The Handmaid's Tale | The Handmaid's Tale Book | Summary

 The Handmaid's Tale | The Handmaid's Tale Book | The Handmaid | Summary

INTRODUCTION:

The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, published in 1985. It is located in New England, in the immediate vicinity of the world power, dictatorial, known as Gilead, which overthrew the United States. the government. The middle actor and narrator is a woman named Offred, one of the group known as the "maids", who were forced to produce the children of "commanders" - the ruling men's class.

The novel explores the themes of oppressed women in a patriarchal society and the various ways in which they resist and strive for independence and independence. The title of the novel echoes parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's series The Canterbury Tales, a series of connected stories (such as "The Merchant's Tale" and "The Parson's Tale").

Talemaid's Tale won the 1985 Governor General Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987; was also nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award, the 1986 Booker Award, and the 1987 Prometheus Award. The book has been used as a 1990 film, the 2000 opera, the 2017 television series, and other media outlets.

In 2019, the next book, The Testament, was published.

BOOK:

SUMMARY:

In the aftermath of the deadly attack on the President of the United States and the majority of Congress, a powerful political party called the “Sons of Jacob” is using economic ideas to start a revolution. The United States constitution is suspended, newspapers are scrutinized, and the former United States of America is transformed into a military dictatorship known as the Republic of Gilead. The new empire is moving quickly to consolidate its power, surpassing all other religious groups, including traditional Christian religions. In addition, the state is reorganizing society using a different interpretation of some of the ideas of the Old Testament, as well as a new model of war, of extreme social and religious conflict between its newly created social divisions. Above all, the biggest change is the severe restrictions on human rights, especially those of women, who are not allowed to read, write, own property, or manage money. Most importantly, women are deprived of the ability to control their reproductive functions.

The story is told in the story of a woman named Offred. In this age of pollution and radiation, she is one of the few remaining fertile women. Therefore, she was forced to produce children for the "Commanders," the ruling class, and is known as the "slave" based on the biblical story of Rachel and her maidservant Bilhah. In addition to the maids, the other women were also socially segregated and followed a strict dress code, placed very high and low: the Commanders' wives in blue; Redmaids with white veils and faces; aunts (who train and teach Handmaids) in brown; the Marthas (cooks and maids) are green; Econowives (the wives of lowly men who handle everything in the domestic sector) with blue, red and green stripes; young, unmarried white girls; and black widows.

The details of his life begin with his third assignment as a Handmaid to a Commander. Focusing on her account of her modern-day experiences are the backbone of her life before and during the transition, including her failed attempt to flee to Canada with her husband and child, her life training as a Maid by Aunts, and the escort of her friend Moira to an educational institution. In his new home, he is being mistreated by his wife, Commander, a former Christian communicator named Serena Joy, who supported the work of women and underlings before Gilead was established. To Offred's surprise, the Commander asks to see her outside the "ceremony," a fertility rite that binds the maids and intends to conceive in front of his wife. The two began an illegal relationship in which they played Scrabble and Offred were allowed to ask for his favor, either verbally or materially. Finally, he gives him a garment and takes him to a place of concealment, which is run by Jezebel. Given he meets Moira unexpectedly there, he too will be violated, and learns that those found breaking the law are sent to the Colonies to clean up toxic waste or allowed to work Jezebel as punishment.

In the days leading up to her visit to the Commander, Offred also learns from her shopping partners, a woman named Ofglen, of the Mayday resistance, an underground network working to destroy the Republic of Gilead. Unaware of Offred's criminal activities with her husband, Serena begins to suspect that the Director is infertile, and plans to have Offred initiate a secret sexual relationship with Nick, the Commander's servant. After their first sexual encounter, Offred and Nick began dating on their own, Offred discovers that he enjoys these moments of intimacy despite her husband's memories, and shares potentially harmful information about his past with her. However, shortly thereafter, Ofglen disappears (reportedly committed suicide), and Serena finds evidence of a relationship between Offred and the Commander, prompting Offred to consider suicide.

Offred tells Nick that he thinks she is pregnant. Shortly afterward, men arrived at the house wearing a secret police uniform, Eyes of God, informally known as "Eyes", to take him away. As he is being led into the waiting van, Nick tells him to trust him and take the men with him. It was not immediately clear if the men were actually members or members of the Mayday opposition. The offer is still not sure if Nick is a Mayday or Eye member who does the same thing, and he doesn't know if leaving will make him run away or get caught. Eventually, he gets into a van with his uncertain future.

The novel concludes with an epilogue of the event, described as a text part of the 2195 annual conference of the international organization. The speaker of the day explained that Offred's account of the events of the novel was recorded on cassette tapes later acquired and written by historians to study what was then called the "Gilead Period." Professor Pieixoto made a sexual joke about Professor Maryann Crescent Moon, which created laughter in the audience - highlighting the pending issues regarding women's attitudes, and her ignorance of the situation.

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