A dystopian world of sexual revolution where women are subjected to just be baby-making machines other than be more than what they can actually be.
It is definitely Margaret Atwood's vision of a feminist's nightmare.
Offred, a handmaiden in the Republic of Gilead, tells her story filled with flashbacks of her in the past before the world she knew and loved once changed for the worst. In her past life, she had an affair with a married man, Luke then he got a divorce and married her and had a daughter together. Gradually time flew by when the chemicals and pollution caught up to society that fertility rates went down. To avoid the catastrophe of being extinct, a new government arose from the ashes and put a tight leash on Women's rights. The only status a woman were given were either to be Wives, Econwives, Marthas, Unwomen, Jezebels or like Offred a handmaiden. Handmaidens were sent to the Red Center to be taught by Aunts to realize their duty is to serve under Commanders and to bear them a child, nothing more nothing less.
Offred is on her third house, her last shot into being impregnated to avoid being an "unwoman" where they are sent to do hard labour 'till they are of no use and die. She serves under a Commander who is nothing but power hungry and is very ostentatious. The Commander's wife, Serena Joy, a name that which she isn't lived up to. Serena Joy hates Offred the minute she knew of her coming and despises her because she must subject to her husband basically making love to the handmaiden right under her nose--Literally. Offred on the other hand doesn't enjoy this at all, what Offred wanted and still wants is her freedom. Freedom to read, to write, to feel, and be a woman of her choosing. A society filled with restrictions and status that she resides in cannot offer any bit of it, it's do or die.
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