The Handmaid’s Tale

"The Handmaid's Tale" is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, set in a totalitarian society called Gilead, where women's rights are severely restricted. In this regime, a declining birthrate leads to the subjugation of women, particularly those who can bear children, called Handmaids. They are forced to reproduce for elite couples. The story follows Offred, a Handmaid, as she navigates her oppressive environment while grappling with her lost freedom and identity. The novel explores themes of power, gender, and resistance, raising profound questions about autonomy and societal control.