The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margeret Atwood in 1985, is a dystopian saga that has current relevance as if it was freshly penned. It is a tale of male dominance, reproductive rights, power and control. The setting is a futuristic community named Gilead located near the former Harvard Square in Massachusetts.  Women, who were still able to conceive, were required to bear the children of the ruling class.  They were called handmaids and wore red garments that obscured their identity. Almost like nuns, but not quite. The Handmaids were essentially a womb that carried a baby to term. The ruling class men would conceive a child with the Handmaid in the presence of his wife. While there are no graphic sexual details, Atwood paints the scene between the three participants very effectively. 

This book has been censored in numerous places since its publication. Recently, graduating senior Annabelle Jenkins gave a copy of this book to the Superintendent of the school at her graduation ceremony. The book had been removed from her school library along with other titles such as Like Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. Both books were deemed not suitable for students at the West Ada School District due to the graphic imagery.

Jenkins had already been in conversation with school officials, according to the Idaho Statesman, but felt the censorship needed a stronger platform.  School officials felt her actions diminished the importance of the graduation ceremony.

According to PEN America book censorship continues to increase. They report 4.349 instances of book banning across the US in 2023.

What do you think of the book the Handmaid’s Tale? Of course, comments for or against should come from those who have actually read the book.