’s rights have been overturned. In the new patriarchal Christian theonomy, called the Republic of Gilead, women are segregated by the color of their clothing. The wives of the Commanders wear blue; handmaids wear red; Marthas (the cooks and housemaids) wear green. Econowives wear striped clothing and young, unmarried girls wear white. The entire story is told through the eyes of Offred, a young woman who attempted to flee to Canada with her husband and daughter when the Sons of Jacob launched their revolution in the U.S. and began curtailing women’s rights. The family is caught before they reach the border and Offred is separated from them. She is taken to a re-purposed high school and indoctrinated as a handmaid by the “Aunts”.

Because of environmental contaminants, most of the women in this society are now sterile. Offred is part of a small class who are reproductively healthy. She is assigned to one of the Commanders to reproduce offspring for him. This is a coveted position, but we get the sense that Offred doesn’t feel too happy about the situation (who would?). There are rules the handmaids must follow, designed to keep them in check. When the Commander initiates an illegal friendship with Offred, inviting her into his study to play board games and read his books, she is conflicted about the arrangement.

Offred learns about the Mayday resistance from one of the other handmaids. She develops a relationship with one of the household employees and discovers he is part of this movement. He offers to help her escape.

I don’t want to give away the ending, but it certainly doesn’t wrap things up in a nice, neat package. This is a thought-provoking book. Atwood does a great job building this world and creating a sense of mystery. Since it was written more than thirty years ago, in the days before cell phones and internet, some of the plot devices feel slightly out-of-date. But it still works. This is a haunting cautionary tale that garnered several awards and launched Atwood’s career. Put it on your summer must-read list if you haven’t already done so, and then join me as I settle in with my popcorn to watch the series!