The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel narrated by Offred, a Handmaid whose sole purpose is to bear children for the ruling class. Fertility rates have drastically declined, leading to the creation of a strict class system. Offred struggles to navigate the oppressive regime, where women are deprived of their rights and autonomy.

Themes

Biography

My opinion

Serie

Quotes

The book deals with a multitudes of themes, including:

- Oppression and Totalitarianism - Women's position in Society - Fertility and Birth control - Religion and Politics - The wish for Freedom

My opinion on "The Handmaid's Tale"

I personally loved "The Handmaid's Tale", the book deals with very serious matters but it's so well written that I read it in one go. The story settings' are all developed and well thought. While reading the book, I experienced many different feelings, from frustation to relief, to anger... Margaret Atwood manages to show the living hell the world has become with such a beautiful writing to the point it feels conflicting.

The differences between the book and the serie

• The TV series explores certain aspects of the story and characters more extensively, expanding the narrative beyond what is described in the book.
• In the serie, Offred is more headstrong and daring. In the book, she is much more of a passive character, wishing to survive more than anything.
• The serie has a very diverses cast. Choosing to show a bigger representation of LGBTQ+ people, a wider diversity of ethnicities...

Apart from her literary achievements, Atwood is known for her activism, particularly in areas related to environmental issues, women's rights, and freedom of expression. She has been a vocal advocate for social and political causes throughout her career.

Margaret Atwood, an inspiring writer for everyone

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author, poet, and essayist, born on November 18, 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential and prolific writers of contemporary literature. Margaret Atwood published her first collection of poetry, "Double Persephone," in 1961. Since then, she has written numerous novels, poetry collections, short stories, and essays. Her early works, such as "The Edible Woman" (1969) and "Surfacing" (1972), gained attention for their exploration of feminist themes. Margaret Atwood has received numerous awards for her contributions to literature. In addition to the Booker Prize, she has been honored with the Governor General's Award, the Giller Prize, the Golden Booker Prize, and the PEN Pinter Prize, among others.

"Freedom, like the carotid artery, is invisible until it is under threat."

"Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some."

"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze."

"May the Lord open"

"Blessed be the fruit"