My first reaction was "huh?" But eventually I was saying the eternal words of understanding, not Eureka, but "holy shit!" The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood is a shocking prophecy-turned-social-commentary about the current state of patriarchal control in the United States. It is a book with a heavy feminist agenda, focusing largely on women's rights. So if you are looking for a light summer read try Danielle Steele. For an intense, important and, above all, enjoyable book to read, try The Handmaid's Tale.
In order to achieve her goal of social commentary, Atwood sets her novel in the near future, creating an exaggerated vision -- based on the current social climate -- of America's future. The U.S. has become the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy where society exhibits and encourages much of the intolerance and customs of the Puritans. These Puritan leaders believe that they have gleaned the most important lessons from the mid-20th century and thus choose to lead absolutely. Gilead is thus ruled by a patriarchy where specific women (designated for reasons I will not give away) are labeled "handmaids" and stripped of any sort of identity. They are fully outfitted in uniforms and left without names, so as not to distract them from their sole purpose of breeding. In most cases, Gilead authorities steal the women's identities by changing their names to reflect their status as possessions. For example, the protagonist is named Offred because Fred is the man she serves. And her companion, Ofglen, is Glen's handmaid.
Though there are many twists and turns (and sordid love affairs), there is not so much a thickening plotline as a thickening message. It is a far-fetched story that unfolds without spelling anything out for you, making it initially difficult to understand (hence the initial "Huh?"). However, the book is truly rewarding and offers a new perspective that, on many levels, will leave you saying "holy shit!" as well.
- Erica Frenkel
