The Handmaid’s Tale was an original book series written by Margret Atwood. It was made into a television series in 2017 and just recently came out with its final 6th season. The series is about a totalitarian society subjecting women to being child-bearing objects. It is set in a time where the United States went to war and Washington D.C, overthrowing the U.S. government, declaring themselves as its own government called Gilead. This new society believes in unequal social classes and women being subjected to if they were able to conceive children. The series goes through very harsh and heavy topics. It has brought attention and knowledge to people that a society like this is possible if people don’t speak out for their beliefs. It’s an example of what going down the wrong path of political power can do to a government that has an overpowering ruler.
Watching this series was very intense as it had many very detailed visuals of what the inhuman society looked like. The series brings attention to current day rising concerns such as dictatorship. The republic of Gilead is based on men that are in power and control every aspect of the state they created. The only “right” and purpose women have in this government is to carry the rich families’ babies. The women who are not able to provide that face very violent consequences. The women are stripped of every human right like reading, writing and even have their conversations monitored at all times. There are also very violently gruesome punishments in the storyline. Women who do not obey these rules are often hung or get non-surgical removals of their body parts.
All this being said, the series follows one of the handmaids, June Osborne, who fights to end Gilead throughout the entire show. It demonstrates a strong female lead that is able to take control and lead powerful groups to end Gilead. It is a very intense watch that leaves you feeling disturbed after every episode. If you are looking for a series that ropes you in and has very developed themes, I would 100% recommend this series. The show has a very harsh message, but it’s crucial to understand the possibilities a country could have when there is a very unequal balance of power. Especially the result of dictatorship, that represses politics and human rights and how that leads to a distorted society. It also faces the theme of women having the only duty of being birth givers that stem from historical values. That idea is not how women should be seen in the current day, it alarms viewers of possibilities when countries don’t speak in time of political crisis.
After finishing the show I have felt very aware of what could happen under dictatorship and now understand why it’s so important to educate and be aware of political things happening with the government. Even though it’s a very intense watch, it pulls you in and has a very powerful message to acknowledge and continue learning about.
