The Handmaid's Tale (1985 novel)

*The Handmaid’s Tale* (1985) by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in Gilead, a theocratic society where women’s rights are severely restricted. Due to declining birth rates, women called Handmaids are forced into reproductive servitude, their identities controlled by a rigid hierarchy. The story follows Offred, a Handmaid, as she navigates oppression and searches for personal autonomy amidst a government that enforces strict religious rules. The novel explores themes of power, gender, control, and resistance, offering a warning about the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of individual freedom.