Society in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

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Recommended: Position of women in societal literature

“Atwood’s feminism is an integral part of her critical approach, just as her concept of criticism is inseparable from her creative work” Walter Pache (1). A dystopia is a fictional society, usually existing in a future time period, in which the condition of life is extremely difficult due to deprivation, oppression or terror. In most dystopian fiction, a corrupt government creates or sustains the poor quality of life, often conditioning the masses to believe the society is proper and just, even perfect. Most dystopian fiction takes place in the future but purposely incorporates contemporary social trends taken to horrendous extremes. The novel, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, by Margaret Atwood focuses on the choices made by those controlling the society of Gilead in which increasing the population and preservation of mankind is the main objective, instead of freedom or happiness. The society has undergone many physical changes that have extreme psychological consequences. I believe Atwood sees Gilead as the result of attitudes and events in the early 1980s, which have spiralled out of control. ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ reflects Atwood’s views and critiques on civilisation. In an interview with Gabriele Metzler Atwood says, “There is nothing in the book that hasn’t already happened. All things described in the book people have already done to each other”(2). Throughout ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Offred is constantly conscious of her life before Gilead. This is reflected in the sections of the book headed “Night”. Offred often refers back to her life with her daughter and Luke, “Luke was in the living room. He put his arms around me. We were both feeling miserable. How were we to know we were happy, even then? Becaus... ... middle of paper ... ...e extreme, she managed to visualise a dystopian world, which suppressed people’s freedom of choice. “Atwood is known as an outspoken defender of humanitarian values, an able and active advocate for woman’s rights and for freedom of speech” Nathalie Cooke (6). Therefore I do believe that Atwood’s novel ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ offers a very strong critique of American society in the 1980s. Bibliography (1) Walter Pache: “A Certain Frivolity”: Margaret Atwood’s Literary Criticism (2) Gabriele Metzler: “Creativity”: An Interview with Margaret Atwood (3) Bernard Richards: Margaret Atwood (4) Gabriele Metzler: “Creativity”: An Interview with Margaret Atwood (5) Lorna Irvine: “Recycling Culture: Kitsch, Camp and Trash”: Margaret Atwood’s Fiction (6) Nathalie Cooke: “Lions, Tigers and Pussycats”: Margaret Atwood (Auto) Biographically

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