A BOOK REVIEW

“THE HANDMAID’S TALE”

By: Margaret Atwood

Daryl Jan S. Salem BSIT-III

Isa May Villardo
English 21 (Introduction to Literature)
  The Handmaid’s Tale
Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home
of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs
are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allow to read.
She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes
her pregnant, because in an age of declining births. Offred and the other
Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable.
Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love
with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when
she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge.
The book was published in 1985. The genre of the book is Anti-utopian (or
“dystopian”) novel; science fiction; feminist political novel. The intended
audience for this book are probably women.

 Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood was born November 18, 1939. She is a Canadian
poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, inventor, teacher and environmental activist.
She has published seventeen books of poetry, sixteen novels, ten books of non-
fiction, eight collections of short fiction, eight children's books, and one graphic
novel, as well as a number of small press editions in poetry and fiction.
Her writing style in her novels, short stories and even in poetry uses a similar style of
writing. A style that is not only distinctive but also effective. Much of her work deals with how
men not only empower women but how they manage to hurt each other. Her purpose in writing
this novel was to show the consequences of a reversal of women's rights.

 Content
Offred is the main protagonist of The Handmaid's Tale. She is a woman in her thirties who
is forced to work as a Handmaid in the early years of the Republic of Gilead, due to the fact she
is still capable of bearing children. She is the former wife of Luke and the mother of a young
daughter; she later begins a relationship with a Guardian named Nick, whom she develops
romantic feelings for.
The Commander says that he is a sort of scientist and was previously involved in
something similar to market research, pre-Gilead. Later, it is hypothesized, but not confirmed,
that he might have been one of the architects of the Republic and its laws. Presumably, his first
name is "Fred", though that, too, may be a pseudonym. He engages in forbidden intellectual
pursuits with Offred, such as playing Scrabble, and introduces her to a secret club that serves as
a brothel for high-ranking officers.
 Serena Joy is a major character in The Handmaid's Tale. She is the Wife of Commander
Fred, who is using Offred to try and obtain a child, being unable herself to conceive. Offred states
that Serena Joy's real name is Pam, and that Serena Joy is a stage name. Before the creation of
Gilead, Serena was a televangelist and talented singer, who advocated for women to return to
'traditional' family values and roles and supported Gilead's creation.
Ofglen is a neighbour of Offred's and a fellow Handmaid. She is partnered with Offred to
do the daily shopping.Nick is the Commander's chauffeur, who lives above the garage. By Serena
Joy's arrangement, he and Offred start a sexual relationship to increase her chance of getting
pregnant. Moira has been a close friend of Offred's since college. A lesbian, she has resisted the
homophobia of Gilead society. Moira is taken to be a Handmaid soon after Offred. Luke was
Offred's husband prior to the formation of Gilead, having divorced his first wife to marry her.
Offred is my favorite character in the novel, but it isn't only due to the face that she is the
protagonist of the book. Offred refused to give up even when she found herself in such a
submissive position. She stands with bravery. She never lets Gilead or the commanders take who
she is, and for that, she will be my favorite character in 'The Handmaid's Tale'.