One sentence summary
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian, feminist novel, written by Margaret Atwood, about a society in which women are subjugated and devalued.
Book genre
The Handmaid’s Tale is classified as a dystopian novel.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of The Handmaid’s Tale is the oppression of women in an extreme dystopian society.
Key ideas
The key ideas of The Handmaid’s Tale are:
- Women’s Oppression: The book explores how power dynamics can be used to oppress women in a world where their rights, autonomy, and freedom are limited.
- Gender Roles: The book also tackles the deeply entrenched gender roles and expectations in society and how these can contribute to the subordination of women.
- Resistance: The book focuses on the idea of resistance, and how marginalized people can fight back against an oppressive system.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
The book has three main parts:
- Part One: This part introduces us to the protagonist, Offred, who is a handmaid in the oppressive Republic of Gilead. We see how the women of this world have been stripped of their rights and reduced to being the “vessels” of men. We also get a glimpse at the strict and brutal power structure of Gilead.
- Part Two: In this part, Offred begins to remember her previous life and her struggles to survive in a world that is hostile to her. We get a better understanding of the way in which power is used to oppress women and how they are forced to become subservient to men. We also get a glimpse at how Offred is attempting to resist the oppressive regime.
- Part Three: In the third part of the book, we see Offred’s struggle to resist her oppressors and retain her autonomy. We also get a better understanding of Offred’s inner struggle, as she grapples with the consequences of her decisions and tries to survive in a world that is very much against her.
Key takeaways
The key takeaways from The Handmaid’s Tale are:
- The book provides a stark portrayal of a dystopian society in which women are systematically oppressed and devalued.
- It examines how power dynamics can be used to oppress people and how people can fight back against an oppressive system.
- It highlights the deeply entrenched gender roles and expectations in society and how these can contribute to the subordination of women.
Author’s background and qualifications
The Handmaid’s Tale is written by Margaret Atwood, a Canadian novelist and poet. She is best known for her novels, which explore themes such as identity, gender, and power. Atwood has won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Governor General’s Award.
Target audience
The Handmaid’s Tale is aimed primarily at adult readers. However, the book is also appropriate for older teenagers with an interest in complex dystopian literature.
Publisher and first publication date
The Handmaid’s Tale was first published in 1985 by McClelland and Stewart in Canada.