Past Present Future The Great Political Fictions: The Handmaid’s Tale
Jun 20, 2024
Delve into the dystopian world of 'The Handmaid's Tale' discussing Gilead's origins and potential futures. Explore themes of replacement fear, ideological basis in society, and the ruthless takeover of a dystopian regime. Analyze the oppressive society of Gilead focusing on power dynamics, roles of women, and parallels to real-world issues. Contemplate catastrophic events shaping dystopian futures and the importance of societal trends.
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Vague Yet Specific Setting
- Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale lacks a specific date, unlike other dystopian fiction.
- However, historical references place it approximately 30 years after its 1985 publication.
Timeline Clues
- The Handmaid's Tale offers clues about its timeline, including a dated afterword set in 2195.
- Offred's memories further help pinpoint the story's timeframe.
Offred's Holocaust Documentary Memory
- Offred recalls a childhood documentary about the Holocaust, featuring an interview with a death camp commander's mistress.
- This memory, along with other details, suggests Offred was around seven or eight in 1985, placing the main story around 2015.