When Margaret Atwood Published Her Novel, The Handmaid’S

When Margaret Atwood published her novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, in 1998, it was met with a wave of mixed reviews. Dystopic and Utopic novels have always been critiques of the time periods in which they are written. They extrapolate present truths and can provide valuable critiques of the ills that our society faces. Upon publishing of this novel, two main questions were raised. First, Is this an accurate and fair critique of the 1980’s social and political climate? Furthermore, Is Atwood’s story a plausible future that could occur during our lifetimes? Many believed the issues raised were exaggerated and that nothing like Gilead would ever come about in the United States. Others felt that it was a brilliant tool to raise awareness on our†¦show more content†¦Renamed Gilead, American culture is completely restructured. Homosexuality, other religions, abortion, and reading are just a few of the things that are now outlawed. There are public executions and s ecret police, the Eyes, who look for any signs of dissension for Gileadean citizens. The role of women in the society drastically takes a shift with the new regime as well. They are not allowed to own property, money, or work for either one. They are assigned to roles, giving them specific tasks within the society. First there are the Wives, who, as implied are wives of the Commanders, who are the rulers of Gilead and subsequently the only one allowed to marry. The Marthas take the traditional role in the house, cooking, cleaning, and serving in whatever way is necessary of them. Then there are the Handmaids, who hold a special place in Gilead. In the midst of a nuclear epidemic, most women are no longer able to bear children. Those who can are sent from house to house bearing children for the Commanders, in a twisted attempt at restoring the population. If they are unsuccessful, they are marked as an Unwoman and sent to the colonies, where they will most likely die of starvation, d isease, or radiation poisoning. Finally, there are the Aunts, who train and brainwash the Handmaids at reeducation camps. When reading the novel, it can be hard to imagine that all of the characteristics of Gilead were taken from real events in history. As with any pieceShow MoreRelatedThe Life and Achievements of Margaret Eleanor Atwood Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesMargaret Eleanor Atwood, one of the most acclaimed and idolized writers’ to date. Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on November 18th, 1939 in the Ottawa General Hospital. Two and a half months after the beginning of the Second World War (Atwood). She is a renowned novelist and poet; furthermore writer of short stories, critical studies, screenplays, radio scripts and books for children (Gale). Margaret Atwood is a living inspiration to many writers today. 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