lllustration of six women wearing long, loose red dresses

The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

Start Free Trial

Ideas for Group Discussions

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

No other work by Atwood has sparked as much public debate as The Handmaid's Tale, making it an excellent choice for stimulating discussion in any reading group. The most obvious topic for consideration is its compelling thesis that religious conservatism worldwide threatens to undo the achievements of the modern Women's Movement, potentially leading to the horrific subjugation of women under a renewed patriarchy. Additionally, readers should explore Atwood's underlying assertion that the roots of women's oppression are deeply embedded in theology. While her primary focus is the Judeo-Christian tradition of the West, she also weaves in elements from Islam, Hinduism, and other religions. Atwood's claim that every political circumstance in the text can be historically documented is worth pondering, especially the impact of consolidating so many practices into one societal framework. For those acquainted with other notable dystopias, a brief comparison with Huxley's Brave New World or Orwell's 1984 might help to illuminate the assumptions behind Atwood's fictional world and identify where her vision aligns with or diverges from her predecessors' views on ideologically driven totalitarianism.

Another controversial aspect of Atwood's critique is her examination of the censoring tendencies arising from abuses of public expression and violent outbreaks in free societies globally. The novel prompts readers to reflect on the cost of freedom and the potential consequences of restricting what can be said or thought. Atwood is equally critical of both feminists and fundamentalists on this issue, mocking those in both groups who advocate for a rigid imposition of their ideology for the supposed "good" of society. It is worth considering how political idealisms, regardless of their position on the spectrum, can fall into the trap of absolutism and intolerance.

The novel's depiction of an ecological catastrophe invites discussion about the plausibility of its dystopian scenario and the connections Atwood makes between consumerism, militarism, and environmental disaster. By placing infertility at the heart of this crisis, she creates a clever intersection of legal, religious, and scientific debates about human behavior. This could spark lively discussions about alternative scenarios addressing human infertility, including contemporary issues like surrogate motherhood and in vitro fertilization.

1. Why are women the primary targets of the new social order established in Gilead? What other groups are targeted, and why? Why are race and gender hierarchies so crucial to the ruling elite in this society?

2. How does class stratification both blur and reinforce other categories of differentiation in Gilead? Why are class distinctions so vital to the functioning of this society? How are those in the lower social ranks kept in their place?

3. Atwood's stories are often set in Canada and feature Canadian characters, but this particular one takes place in the U.S. Does this setting continue her critique of what she has referred to as "Americanism"? What does she identify as uniquely American about Gilead and the historical and cultural factors that have created it?

4. Why is religion central to the backlash against women's liberation that Atwood envisions for the late twentieth century? What assumptions about women does it allow, and what actions based on those assumptions does it promote? Why?

5. What is Offred's perspective on the world, and how does it influence her actions before the revolution? How is she portrayed at the beginning of the novel when she is introduced as a "handmaid"? How does her attitude toward her situation evolve throughout the story? What triggers these changes, and where do they lead her?

6. What do the relationships among women, both before and after the revolution, reveal about women's role in the dystopian reality that has overtaken them? How are these tensions manipulated and institutionalized in Gilead to prevent women from organizing to change their circumstances?

7. What role does Offred's mother play in her daughter's imagination? How does she symbolize the Women's Movement of an earlier era? In what ways is she mocked, and in what ways is she justified? How might Moira be seen as a continuation of the older woman, and how is she distinctly different?

8. How does the relationship between the Commander and his wife Serena Joy exemplify the nature of gender relationships in Gilead? Are they a happy couple? What cracks exist in their relationship, and what opportunities for resolution does the state provide?

9. Consider the Puritan implications of the novel's New England setting. What is "Puritanical" about the elite's views on sexuality? What promises are made to women regarding the protection of their sexual dignity? How does the focus on procreation backfire on both women and men? What does this suggest about the ability of any political system to regulate human sexual behavior?

11. What is the Commander like? Is he surprising in any way given his elite status? In what ways does he embody a stereotype of male behavior? What does he want from Offred? How important is it that we know about others he has tried to possess in the same manner?

12. The term "gender traitor" is based on very specific ideas of "proper" masculinity and femininity in Gilead. How can women be considered gender traitors? How about men? Why is homosexuality a particular focus in this context?

13. What type of relationship does Offred have with her husband before the revolution? How does political upheaval alter it? What happens to her family after the revolution? How does her earlier relationship compare to the one she later develops with Nick? What does this latter relationship suggest about the potential for heterosexual bonds beyond Gilead?

14. Why is "telling" this story so crucial to the novel's themes about women's voices and their fate under patriarchal systems like Gilead? Why is it significant that we have been "listening" to tapes Offred recorded after her escape? What implications arise from being denied the closure of knowing her ultimate fate?

15. How does the novel's final framing device enhance our reading experience? What impact does projecting the narrative beyond the life of Gilead to a distant future have on us? Why place Offred's tapes in the hands of academics who seem primarily interested in their historical value? Is the struggle for feminism truly over?

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Previous

Teaching Approaches

Next

Suggested Essay Topics

Loading...