Rachel so nicely described it as: "Your perspective on The Handmaid's Tale as a man or woman".

I was looking for some hints on how the men in the book feel about the women. Were they taking the women for granted ? Did they think the women are not living in a terrible condition ? Was there compassion or sympathy ? Not the Commander. Not sure about Nick, because he could be doing what he did in the end thinking that it could be his child, rather than due to compassion for a woman.
The book did not explore much of what the men in the story think, but I don't feel that this is a flaw.

Well I do feel outrage at the hypocrisy and the tormenting from any group in power. Regardless of men, women, children, races, and even religion, I hate the abuse of power in any form. It is the reason why many people claim their childhoods are far from ideal. I also strongly disagree when people go out of their way to contradict themselves because it shows me that they are imposing double standards on me or others who often feel impotent or helpless. At the same time, I have to learn to stand up for myself and also for others, something I am usually relunctant to do.

I do sympathize with the women who had to be concubines but they seem to wait for rescue when they need to understand that sometimes they have to fight tooth and nails for their rights and might have to sacrifice their lives for others. It is a common feeling that we want to have someone who is smarter, kinder, wealthier, more popular, stronger to extend a helping hand to us and pull us up to their level. But when a baby bird is trying to hatch from its egg, many times, if someone stepped in to help it out, someone else usually say, 'Whoa, whoa. If the bird doesn't know how to struggle, it won't learn to grow and survive. So let it develope the muscles to break the eggshell.'

It is a hard discussion to go through without me becoming all lecturey about 'tough titties'...'life is hard.' even if I tend to curse out loud or pout when the going get tough or even inconvient.

Patrick: I have gone back and forth about this too. Likely, I would have fought and likely died early on. The fighting needed to happen with the generation that remembered how it was before, because the next generation would not have those memories to incite them. If every handmaid (or a majority) fought back it would have rocked the new foundation of Gilead.

But, in the book, some of the people who chose not to fight openly (or could not) were trying to fight covertly. That is quite brave.

Moira saddens me most. She was a fighter but in the end it does seem that she gave up.

I imagine that no matter how you fight you can get beaten down to the point of giving up.

What more could she have done? She's already tried to escape. She's already tried to fight back.

But a better question to ask, is what would we have done?

Rita: I am guessing you are referring to Moira. Some people fight and don't stop. It did not seem as though she was even part of any covert resistance/assistance during our last encounter with her in the book. Some people reach a point where they resign themselves to their fate. There is no judgment upon Moira, simply sadness for her.

I wanted to say that I read this story years ago and hated it with a passion. I was just now reading all the reviews of the book and noticed that most people who rated it 1 star did so because they didn't agree with Atwood's message. For me, that wasn't why. It was the intense depression that settled on my shoulders after reading it. I could see no real way to survive such a world.

Rita, your comment was interesting! Thanks for that. I had to post in reply because, in a way, I agree with you. It is depressing! The first time I read this book, I found it chilling. (Had a pretty strong emotional reaction.) Then I had to read it again for an English class. That time, it was not a problem because I knew what to expect. I rated this book high, not because of my enjoyment, but because that strong reaction has become ingrained into my mind and (somewhat) affects how I view the world.

(That sounds more important that it is...I'm a lot more cynical, really. And Doonesberry, Pratchett, and Tepper have also influenced my worldview...so I'm easy. <grin>)

...But I've never forgot the book, itself, and my reaction to it. It's been 10 years at least since I read it last, but I still remember it clearly--which is unusual for me.

I think it has been close to 10 years for me as well, and my memories are quite chilling. I am thinking that I should change my rating because the writing and the story had the intended affect.

For me, this is terrible book. I was very sad be reading. It reminds me on nacistic Germany and Iran and similar countries - and American fanatical christian groups, too. At first, this was scifi world, unrealistic, future modeled after past, but the Japanese tourists - whole world was not crazy, only one country (USA) was crazy. And yes, there are fanatical christian groups! (I am from Czech republic, we have none in my homeland. :o) Also, I felt safe - this is sure not my future, women in our country are very independent and christian/islamic belief there is rather weak.)
But I was very happy for afterword - this terrible time is not eternal. In future, will be no such Gilead in USA. Also, for me happyend. :o)
Alas, we women are very weak creatures, this is true. In the past alike today in countries as Iran. Women are not warriors - not for themselves. For others, for their children, maybe. But not for themselves. They lived as slaves in the past and in certain countries today live as slaves. And they could live as slaves in future again. This is sad truth.
Women could change in future, maybe, when they would live in freedom and safety for many centuries. Maybe.
I very understand heroine of the book and I weep for her (and for Moira and Janine).
Have we (women - without maybe a few true heroines) really mentality of slaves?
For me, this was very sad reading.
But, I would like to know HOW come the new freedom for women in Gilead in future. Work of women or men, or other countries who defeat Gilead?

Sevinka, I think you have a good perspective of this book. You understand what the author was warning against.

As a Christian, I believe God grieves at such treatment of women. Men were supposed to be their champions and protectors, not their tormenters.

Sevinka,

You think women are weak and might have the mentality of slaves? I think the opposite. I know many strong willed women (myself included) who would quite happily take up arms if something like this tried to happen. Not just to protect their children, but to protect themselves and others. My best friend has devoted her life to visiting third world countries to help fight AIDS. She takes her safety into her own hands with each trip.

I have my CCW (conceal carry weapon permit) as do several of my friends. When I put myself in the main character's shoes I just couldn't wrap my head around the idea of running for the border without a gun. I don't go hiking in the woods without a gun (doing otherwise is a great way to get eaten), add in that people with guns might stop/kill you, why go unarmed?

Lara Amber

Sevinka, I think you totally 'got' it.
For me this was very sad and very frightening reading, when I first read it at 18.

And you bring up a great point - I've always wished Atwood would write a follow-up and we could see the change happen, watch Gilead fall. Unfortunately, after 20+ years of waiting I've come to realize that Atwood's writing strengths don't lie in that direction, so I doubt if we'll ever see a continuation of the story.

I am glad that some women carry guns. Bullets are faster than a police crusier when it comes to violent men trying to brutalize women.

You make some great points Sevinka.

There are certainly women who fight back, not always successfully, but generally we are not a fighting back gender. Obviously we can't generalise very much, but just as there are women who fight back, so there are women who don't, who feel powerless and vulnerable and can't see how they could even go about it should they have the courage to try - and sometimes it takes more courage not to, because women are often thinking of others. Like Sevinka said, women often put their children first. It is amazing what women have tolerated and endured over the centuries, in order to protect their children or other loved ones. That takes courage.