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haseki_sultana 's review for:
The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Introspective and totally character-driven, Atwood does a tremendous job of putting the reader into the thoughts and feelings of a woman who has become enslaved and is forced to carry her rapist's child. Most people refer to this novel as dystopic, and the undercurrent of it definitely is, but the main genre/focal point of this novel is speculative fiction. The focus is on the internal monologue, thoughts, emotions, experiences, and remembrances of the main character. As such, we never get any insight into the machinations of the dystopian government or society - we only see what Offred (the main character) sees, we only know what she knows.
This is why this novel is more speculative fiction than dystopian: it is an exercise of our imaginations to examine and possibly understand the human condition when it is undergoing a rather 'rare' (for western audiences) plight.
Whether or not you consider the situation presented in the novel plausible or realistic doesn't matter. What matters, and what Atwood asks you to look at, is the condition of an everywoman character who has gone and must continue to go through atrocities in life without any reprieve. It is a novel which holds a magnifying glass over sexual trauma, and the psyche of those who are unfortunate enough to endure it.
This is why this novel is more speculative fiction than dystopian: it is an exercise of our imaginations to examine and possibly understand the human condition when it is undergoing a rather 'rare' (for western audiences) plight.
Whether or not you consider the situation presented in the novel plausible or realistic doesn't matter. What matters, and what Atwood asks you to look at, is the condition of an everywoman character who has gone and must continue to go through atrocities in life without any reprieve. It is a novel which holds a magnifying glass over sexual trauma, and the psyche of those who are unfortunate enough to endure it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Antisemitism
Content warning that is unavailable in the list: reproductive coercion.