Review of The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A dystopian theme, unnerving as well. Like George Orwell’s ‘1984’. American society has come under an autocratic or totalitarian rule. Women have little say, very few privileged people hold power, even they could get brutally punished.

There is an espionage network, called the Eye, that monitors everyone. Reminded me of the Russian equivalent ‘Big Brother is Watching’ in Orwell’s 1984.

Most of the story revolves around the thoughts of one girl (a Handmaid) named Offred. Handmaid’s are only meant for breeding. (But the child born belongs to someone else.) Then there are other professions – Marthas, Aunts, Drivers, Guardians – all have to do a specific duty. Rules are very strict, even looking left and right is a questionable conduct. For any serious misconduct they could be killed, sometimes publicly.

The fate of Offred in the end is left to the imagination of the reader. Without get into a spoiler: this open ended ending is in good style and taste.

A forcefully written satire. I liked the ‘Historical Notes’ that make up the last 10 pages. A unique style by the author, with which she puts a stamp of authenticity on the story, although it is fiction. Lots of dialogues are without quotation marks, I don’t know why. Maybe I missed the significance of different kinds of dialogues, one within quotes and another with no quotes.




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