Book Review (Rucksack): The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale

Written by Margaret Atwood in 1985

The Raccoon: In the wreckage of what was once the United States, a military government forms a Christian fundamentalist society, justifying its oppressive, “Big Brother” theocracy with Biblical passages.  A woman known only as Offred (literally “of Fred”), whose sole purpose is to bear children to her Commander, chronicles her life as a slave in this new world.

UNMASKED: The Handmaid’s Tale resembles a crystal ball, offering simply a glimpse into Offred’s daily life and memories.  This writing style, which differs from every other dystopian book, deeply draws the reader in.  Rather than suffering through a historical lesson and watching an average person suddenly become a hero in the fight against the system, the reader sees Offred’s fear, confusion, and humiliation; she grew up in the United States and has to watch her freedom be taken from her.  Furthermore, Offred admits that she is not a hero.  An underground resistance helps smuggle women out of the country, but it has little power and is incapable of overthrowing the new regime.  Atwood allows us to experience life in a dystopian society as it would actually be for almost all of its citizens.

However, Atwood’s slice-of-life approach leaves glaring holes in the story.  The Handmaid’s Tale never explains one of its most important questions: how did society end up this way?  The reader is allowed only vague glimpses of the collapse of the United States government, the war being fought on the East and West coasts, the responsibilities of the “numerous commanders,” and the fate of any of the main characters.  An epilogue in the style of a history lecture still fails to clear up any of these questions.

Something powerful rests within The Handmaid’s Tale, the spark of a world-changing idea or lesson.  Unfortunately, the story’s abrupt ending and its withholding of crucial details prevent anything remarkable from taking shape.

Strengths:

• Offred is an unusually raw and vulnerable protagonist.  The reader develops a deep sympathy for her and a feeling of personal connection.
• The “Salvaging,” a mass execution ceremony, leaves a disturbingly concrete image in the reader’s head, one of many scenes so descriptive and emotional that they feels like the reader’s own memories.

Weaknesses:

• Far too many questions are left unanswered, and the reader’s confusion detracts from his/her ability to become immersed in the story.

Rating: 18/20 Marthas

Ideal Setting: Read this before it is too late.