The Handmaid’s Tale is a revolutionary book written by Margret Atwood. It is an absolutely intriguing, painful, and beautifully written experience. The book is centered around the main character, Offred. In the book, the author describes the Offred’s mental journey in a dystopia that was based off of the 80’s.
It begins with Offred’s experience in the red center. Atwood writes this part in the eyes and descriptions of Offred and her observations.
Throughout the book, the reader is able to piece together exactly how Offred’s life was before this and how this dystopia came to be and how that affected her life. It shows why she acts how she does now within her roles and current society.
Throughout the story, Atwood continues to use the metaphor of flowers and the color red. Red signifies rebirth, death, and fertility. The flowers are a constant juxtaposition against the harsh nature of the book. They also represent fertility and womanhood.
Other aspects of this book also really jumped out at me. Atwood lays the story out non-linearly. It creates a dizzy affect while explaining everything thoroughly. The reader is clear on everything that is happening in the end. All the threads come together and fray in a way that leaves the reader hopeless in the most magical way.
The format was also great for character development. This story has a definite steady pace that felt right for the scattered plot at hand. It allows for a before and after of the characters and shows some of that development throughout. The plot’s turns and twists allow you to ponder on each aspect of the story, while simultaneously leaving you satisfied with each chapter. Atwood definitely floods the reader with emotion with each chapter written. The deeper you get into the book, the more complex the emotions become. Common themes that are portrayed in this book are womanhood, community, power, extreme political views, and survival. Offred’s flashbacks within the book definitely foreshadows the other character’s futures. However Offred’s thoughts also lead the reader to conclude an opposing ending. The book’s main theme is feminism, however. The characters of each role show a different part, kind, and view on womanhood. It is really intriguing how this separation leads to many different perspectives on womanhood.
This book forces me to seriously evaluate our current state of government, politics, and balance of power within the United States of America. Considering the way that Atwood’s world transitioned into what it is, and how realistic it all is, we should all re-evaluate ourselves as a country.
Comments from other reviews include, but are not limited to:
“Splendid.”-Newsweek
“The Handmaid’s Tale deserves the highest praise.” -San Francisco Chronicle
“Atwood takes many trends which exist today and stretches them to their logical and chilling conclusions….An excellent novel about the directions our lives are taking…Read it while it’s still allowed.” -Houston Chronicle
“A novel that brilliantly illuminates some of the darker interconnections between politics and sex….Just as the world of Orwell’s 1984 gripped our imaginations, so will the world of Atwood’s handmaid!” -The Washington Post Book World
