Society in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Essay -- Handmaids

Atwoods feminism is an integral part of her critical approach, justas her sentiment of criticism is inseparable from her creative workWalter Pache (1).A dystopia is a fictional society, usually existing in a future timeperiod, in which the characterise of life is extremely difficult due todeprivation, oppression or terror. In most dystopian fiction, acorrupt government creates or sustains the poor calibre of life, oftenconditioning the masses to see the society is proper and just,even perfect. Most dystopian fiction takes place in the future but intentionally incorporates contemporary social trends taken to horrendousextremes.The novel, The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood focuses on thechoices made by those controlling the society of Gilead in which change magnitude the population and preservation of mankind is the mainobjective, instead of freedom or happiness. The society has undergonemany physical changes that have extreme psychological consequences. Ibelieve Atwood sees Gil ead as the result of attitudes and events inthe early 1980s, which have spiralled out of control. The HandmaidsTale reflects Atwoods views and critiques on civilisation. In aninterview with Gabriele Metzler Atwood says, There is nobody in thebook that hasnt already happened. All things described in the bookthe great unwashed have already done to each other(2). end-to-end The Handmaids Tale Offred is constantly conscious of herlife before Gilead. This is reflected in the sections of the bookheaded Night. Offred often refers back to her life with her daughterand Luke, Luke was in the living room. He put his arms around me. Wewere both feeling miserable. How were we to know we were happy, eventhen? Becaus... ...e extreme, she managed to visualise adystopian world, which suppressed peoples freedom of choice. Atwoodis known as an outspoken defender of humanitarian values, an able andactive advocate for womans rights and for freedom of speech NathalieCooke (6). indeed I do believe that Atwoods novel The HandmaidsTale offers a very strong critique of American society in the 1980s.Bibliography(1) Walter Pache A Certain Frivolity Margaret Atwoods Literary Criticism(2) Gabriele Metzler Creativity An Interview with Margaret Atwood(3) Bernard Richards Margaret Atwood(4) Gabriele Metzler Creativity An Interview with Margaret Atwood(5) Lorna Irvine Recycling Culture Kitsch, Camp and Trash Margaret Atwoods Fiction(6) Nathalie Cooke Lions, Tigers and Pussycats Margaret Atwood (Auto) Biographically