The+Handmaid's+Tale

 

[[image:handmaid's_tale.jpg width="240" height="374" align="right" caption="Newer cover"]]





 * First published in 1985 by Canadian author Margaret Atwood.
 * Has won the 1986 Booker Prize and the 1987 Prometheus Award.
 * Has been adapted into both movie and play form since its release. 

About the Author
Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 18, 1939. She is the daughter of a forest entomologist, and spent part of her early years in a rural region of North Quebec. She moved, at the age of seven, to Toronto. Atwood studied at the University of Toronto and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1961. She has taught at the University of British Columbia (1965), Sir George William University in Montreal (1967-68), the University of Alberta (1969-79), York University in Toronto (1971-72), and NYU, where she was Berg Professor of English.

Plot Summary
//The Handmaid's Tale// takes place in a futuristic United States of America, after war has wiped out much of the population and chemical, nuclear, and biological warfare has rendered much of the population infertile. In light of widespread panic and a staged terrorist attack that eliminated, the power-hungry Church forms a totalitarian and theocratic state, the Republic of Gilead, while abolishing the US Constitution; its sole purpose implied to be to wipe out any opposition to its corrupt beliefs. [Today, there is a significant group of people known as "Hard Dominionists" that believe a theological autocracy is needed...]

The main character takes part in a society designated by the government called the Handmaids, or a group of women who are assigned to repopulate the United States by engaging in intercourse with men of power known as Commanders. She engages in a scandalous relation with a lesser government employee, Nick, and eventually escapes the confines of The Commander's house with the his help. The story's narrative is constructed in a series of montages, breaking the plot in and out of order, told from Offred's point of view until ending abruptly.

Characters
//Offread (June)// - As the protagonist of the story, she narrates first hand accounts of how she views the hypocrisy of the Republic of the Gilead and the times before the ruination of our present day society. In several parts of the story, Atwood infers that Offred's true name is June. Her name is derived from the Commander's name, and because she works for him, she becomes, henceforth, "Of Fred." Offred has ravenous sexual relations with other men, countering her inner desires for feminist individuality.

//The Commander (Fred)// - First described as a decent man, The Commander is soon revealed as one of the creators of the Gilead, yet a prisoner of its stringent customs. He hosts Offred by order, attempting to conceive a child, and has been secretly engaging in extramarital sex intercourse with many women: a tribute to the hypocrisy of the upper levels of power in the Republic and the religious title it boasts.

// Serena Joy // - A gospel singer before the rise of the Gilead, Serena has been become infertile after contracting type R-Syphilis. As the wife of the Commander, Serena stands in a position of power: a relatively pointless title in a male-dominated society. When Offred comes into her life, her main focus is quelling her jealously that rages between The Commander and Offred and they're attempts at making children (sex). She interferes with Offred's duties that were assigned by the government and convinces her to have sex with another man, Nick. Her manipulative nature makes her the paradigm Gilead female; one who can easily oppress other women.

// Nick // - A lower level officer who works as a gardener at The Commander's household, Nick develops a strong connection with Offred. Both his and her sexual desires are satisfied with Serena Joy's unauthorized organizing of meetings between the two. His true alignment with either the government or the Mayday resistance, the major underground opposition operation, are nebulous; however, his sexual affairs between he and Offred suggest a possibility of empathy.

// Moira // - Offred's best friend during the pre-Gilead time in college. As a lesbian, she stands for everything the homophobic, close-minded theocracy imposes upon its citizens. Escaping the duties of the Handmaid and becoming an Aunt, she attempts to define herself; however, the government soon captures her and forces her to work as a prostitute, not a Handmaid. She eventually begrudgingly accepts her role in the corrupt society, showing how the newly established autocracy has power over even the most formidable-minded individuals.

Color Symbolism [[image:http://www.therevealer.org/images/content/handmaidstale.jpg align="right" caption="Image of the Handmaids from the 1990 film adaptation"]]
//Throughout// The Handmaid's Tale//, Atwood accentuates characters, themes, and criticisms through her avid use of color imagery.//


 * //Red// ** - The color of the Handmaids' cloaks. Red is the color of blood, symbolizing the self-sacrifice that the Handmaid's are unwillingly submitting themselves to in having sex with men they are not necessarily attracted to.
 * // Green // ** - Used to denote the Marthas, or the older women who have been rendered infertile by either the devastating effects of disease or the natural process of menopause.
 * //Blue// ** - Commander Fred's wife wears blue to symbolize her place in society, but at the same time, portraying her helplessness.
 * //Black// ** - The color of any object that the Commanders own. Anything from automobiles to trench coats are black to symbolize the dark essence of the autocratic state. Being an ominous color, black creates a negative tone around anything it adorns. Black is also worn by individuals who work for the government, known as Eyes.



Musical Selections
media type="custom" key="3787091" I awake to find no peace of mind. I said how do you live As a fugitive? Down here, where I cannot see so clear I said what do I know? Show me the right way to go.

And the spies came out of the water, But you're feeling so bad 'coz you know And the spies hide out in every corner. But you can't touch them no, 'Coz they're all spies.

They're all spies.

I awake to see that no one is free. We're all fugitives - look at the way we live Down here, I cannot sleep from fear. no I said which way do I turn? Oh I forget everything I learn.

And the spies came out of the water. But you're feeling so bad 'coz you know And the spies hide out in every corner. But you can't touch them no, 'Coz they're all spies.

They're all spies.

And if we don't hide here, They're gonna find us. And if we don't hide now, They're gonna catch us when we sleep. And if we don't hide here, They're gonna find us.

And the spies came out of the water. But you're feeling so good.coz you know that though spies hide out in every corner. they can't touch you, no. 'Coz they're just spies.

They're just spies, They're just spies, They're just spies, They're just spies.

media type="custom" key="3787141" Look at the earth from outer space Everyone must find a place Give me time and give me space Give me real don't give me fake Give me strength, reserve control Give me heart and give me soul Give me time, give us a kiss Tell me your own politik

And open up your eyes, open up your eyes, open up your eyes, open up your eyes

Give me one 'cause one is best In confusion, confidence Give me peace of mind and trust Don't forget the rest us Give me strength, reserve control Give me heart and give me soul Wounds that heal and cracks that fix Tell me your own politik

And open up your eyes, open up your eyes, open up your eyes, open up your eyes Just open up your eyes

But give me love over, love over, love over this