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The Handmaid's Tale |
List Price: $39.95
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Reviews |
Rating: Summary: The Handmaid's Tale Reveiw Review: Saverio Montecalvo
English 12, 2004
The Handmaid's Tale
Book Review
This story is about Dystopia. It is the author, Margaret Atwood's view of what her real world Dystopia would be like. The story is about what could happen if the government and the people lose control of what they have. It shows what could go wrong and what life would be without order. There are not that many details when reading the book, of why the world had been turned upside down so quickly. You have to make up your own ideas on what you think happened and why it happened. I believe that the author left it that way so the reader could be creative when reading this book. You begin to ask yourself question on why, would the world would turn into such a religious society, which was once so sane, and peaceful. This society slowly takes over and eventually they run everything, even sex. All the women are given the choice to either be sent to "the Colonies," or become a handmaid. The Handmaids wear red robes, white blinders, and do there own shopping. At this point of the book this does not seem to be a life or death situation for anyone. You try to keep your head and not let the society take control of you like they have done everyone else, however this will shortly change. The worst is yet to come. I will try not giving away all the major details in The Handmaid's Tale. In the new society, you are not allowed to see your previous kids, family, porn, or the other handmaids. One of the parts that I didn't like was all the flash backs that she was having during many of the parts of the book. I found them to be very confusing and hard to figure out, what was going on. I had to read some of the passages a couple of times, some times more than others. However I liked how the author used the past to create a background of the main character, Offred. You may think that the names are weird know, but once you read the book, in the later chapters you will find out what the Handmaid's names mean. I also like the great detail in which the author described in the book. It felt like you were in the room, you know where everything was; it was like you wanted to reach out and touch something.
The only thing that I would change was, I would give it a proper ending as it does not have one and it is frustrating not knowing what happens. You will know what I mean when you finish the book. I felt like there should have been another chapter, on what had happened to the main character Offred and to the rest of the Dystopia.
I would recommend it because it is so different and interesting from anything else.
Rating: Summary: My Review Review: When a woman is not given the choice to create a human. She will become a person not even herself can come to know. For sex is the art of governing. The Handmaids Tale is a malicious story told in a way only one can feel sympathetic for Offred, a handmaid living in the Republic of Gilead. She is to be obedient and is considered petty to all that are not handmaids. This is a place that has continued without interference of the past. For Gilead's future does not consist of love anymore but arranged child births and marriages. Offred is a woman that only exists in this community for her ability to produce children.
This cause for the existence of a child is so the future can reek of children molded into what this nation believes they should be. My opinion, which I hope is obvious, is that no child's future should be chosen by anyone but themselves. A person should not be able to just sit back and marvel at the sexual suggestions being spewed out. These are innocent babies being torn away from ever being able to say a phrase like "I love you, I really do." Offred's body is not the only one of its kind being tortured numerous times. This is only a story told by one handmaid. I just don't see how anyone can be self-assured when a woman is being provided by another like property. And let this happen to these woman when they have never been subjected to these "ways" before. These people should get paid for being generally annoying and irritating. How can you expect one to be sociable and efficient. When they are treated as if they are only this set of names and faces given away with instructions. I am not only furious with the ways of Gilead but disappointed. I know theoretically women are smarter. But I did not think they would go this far to control us. These things should stay in the privacy of your own home. I demand these people to stop humiliating themselves. You think you're the future of "birth" just because you manipulate women. One word for you "Wrong." Because no matter what happens there will always be that no passion, boredom, emptiness, need, laughter, and energy to communicate in this terrifying picture of the world. Some will not be able to tolerate, for example me. There is no real principal behind it because Gilead's expectations are unrealistically high.
But some unrealistic things can be capable of existing. That's why I recommend this book. Because it helps you appreciate the way our government is now. I am personally against a lot the government does today. But after read this tale I have come to appreciate it much more. I know most of you are saying something on line of "This would never happen, so what's your purpose." Well I do have a purpose because anything could happen. Its not like we would have agreed with a person ten years ago when they said "Two planes will crash into the twin towers." Our government is not perfect and neither are the people trying live by it. I guess the biggest problem in our mind's today is time. Because we have come to accept this life we live. But ,maybe some day you should try thinking out of the box.
Rating: Summary: A life of sex while hanging on to hope Review: The Republic of Gilead is a place where no woman would want to be summoned for it is a place where certain women, called Handmaids, are used as sex slaves. A woman given the name Offred explains her life as being a Handmaid and how she once had the life as a wife and mother. Now she can only think of her past and appreciate what she once had and hope one day that she will regain some of it back. Offred continues to explain through out the book how she was forced to live with a man, known as the Commander of the household, and his wife to be used solemnly for her ability to give birth. As interesting as the life Offred is now living, she surprisingly slowly shares information of her past and how everything came to be. As the book prospers, you can't help to want to know the future of Offred and her past. As things become unbearable in the Republic of Gilead, it is as if you also seem to slowly lose hope of ever gaining change. The best part is not quite really understanding what is happening in the novel, yet wanting to understand.
I believe The Handmaid's Tale was fantastic. I liked how the author only allowed Offred to tell certain parts of her past at random moments. Because I am a woman and the fact that Handmaids were being used for there abilities to give birth made me want to find out if Offred would escape from her, so called, destiny. Knowing that Offred wondered what had happened to her mother, Luke, daughter, and sometimes Moira, also made you curious on what had happened to them. There were moments through out the book that would make you think there was hope on yet escaping but then around the corner was just the opposite. As the reader, I just wanted to know what would come of Offred. For example, there was a time where you thought maybe the Commander, of the household Offred was sleeping in, would be Offred's ticket home. Then there are many women of Gilead who, like Offred, are against what has happened which could possibly lead to an escape. Of course there was the possibility of Offred becoming pregnant. The Republic of Gilead amazes me from the arranged marriages to the hangings in town. The Republic of Gilead is an awful place as described by a woman given the name Offred. However, just as Offred's new life in Gilead prospers so does her outlook on life and her heart and mind is swarmed with mixed feelings and soon yours are too.
If you have an interest in novels that are based on the feelings and emotions of one certain character, you will enjoy The Handmaids Tale. I definitely recommend that people read this novel because it keeps your interest and it makes you think differently about life. After I had read The Handmaids I appreciated my life more. The Handmaids Tale has excitement, mystery, unhappiness, paranoia and even romance. If you want to experience the life a woman who has lost her past and now must live a life of sex, pain, love, and hope you should read The Handmaids Tale.
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