A Tale of Biblical America

 A Handmaids Tale

By Margaret Atwood

In the near distant future according to this novel American society goes back to strict biblical roots. In the future the state of Maine is part of the country called Gilead. It is a country based on biblical precepts. The story opens up with a main character imprisoned in some sort of dorm. She ha a ritual to follow and she is not exactl a free person. The story narrates the life of thse handmaids who are forced to cover up puritan style and be dressed in red. The handmaid are there to poduce ofspring fo families who cannot have children. In the future a virus wupes out the reproductive ability of certain people which is here the handmaids come in. They have to endure so they can produce an heir. Since they are prisoners of sorts if they fail to concieve they can be sent to the colonies. Some colonies are farming colonies while others are colonies that clean nuclear waste. Those are a death sentence.

The change over seems gradual. at first she is living a normal life and then slowly the religious regime strips away the rihts and freedom o women. With her daughter and husband Luke they try to make an escapre from Gilead to Canada or England. This gets her imprisoned. She is seperated from her family. Wondering where they are always keeps her in check. She is the property of the Commander. Since he and his wife canno concieve they try using her. all former prisoner are like slave workers. THe main character falls for a man named Nick who is the commanders driver. Teh commander begins to have a relationship with the character. Fist it is in the room playing games like scabbl or chess. Nothing romantic . Then he takes her to a gentleman's club. the affair comes more physical.  In the time the commanders wife realizing the fmily cannot concieve uges the main character to have an affai with Nick and concieve.

While at the gentlemans club she reconnects with a friend called Moira who escaped. For a biblical society they sure have their Jezebel's. Eventually a plan is concoted for the characters escape.