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Though
sometimes disputed as science fiction, Margaret Atwood's The
Handmaid's Tale has taken its place beside Aldous Huxley's
Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984 as
a classic dystopian novel that is still relevant today. Though
the book was originally published in 1985 and the world has
changed somewhat since, the warnings behind The Handmaid's
Tale can still be appreciated more than two decades later.
Add to that Atwood's mastery of words and symbolism, as well
as the gripping story she presents, and it is easy to see
why the story is an unforgettable classic.
In the
near future, a civil war has plagued the former United States
and a fundamentalist regime gains control of the government.
For vaguely explained reasons, the population has decreased
and many are left infertile. As a means to sustain population,
the extremist regime instills a new social order that segregates
and controls the women, stripping them of their rights and
assigning them defined roles. One role is that of the "Handmaid,"
a fertile woman designated to bear the progeny of a childless,
high-ranking couple. The majority of the story follows one
such Handmaid, named Offred, through her days in the newly
established Republic of Gilead.
The book
has obvious feminist undertones, as every woman in Gilead
is dehumanized and controlled by the men in power. Atwood
also speaks to the dangers of religious and political extremism
and the abuse of power. These themes are immediately recognizable,
but what makes the book so dynamic and powerful is how open
to interpretation it can be. Clearly Atwood is warning against
the kind of abuse presented in The Handmaid's Tale,
but she challenges her readers to consider deeper messages.
The themes are so complex and multifaceted that a clear answer
won't be found after one reading—perhaps even after several
readings. The book, if to be appreciated on its deepest levels,
requires active involvement and contemplation from the reader.
Atwood relies on her readers to delve below the surface to
consider every side of the story she presents and ultimately
draw their own conclusions. It's not an easy book in that
respect, but it is compelling and stimulating.
For instance,
while The Handmaid's Tale is regarded as feminist literature,
Atwood doesn't offer just one view of the subject matter.
She clearly identifies the problems associated with political
and religious radicalism and, by the same principle, doesn't
shy away from revealing the relative downsides of feminist
extremism. The different characters in the book represent
different sides of the issue, none of them being completely
"right" or "wrong."
Theoretical
resolutions to the conflict aren't clear either. Consider
Atwood's theme of compliance and obedience. The many women—and
men—in the novel who comply with the new regime could
be condemned for their acquiescence, although reluctantly,
most Handmaids accept their fate without rebellion. But on
the other hand, there is the sense that any opposition would
be futile. Those who join the resistance movement are often
captured and publically displayed after execution. The rest
of the world looks on with apathy; some try escaping to nearby
neutral Canada, but no allies have stepped in to restore order.
In fact, there is one scene where Japanese tourists visit
Offred's town and look at the Handmaids as an attraction,
going so far as to take a picture. The outside world has seemingly
turned a blind eye to Gilead.
While
the novel is far more effective when fully explored, it can
also be enjoyed on its most superficial level. Regardless
of how involved a reader chooses to be, the book's strengths—like
the compelling plot, extraordinary prose, and sci-fi imagining—can
be appreciated on their own.
Atwood
is unquestionably a gifted wordsmith who demonstrates control
over every sentence she writes. Depending on the mood she
wishes to portray, her prose can be breathtakingly beautiful
and poetic, or it can be brusque and to the point. Because
Offred controls the majority of the story, it is important
that her narrative is evocative and expressive. During moments
when Offred summons her, visions of her young daughter evoke
pain and longing. A sense of urgency and panic engulf the
pages when she is scared of being caught in an illegal act.
In this sense, readers are drawn into the story on an emotional
level even if they choose not to dissect the complex themes
and symbolism.
As speculative
fiction, Atwood sends a cautionary message through the novel.
We may not have ended up in the future Atwood admonished some
20 years ago, but the warning still holds today. Whether enjoyed
for the skillful prose, interesting story construct, or provocative
themes, The Handmaid's Tale has earned its spot as
a new classic.
(July
2009)
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