Women's Issues in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale

Download or read book Women's Issues in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale written by David Erik Nelson and published by Greenhaven Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2011-10-26 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Handmaid's Tale depicts a dystopian society in which a religious dictatorship assumes control of the United States, turning the country into the Republic of Gilead. In this new society, women are stripped of autonomy and often relegated to roles such as servant or childbearing maid. Since the book's publication in 1985, it has become a popular point of reference to guard against government interference in women's rights and issues. This informative edition takes a critical look at Atwood's life and writings, with a specific focus on key ideas related to The Handmaid's Tale. The book collects a series of essays pertaining to feminism, sexism, and religious fundamentalism, creating points of discussion for readers that are both modern and relevant. The text also discusses contemporary women's issues and presents perspectives on topics such as surrogacy, same-sex marriage, and modesty.