Atwood's The Handmad's Tale; anybody?!

I disagree.

Did anyone find the historical notes provided a better conclusion to the story than did Offred's account? When Pieixoto revealed Nick was a member of Mayday, and that he did indeed attempt to get Offred out of the country I finally stopped crying my eyes out.

Again I disagree. That isn't the message presented in the historical notes. Offred’s story is almost trivialized and is insignificant in their admiration of the Commander and their glorification of Gilead. Furthermore whilst she inwardly resisted the system, it was ineffectual resistance, she didn't escape because of that. Her escape was due to her passivity and sheer luck. She made no attempt to save herself, even when given the opportunity. In fact the overall impression I got was - rebellion is inconsequential especially on the part of one indiviudal. There is no hope, the novel is merely a warning.

I thought that was a very clever narrative technique, it certainly kept me waiting in anticipation. Though I agree with the ending being a major disappointment.

You dont find out offred's real name do you? or have i just forgotten?

You dont find out offred's real name do you? or have i just forgotten?

In the first chapter she goes through a list of handmaid's names and the last one isn't mentioned again in the book... I drew the conclusion that that was her name

Has anyone read Alias Grace or The Blind Assassin? I enjoyed those a lot more

What did you expect? For the repression to go away? It's still here in society today... pornography, anti-abortionists, abortionists for that matter...

Hope manifests itself throughout the novel in many different ways. Even from the very beginning of the novel the handmaids have clung to their old names, symbolising their stoicism and independence. There names symbolise their individulaity in the face of an incredibly oppressive regime. This gives hope.

I was expecting a conclusive end, whether it was the 'end' or 'a new beginning' dear. I didn't particularly like the ambiguity (so please drop the attacking tone, it's my own personal opinion!) or the defeatist attitude. She could have escaped the situation but she was too cowardly to attempt any of the possible options presented.

would you argue it's not a feminist novel then?

It's a humanist novel (sorry W2s, I'm being interjectory). Extreme feminists (Offred's mother for example) are presented just as badly as their male antithesis. Atwood is encouraging tolerance - and if desire for gender equality is feminism, then I suppose that the novel can be classified as such.

I don't mind you interjecting. I think it depends on how you look at it. Although several feminist concerns are raised, such as the issue of survival, I wouldn't class it as a feminist novel at all. Perhaps that’s because I tend to look at how Offred is presented rather than looking at is as a feminist critique of reactionary attitudes towards women. As already mentioned Atwood tends to criticise the feminist left – similarities between the oppressors of Gilead and radical feminists like Offred’s mother is drawn (both restrict free speech, ban expressions of sexuality, etc). Additionally Offred is not a heroine; she was hardly proud or comfortable with her mother’s activism. Her pre-Gilead relationship isn’t exactly a glowing reflection of a feminist and her submissiveness, complacency and general passivity shows how she like many other women took for granted the freedom they once had. Furthermore in the novel the novel - women support Gilead’s existence by willingly participating in it (Serena Joy namely, The aunts = indoctrinate, Offred herself finds life bearable when allowed small freedoms). They serve as agents of the totalitarian state as long as they have some form of power/freedom regardless of how little it is.

you speak as if you abhor the novel but some interesting points!

I don't. I apologise if that's the way it's come across.

I was expecting a conclusive end, whether it was the 'end' or 'a new beginning' dear. I didn't particularly like the ambiguity (so please drop the attacking tone, it's my own personal opinion!) or the defeatist attitude. She could have escaped the situation but she was too cowardly to attempt any of the possible options presented.