first appeared in 1985, at a time when its dystopian religious-state future seemed to some to be -- potentially, at least -- just around the corner. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority organization had emerged as a major political player, along with other evangelical leaders; many decried the rising tide of "secularism" and demanded that their God combine forces with the state. At the same moment, the expansion of mass media -- tame by today's standards, but notable at the time -- gave many the feeling that, with the vast increase in cable channels and the abolishment of the "Fairness Doctrine," the possibility of state control of the media was a real and present danger.
How naive some of these fears seem today -- not because they were groundless, but because when these things really came to pass, they were a good deal more insidious -- and darker -- than anyone back then could have imagined. It's little wonder that the novel has come back into prominence today; Atwood herself has written about the power it's had in its new (juxta)position. The current television series starring Kate Moss is certainly one sign of this renewed relevance; this graphical adaptation by Renee Nault is surely another. Nault, like Atwood, is Canadian, which certainly gives her an ideally parallel perspective on Canada's irksome southern neighbor, but she's also a generation younger, a native of the dynamic, cosmopolitan province of British Columbia. Her style is very much influenced by other arts of the "Pacific rim," drawing in particular from that of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. In particular, the presence of red in a dark world is even more dramatic -- not only is it, of course, the color of the habits assigned to handmaids, but it's the color of blood. It's a bright, bright red, spilling onto and over the frames and margins of the page. Nault has talked about her approach, but bear in mind that, as with our other books, it's we the viewers and readers of this book in whose eyes and hands the ultimate judgement of her success rests.
The Handmaid's Tale is a cacotopia fiction novel about a future where the United States government has been brought down and replaced with an authoritarian state known as Gilead. Gilead is led by a government led by god that passes laws based on the teachings in the Bible. The Handmaid's Tale revolves around a woman known only as Offred, who works as a handmaid, a class of fertile women forced to wear white bonnets and red robes. Women in Gilead have very few rights. In my opinion, this was a fantastic graphic adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale. The book's art style was perfect for the story, and it was impeccably told in this condensed model. I loved the artwork, and various of the scenes were transported very effectively with the bold use of the color red, which defines the handmaids with their red uniforms. The artwork is of such high quality. I believe that it supports the book entirely without visually swamping Atwood's very established dystopian society. It's terrifying how timely this tale is now, with religious extremists in the United States and elsewhere driving away women's freedoms to choose. I surprisingly found myself turning the book's pages rather obsessively because I was constrained to see what was created next.
ReplyDeleteBooks like this that reflect topics still relevant today are honestly timeless gems and just so fascinating to read. Although this book similarly discusses the “ideal” role of women also seen in The Stepford Wives, the biblical aspect behind The Handmaid’s Tale I believe is just as important and prevalent today. It’s actually a bit ironic how the Bible is used to indoctrinate women in Gilead on how to be submissive to men but other parts of the Bible addressing men’s treatment of women aren't included. In general, cherry picking what best suits us at the moment and is convenient I’m sure is something that translates across all encountered issues. I ultimately thought that the women in this book and the women in The Stepford Wives weren’t really all that different, other than the Stepford wives obviously being robots. In the end, whether is was through sexual relations or being inundated in a traditional gender role, they each lost their identity.
ReplyDeleteBefore starting this book, the only previous knowledge I had on The Handmaid’s Tale was my mom watching the show and telling me I probably shouldn’t watch it because It would probably make me anxious. Reading this book definitely made me a little weirded out and nervous all at the same time. The overthrow of the government that occurred created Gilead where the government was now pretty much up to God and religion. Once the new government was established groups of women called the “handmaids” were assigned to the elite who were having trouble having children. In Offred’s case, she had to have intercourse with her commander while the commander’s wife was in the room holding Offred and all the other handmaid’s had no freedom and were completely restricted to their commanders. The government would watch these handmaid’s every move no matter what they were doing. This book was an intense tale and is not something I would read again but I’m glad to say I did read it because it discusses problems like the power, free will, and sexual desire in society.
ReplyDeleteI personally had a tough time reading this book due the signifigance of religion within the plot. Not that it decreases the quality of the story, it 's more so that I have a complicated relationship with religion due to my own personal experiences. The people of color (Children of Ham) bit didn't help much either. So obviously, I'm going to be biased. The "ceremonies" were also a little unsettling to read, as they foreshadowed what would happen to Offred throughout the novel. Atwood's text is chillingly vivid, conveying the numbing effect on society and the individual that the abolishment of sexual desire and free will have. She insisted that every aspect of her society was based on something that existed in the real world, either now or in the past.
ReplyDeleteThe ending reminded me a lot of the novel Brave New World. Similar to how Offered was taken away by the Eyes but Nick tells her that the Eyes are really resistance fighters. In Brave New World, two characters named Bernard and Helmholtz are expelled from society and sent to live on an island for two, twin reasons. Primarily, they joined the Savage in fomenting a rebellion and disturbing the peace. The islands are actually utopians full of people from around the world, for individuals who did not fit into the social model of the World State. The main antagonist, Mustapha Mond outlines for John, the main character, the events that led to the present society and his arguments for a caste system and social control.
I as well thought of Brave New World when reading this. The idea that due to breaking free of the societal norms causes banishment.
DeleteBrian Gilbert- I think the idea of banishment applies on a much greater scale then the classic physical banishment. How often are people banished from social strata due to their unwillingness to fit our boxes. Transgender people are a great example of this, as are bisexual people. Why cant people be both men and woman in a sense. Their are men who are caring, empathic and sensual. Their are woman who are strong and deterministic and impulsive. And we are all really a mix of both feminine and masculine traits. The greater question is can we forge a world were gender holds no power over choice.
DeletePrior to reading the book I had watched the first episode to the televisions series over the summer. However, I could not continue watching. The first episode made me very uncormfortable therefore, when I saw we had to read this I was nervous. Although, the book is just as odd, I was not as anxious reading it due to not physically seeing the odd traditions. The Stepford Wives is close to the Handmaid's Tale as they have women jobs and roles. In the Handmaid's Tale the women are not just used for house hold duties but also intercourse with the man of the house so the women of the house would not have to carry a child.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Pauley
DeleteIn Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive. I decided to focus on Offred's character. Offred's past is ultimately what makes her present so unbearable. If she had never known any other way to live, then it would be easier for her to accept her lot in life as a handmaid. However the fact that she had experienced so many more freedoms before the coup and the chemicals and the pollution that changed everything, makes it all the more difficult for her to adjust. Her situation is not unlike someone who has lived free and then suddenly finds themselves spending life in prison. Had they lived their whole life in prison, they would not know what it is like to live free, so they would likely handle it much better than someone who had to.
ReplyDeleteHandmaid's Tale provides a strong and interesting commentary on society, politics, and religion. Perhaps, the most fascinating and prominent theme is the usage of religion to control people and snuff individual freedom. We see the government warp and change theocracy as it sees fit. Molding the populace's beliefs to whatever is convenient. Granted, certain beliefs are set in stone, and certain policies derived from very real doctrines, some practices are bewildering in light of their supposed justification. This runs central, to one of the greatest horrors of the book: The Republic of Gilead. In modern, secular governments rules are often laid out by what the government can or can't do. In old, nutty, totalitarian dictatorships, rule of law is defined by what people cannot do. It's more than a extra rules: it's a total paradigm shift. Crucial movements, such as feminism, aren't merely trampled upon they're fundamentally obliterated by their environment. Your right to be... well, just "to be" doesn't exist if you're someone they don't like. Everyone is made to fit a mold. And disturbingly, to some it's not a problem. And even to those who're suffering it's just the way things are.
ReplyDeleteI find your statement about warping theocracy to be interesting Breanna as the very appeal of religion is its intrinsic mailability. The obliteration of feminism goes hand in hand with the obliteration of many others concepts such as sexuality and freedom of expression. I think one lesson we as a species continually lose sight of is the subjective nature of morality and ethics and how tied to environment such ideas really are. Its easier to hold to traditional concepts of morality when you are well fed, feel safe and have access to a stable outside world. Take those things away and time and again people of both genders fall into barbarity. V for Vendetta is a great example of this concept. While I agree feminism is a crucial movement I think it is one of many and the error is thinking it is crucial as a natural law, when it is rather a crucial evolution of choice and higher thinking. We are after all in the end just animals and all we achieve as "humans" balances on the edge of a knife.
DeleteBrian Gilbert
ReplyDeleteHaving read many similar books I already was well acquainted with the ideas and themes of The Handmaids Tale. I feel the graphic novel has more punch as the imagery really brought home the ideas of the book. Of course the book had more weight in some ways but for people in our modern world the graphic novel is a faster way to the same place. I love Atwood's use of language. And the concept of never let the bastards grind you down... I think one of the most powerful aspects of this book is the way it illustrates the role of both genders in the tragedy and horror of Gilead. Obviously men are the drivers of the regime and its choices yet you have the wife who supports and aids in the rape of the main character. A question that I think deserves more attention is why do some woman as well as men support such actions and even work towards a Gilead in America and other cultures? The simple answer is ignorance, fear or lack of choice. But they ignore the idea that men and woman are not as different as we wish them to be and its the larger force of human organization that is at fault. The unthinking bureaucracy of banal evil. And the challenge of true equality that transcends gender and simple answers into the mess of democracy and true choice. Every day.
This was the first time i ever read or saw the film. I much enjoyed reading the novel. The way the novel is written and how Atwood writes is fantastic, i really much enjoyed looking at the drawings by Nault, I'd look at both pages first then read and look at the drawings again. It's crazy how this back then was so accepted the Handmaid's didn't know love just that they had a month to be fertile, it just saddens me the trauma they must have gone through.
ReplyDeleteTess Collins
ReplyDeleteTo begin, I was immediately struck by the brazenness of this novel. Without mitigation, Margaret Atwood depicts a dystopian future where one’s stature is determined by their gender and affluence and one’s treatment by others is determined by the color of their robes. The novel is told from the protagonist, Offred’s point of view as she lives in the confinement of a Commander’s home and is routinely raped for the object of procreation, as the population is declining, and childbearing is no longer commonly rewarding. Atwood confronts themes of sexism, misogyny, and gender roles, without negating to examine and criticize the female characters and their multifaceted contribution to the system.
When frequently asked if she considers her novel to be a “feminist” work, in her introduction, she plainly states, “If you mean an ideological tract in which women are angels and/or so victimized they are incapable of moral choice, no. If you mean a novel in which women are human beings – with all the variety of character and behavior that implies – and are also interesting and important, and what happens to them is crucial to the theme, structure, and plot of the book, then yes” (pg. XVI). It is extremely important to Atwood that the female characters she portrays show depth and dimension, make selfish decisions, and get angry and resentful just like any other human being. I found this to be a very interesting and featured aspect of the book.
Although I could see how unjust and appalling this social framework was, I also found myself chastising Offred for being imperfect and for not handling the oppression more suitably. This sentiment is obviously ludicrous and is a prime example of how victim blaming, and internalized oppression can play a role in these dictatorial systems. For example, in order to convince themselves that their complacency does not make them complicit in the rape and murder of hundreds of Handmaids, Commanders’ Wives would choose instead to blame these women for their distasteful role and categorize them as sluts and whores.
I think that is a very vital perspective in many situations. The victim blaming is endemic of our cultural view of hyper individualism and impossible models of what we are supposed to be, rich, thin etc.
DeleteI have never read The Handmaid's Tale; however, I remember watching a clip from one of the episodes and it looked like a decent show from that. I’ve been meaning to watch it, because after now reading the book, it seems very interesting. I really liked all the drawings and how great of a writer Atwood really is. The Handmaid's Tale is about life in Gilead, which is a totalitarian society. Where the suffering of Offred and the many other Handmaids is due to the state's desire to own and control women's fertility, which is insane. The power dynamic between men and women is another big topic being displayed throughout, which I found interesting. As well as the book also shows how sexual desire and free will play a role on the problems we have in society.
ReplyDeleteOlivia Bradstreet ^
DeleteReading The Handmaid's Tale was different than I expected. I knew nothing about the story, only seeing the occasional commercial for the ongoing current TV show. I definitely enjoyed the change of pace in reading a graphic novel, which is much more my speed if I'm being honest. I actually mistakenly started reading the book first, and got close to halfway through before I realized I was not reading the correct material. I can say for sure, I enjoy the graphic novel far more. As Professor Potter mentioned in the lecture, the visuals really emphasize and enhance the story. The pacing is also far better. I find the entire story a bit slow, but maybe that's part of the point. Afterall, a lot of the Handmaid's time is spent just waiting.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting, and more so scary to think something like this could possibly occur in our world. I kept thinking, how could any one want to purposely diminish another class or type of people just for their own superiority, and then I realized this happens all the time throughout history, and today. Really gives you a better thought process for treating others and world view.
Karina Nunez
ReplyDeleteLike many others the first time I heard of The Handmaids tail it was from the tv show. It has caught my attention from the time I saw a preview of it and now that were reading the novel its made me want to watch it even more. Margaret Atwood did a tremendous job at detailing this story. Though in my opinion its very twisted and I would hate to live in a world where our rights and freedom would be taken away. From reading the book and watching a few episodes I was drawn in immediately. No one wants to ever imagine living in a society where women are used just for specific duties. To be forced to procreate and have the life you were used to ripped away is unimaginable. To have your child being taken away from you, as well to adapt or try to adapt to a world that is no longer yours is hard to grasp. Though forced Offred is very brave for being able to hold her composure when its easier to just give up. I look forward to watching the film and seeing how related they made the film to the book and what details were changed.
Shannon Duckworth
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw that we were reading this graphic novel I was very excited. I have watched the first season of the show and was curious to see how the two compared. Before this class, I had never read a graphic novel, and I really enjoyed it. The illustration’s next to the words really helped me and made me understand what I was reading better. It really brought the book to life. The whole idea of the womens rights being taken away is very scary and intimidating to me. We can see how easy it was for the world to change in the blink of an eye. The writing style had me turning the pages and needing to know what was going to happen next.
-Paige Francis
ReplyDeleteJust like many others in the class, the first time I heard of The Handmaids Tail was from the television series. Now, I have never been a fan of tv shows that take place back in the day so I never gave it the chance. I hear many good things about it however I’m not sure if I will be a fan. I did however enjoy the graphic novel. Unlike the other books we have read so far, this book I feel really brings the story to life by incorporating pictures. It helps the reader get a better mental picture of what is happening in the book. Also, the idea that woman should have no rights and should be controlled by a man still occurs today. It is sad that we see that these things still have not completely been resolved in the world. This book shows the absolute horror the poor woman have to face because they are seen as worthless objects. It is extremely unfortunate that we still see some of these incidents today.
Sabrina Soler
ReplyDeleteI've heard of The Handmaids tail from the television series. This was my first time reading a graphic novel and I really enjoyed it. The pictures helped tell the story and bring it to life. It also helped me better picture the scenarios of the story while reading it.
I have only heard of the handmaids tale from friends and family who have watched the television show. I had never read the book, but I was very happy that the book was a graphic novel because it makes me feel as if i was apart of the book.
ReplyDelete- Lindsay Nadeau
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the handmaid's tale was centered mostly around religion and politics made it a little tough for me to really get into. I am not necessarily passionate about those topics myself, but I did enjoy how strongly the novel focused on feminism and a women's role in society. In my opinion it is quite sickening how Offred's main duty in society was to produce children, many generations ago this was the normal for women. They were expected to birth many children and stay at home and care for the family while doing things such as cooking and cleaning, not having much to any sense of independence. I am just very glad to be living in a generation where things are no longer like this, well at least in the U.S. I know some countries still have power like this and downgrade womens independence which is very saddening.