The Newest Season Of Handmaid's Tale: Our Future | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Newest Season Of 'Handmaid's Tale' May Be Our Future

With recent legislation and the opinions or our policymakers, Margaret Atwood's version of hell is not that far away.

1157
The Newest Season Of 'Handmaid's Tale' May Be Our Future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAXy_NyUN6k

I read "The Handmaid's Tale" in high school and immediately started watching the show when it came out on Hulu. I was captivated by June's story and Atwood's way of telling it. More importantly, it was the first dystopian story that I saw some of our own world in. The TV adaptation of Atwood's famous novel provides audiences with images that look exactly like our modern world, taking us through all of June's experiences from living in America to Gilead. It is all the more eerie to see exactly how the repressive world Offred (June) exists in came to be. All of the characters exhibit normal, human characteristics and it is easy to understand how Gilead came to be.

For those who have never seen the show or read the book, Margaret Atwood created a world in which religious conservatives have taken control of the American government and the Republic of Gilead is the new United States. In this nation women, who are fertile are trained to be "handmaids" and are distributed among "commanders", the elite men of the society, and their families. Handmaids are used exclusively for birthing purposes. Sex is completely outlawed unless it is between a commander and his handmaid and a family only receives a child if their handmaid produces it. Following the birth, the handmaid is shipped to another home and will never see her child again.

Despite aspects such as excessive violence, torture, and otherworldly human rights abuse, at the heart of Atwood's world is the principle that women exist exclusively as a vessel for childbirth. The leaders of Gilead have decided that women are worthless unless they can produce children, which, other than housekeeping and childcare, is pretty much the only job a woman can hold. Handmaids are regularly raped and forced to deal with life as a slave to whatever commander they currently work for.

I think the reason why Handmaid's Tale resonates with audiences is that it is not hard to see the United States turning into a Gilead-type world. Women being used for their bodies is not a new concept. Between the history of sex slavery, sex trafficking, and the sex industry it is clear that women are highly sexualized. Women have always been taken advantage of for physical reasons, but they have also always been restricted in terms of childbirth. The idea of women not being able to control when they have children has always been a point of contention. While legislation should work in our favor, recently it is has turned abruptly in the other direction.

With laws restricting access to abortion and access to birth control across the country, it is clear that many legislators consider it a responsibility of women to bear children regardless of their own life circumstances. The reality that giving birth is supposed to be the first priority in every woman's life and that they are not even given the option to choose otherwise is scary. Women are moving closer and closer every day to being valued only for their capability to reproduce. If we aren't careful, Gilead is always just a few more laws away.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

131872
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

30473
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

28020
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments