The Handmaid's Tale, Part 1: Crash Course Literature 403

[@TheGabador]

Atwood said in an interview that everything in the Handmaid's tale is based off of something that did happen before. Every torture, situation, punishment, is something that is brought back from History into her story.

[@GustavoRodriguez-qr5po]

Louis Bélisle or Saudi Arabia today

[@robynsun]

Yeah my English lit teacher doesn't shut up about that part but doesn't actually teach the novel

[@rebecca4680]

That message by Atwood was in the writer’s notes at the beginning of my copy of Handmaid’s Tale

[@thethrowawaythatstayed7055]

She did! It makes it all the more scary

[@aritrabha]

Similar things did happen with Yazidi women under the ISIS regime

[@justopher8487]

John Green, 2017: Because reading isn’t illegal…yet The Handmaid’s Tale in 2022: *on a ban list*

[@Mimi-xi1bm]

As an English Literature university student, I wish everyone taught novels like John Green

[@eventsteven7921]

Mimi Well he also pushes the left agenda sadly

[@Mimi-xi1bm]

Awww yeah I know. It's so sad that he cares about other people and encourages others to do so too ;)

[@Isaiah_McIntosh]

As an A level literature student john is not teaching in these videos. He is summarizing and along the way introducing topics of interest to research, ponder or discuss. You should have at least read the book before coming here regardless however it is necessary to study the book and its relating literature critically due to the purpose of this format and the need for multiple critical perspectives.

[@Mimi-xi1bm]

That's true, but I was thinking about the tone he uses :) My A-Level teacher went through line by line and it turned these extraordinary texts into the dullest things. It's not possible to cover every aspect of the book in these 10-15 minute videos obviously, but he still manages to get you excited about the texts and he stresses why it's impotant to learn about them :)

[@rebeccamacpherson8820]

The great thing about Crash Course Literature is that you shouldn't have to read the book before you watch the video. John Green discusses the text to a level that gets anyone intrigued to read further; inspiring humanity to value the opportunity we have to reading and critiquing the world around us. Maybe as an A Level Literature student you would know to spell John with a capital.

[@aymeahrens1283]

What's always creepy about dystopian fiction are the little whispery echoes of reality you read between the lines of the story. I keep thinking about how much our culture prizes, even worships, women's power to bear children, yet elevates infant and fetal care over maternal, and marginalizes and dehumanizes mothers.

[@cjemmeson109]

An example is the general (note: general - I'm not saying this happens everywhere) lack of paid paternal leave. This means that after a woman has had a child, she must stay home to care for the child herself, or outsource the responsibility to a family member or childcare centre. It is difficult for her husband (I'm only talking about heterosexual relationships here, please excuse the oversimplification) to care for the child unless he actually quits his job. This means that for any employed woman who is reluctant to palm her child off on anyone outside the immediate family, she has little choice but to take leave herself - thus removing herself from her work, and making advancement more difficult. This has been cited as a reason for the gender imbalance in powerful positions such as CEOs or politicians.

[@aymeahrens1283]

As a mother myself I have been struck by how little my own opinions, values, and yes, even rights, mattered once I conceived. The hospital and insurance company dictated when I would give birth, and where and how, and what my prenatal care looked like, and what would be done to my baby afterward. Outside the hospital, the way people treated me changed immediately; I became a vessel for a baby that belonged to everyone, and I could be criticized or questioned by anyone about the choices I was making. I'm fortunate enough to get to stay home with my kids, but if I couldn't I would have faced a cruelly short maternity leave, putting my baby into daycare where his psychological and physical needs are unlikely to be met. I would have been placed back into a job where expectations of me had not changed despite the lasting effects of birth, lack of sleep, and nursing, not to mention the emotional trauma of being separated from my child. The icing on the cake is thr expectation that women look "back to normal" as quickly as possible after birth.

[@oliveoconnor5589]

Ayme Ahrens you have always a last say about medical decisions. also do doctors "decide" the right time by how birth is safest for you and your child. dont make them out as dictators over your life when they are indeed saving it

[@VickiTakacs.]

Olive Boy are you naive. They push for caesarean because they get paid more and many do act just like dictators. Don't you have any idea of the war going on here against Holistic Doctors? It is crazy how many have magically died in just the last year.

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Ayme Ahrens Luckly, dystopias can never happen, just like utopias.

[@AndromedaKai]

This story terrified me even more then 1984 because it was from a perspective of a woman. It made me feel alone and vulnerable and very much scared of the future.

[@americancitizen748]

Liberals wan't you to be scared. Then you are more easily manipulated by Democrats.

[@vinceknox4425]

Agreed, there was a different kind of terror. As a man, I had no perspective of what horrors could happen to women in a dystopia. Atwood didn’t use anything that happened that didn’t already happen. The history of how women were treated is horrendous.

[@vinceknox4425]

American Citizen Conservatives constantly use fear tactics, it especially appeals to their lower-educated base. All politics have to have a type of fear - it’s one of the strongest instincts we have. It’s not just one group doing it.

[@shirleycarpenter9610]

To Andromeda and All of you who missed the obvious....... This is not fiction nor dystopia...This happened here in America.......It's called SLAVERY.....I've been waiting for someone to pick up on this for 2 years. You missed all of the earmarks of this horrible history that Blacks had to endure: l. Changing of your name 2. Hangings 3. Your children taken away from you 4. Raping of the Black Women 5. Forced worship/ religion 6. You need papers in order to leave your commanders home 7. The resistance is/was the Underground Railroad 8. It happend in America 9. Etc....

[@liberalbias4462]

@Reg Eric no its not.

[@centreoftheselights]

The first time I read the Handmaid's Tale, I was quite young - around 14 - and I had found the book in my school library. Fatefully, it had been misshelved in the non-fiction section. As the book is written in documentary style, I spent the whole experience of reading uncertain of whether the story was fiction, as I hoped, or whether this was a true tale of some far-off country I had never heard of. I think it says a lot about the quality of the writing that in spite of the extremes depicted, I still wasn't entirely convinced that the story wasn't real.

[@Mimi-xi1bm]

Wow that's so interesting. Thank you for sharing!

[@merrittanimation7721]

That's disturbing

[@ceroman]

The book sought you

[@dreamdarts6401]

actually, the story did happen in the U.S when they were in slave times

[@nyxxu9967]

I was 13 when I read the book and it horrified but fascinated me on so many levels

[@elizaashley2110]

It's okay John, you can say J. K. Rowling

[@Artbug]

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[@leedent6796]

Yippie-Kai-Yay you're now gay

[@dr.vikyll7466]

@@leedent6796 Soooo, J. K. Rowling just told me that you are gay now, and Trans and *Insert skin colour*

[@imperiumgrim4717]

@@leedent6796 Roasted

[@thethrowawaythatstayed7055]

Elizabeth Weeks-Noxon she who must not be named. 😆

[@Kaotiqua]

Handmaid's Tale was always horrifying. In the current climate, it's _terrifying_ .

[@kkhar1589]

Wait!... He’s THAT John Green?

[@MichaelTurner856]

Blew my mind to

[@englishmuffin7]

Yes xD

[@britishcodfish1472]

Felt the same way when I found out years ago.

[@pavanisiliveru2407]

Yes

[@kingofthebis1068]

Yeah he wrote a book about one of his KZbin fans who he befriended

[@Jason-mg3fk]

English classes in high school and college: spend an hour to slowly drone on about a book. John Green: spends 10 minutes gripping my attention and making me want to, and in many cases, actually read these books. Why can’t professors make us this excited about books

[@armedwombat6816]

For starters: John only has to do this once and knows it will mostly be watched by those who are already interested in the subject. A teacher has to do it every year for an at least partially unwilling and uninterested audience. Even if you started motivated and excited, sonner or later the enthusiasm will start to fade.

[@Summer-qv6mf]

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS MAN FOR YEARS AND NEVER REALIZED HE WAS THE JOHN GREEN. ALL HAIL TO THIS LEGEND WHO TAUGHT ME 8TH AND 9TH GRADE HISTORY.

[@katiemcmillin6467]

He has multitudes!

[@oliverpaszkowski2457]

Offred She is Of fred She is Offered Handmaidebs wear red, she is off-red.

[@krystalharris1259]

Woah😯

[@debravanriper8334]

I like Off red better.

[@margaritam.9118]

I would taken on the name Offcool then :D

[@denanewton1518]

Oliver Paszkowski k thanks ...

[@adraude_]

@Lars Hildebrandt it's a very vivid red ;-;

[@horseenthusiast1250]

By the way, Margaret Atwood is definitely a literary genius. Her prose is absolutely gorgeous, and if you’ve only seen the tv show, go read a copy of the Handmaid’s Tale. It’s horrifyingly beautiful.

[@recklessroges]

Long before the tv show there was also the film of the book.

[@likeastarbaby]

the tv show is much better than the book. the book was frustratingly lacking in detail of the world she was trying to build, yet each scene was painfully over descriptive and tedious. the tv show is actually answering all the questions i had and has consequently made the story a lot more interesting and the characters a lot more three dimensional. the offred in the show is actually rebellious and thinks and sounds like a real person whereas the one in the book was just a robot who did what she was told. just my opinion anyway.

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

I’ll go to the bookstore right away, also what other cool books has this amazing women written?

[@valhalla1240]

The true genius of Atwood isn't even that she wrote about something so daring, but rather that she managed to decunstruct storytelling in order to serve a more meaningful plot. When I tried writing a novel about my own experinces with sexual assault, I realized very quickly, how little my tale lived up to established plot-devices and storytelling-rules. I was often told a good plot consisted of an "active" protagonist, who felt "in charge of his/her destiny", who's life felt less circumstantial and rather l"ike a direct result of his/her actions". I was also told to never write about my own experiences, considering "most lives are too boring to read about". But who are the ones, who's stories match these criteria? Mainly straight white middleclass able-bodied cis-men of course. They're the ones who rule most aspects of life, they're the ones, who's actions are the most consequential, for themselves AND others. They're also the ones so blatantly ignorant to presume no one could possibly live through something worth reading about... Atwood's genius is that she spotted heroism in the quietest character-trait: resilience. She values inner conflict over outer. She shows the most vibrant rebellion in an act as small as spreading butter over your hands. This isn't just an attack on patriarchy outside of literature, it is a direct affront to the patriarchy hidden in the history of storytelling itself.

[@paularodriguez726]

This book completly broke my heart. I truly had to recover before reading another book. I believe it's fantastic and enjoyed it sooo much

[@Angela-pj5xy]

I don't understand how this can be understand except as deranged anti-Christian screed how are people so ignorant as to take this serious at all.

[@davidnmorrismorrisactor7117]

Paula Rodriguez the book resembles too much like Scientology you don't have to believe me compare the handmaidens tale to Scientology and judge for yourself when art imitates life

[@leaveme3559]

Can someone suggest another good dystopian book to me

[@davidnmorrismorrisactor7117]

Paula Rodriguez its too much like War of the Worlds and Scientology

[@davidnmorrismorrisactor7117]

The Kamal Kartik ya Scott Fitzgerald

[@unktheunk1428]

john's admiration for Margret Atwood is palpable

[@qtheplatypus]

Reading is not illegal yet. Fahrenheit 451 .?

[@aukluk]

Reading was illegal in Handmaid's Tale too.

[@megashley1963]

That's the point. It's only in fiction that reading is illegal in the US (as of yet).

[@merrittanimation7721]

aukluk Only for women. The men can read though it's difficult to actually find anything to read.

[@mjones2431]

Have you ever heard of a (I don't know how to pronounce it...) L...I...B...R...A...R...Y?

[@rubiebarker5152]

M Jones That is an irrelevant point. In the book they burn books and destroy many. And of course the people you sent this to have heard if libraries, they 're just saying that they could imagine in the future of the US it becoming illegal.

[@armorsmith43]

Is there a noncreepy word for having a professional crush on someone? Like where you are all “ohmygod I want to learn all the things from you”, but in an entirely boundary-respecting way? Because I feel like John has that about Atwood. I want there to be a word for this, because I’ve felt it.

[@Lucky10279]

Hero worship?

[@Lucky10279]

Deep respect and admiration

[@dearone1]

Clever crush? ;)

[@okuno54]

Role model?

[@zachlee5588]

Andrew Farrell admiration

[@FirstRisingSouI]

Why wasn't I required to read this in school? It sounds awesome!

[@rozempire2843]

It is

[@armedwombat6816]

Because it's reading, it's critical of moral values people would associate with Christianity so it would make conservatives angry, it was written by a woman...

[@ricksaeta1975]

We read it in 10th grade...

[@makaylamariehutzel9723]

In school what age do you mean because there is sexual content in the book. As well as saying it sounds awesome, that’s kinda a disrespectful way to put it I know you didn’t mean it like that but it kinda is because of what is going on in the book.

[@catherinemiller5994]

​@@armedwombat6816 I live in a conservative town in Texas. We read it in school. Gilead's doctrine is henpecked Christian text used support their religion of misogyny. In fact, they tend to detest people of other Christian denominations (killed Catholic priest and nuns, Baptist family run out of town).

[@CharlesAbell]

….4 years later..we are still getting closer to this…

[@plinioamaral6736]

Hey, where's "Young me from the past"??? He used to attend the literature classes.

[@Aleph-Noll]

i think those are only for books he read when he was in highschool or otherwise young

[@plinioamaral6736]

Guess so, miss him though...

[@joshbobst1629]

And World History. Maybe since this is Lit 400, he's too mature to be a comic foil now.

[@micaelaroyo4837]

Lol, maybe he graduated 😂

[@TheLadyRochester]

He must have skipped class today

[@thatjillgirl]

I read this novel for the first time recently in preparation for this series. Earlier this year, I read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I was feeling a lot of eerie echoes of Persepolis when reading The Handmaid's Tale. Even more reminder that it could happen. Also I found the part near the beginning when a group of Japanese tourists is visiting the town to be particularly chilling. It was even more evidence that Gilead wasn't some weird isolated dystopia that had totally stopped having interaction with the rest of the world. The rest of the world was still very much there. And yet the government takeover was so thoroughly successful that it didn't matter that life was proceeding normally in other countries. It was to me a very clear reminder that Gilead was not to be regarded as some strange phenomenon that could never actually happen but a very real threat.

[@merrittanimation7721]

thatjillgirl Happily Iran as described in Persepolis isn't as extreme as Gilead, though not in their methods. But the scene with the tourists was pretty disturbing, even compared to the wall of the executed later that chapter.

[@thatjillgirl]

Oh yeah, Gilead is worse for sure. But the sudden change in what women could wear, how men could interact with women, what items were legally available for sale, etc. all reminded me of Persepolis.

[@kayeeelelwhyyy]

second year doing this book in my lit class and its so life changing. favourite quotes are when she goes off on a tangent and then says 'that didnt actually happen, heres another version' or 'you dont tell a story to yourself, theres always someone, even when there is no one' also the PLOT TWIST in the historical notes

[@merrittanimation7721]

I read this book early this year and it horrified me to learn how closely it resembled Afghanistan under the Taliban. Mostly because when the book was written they were just one of many groups in the Mujahideen and had as much chance to be in power as the others

[@johns4314]

I’ve read a dozen of Atwood’s novels, two collections of short stories and two books of poetry. She is one of the giants of literature and a world treasure.

[@liamdude5722]

The ending of the Handmaids Tale kinda reminds me of Lemony Snicket, the way he constantly says that he wishes he could end his story with the Boudelaire orphans happy and with Count Olaf in jail.

[@amy-fe1pp]

Covering two of my favourite books back to back... so satisfied

[@goldenleaf8256]

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE WRITES A GOOD BOOK DOESN’T MEAN THEY MUST WRITE MEANINGFUL AND ELOQUENT TWEETS. THEY’RE HUMANS WHO JUST WANT TO COMPLAIN LIKE A REGULAR PERSON.

[@ceroman]

"Complain"

[@YvonneKa]

No need to yell.

[@Artbug]

+

[@nutsaboutnames3805]

When I first heard about 'The Handmaid's Tale', I read that it's about women trying to use agency, and I expected them to use way more agency than they did. So having that expectation, the book was even more heartbreaking than it would have been without it.

[@lovelysan]

Handsmaids Tale was one of the books that I was always happy to have read. It's terrifying in many ways, but also a great read. Thank you for this video giving it a highlight! Also, yeah, I know there's a Hulu series, but I haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I'm just kinda scared I'll be constantly comparing it to the book. haha. Glad it's getting good exposure though!

[@jordanrenee9415]

we read it in class & watched some of the series. it’s actually a pretty accurate representation of the book.

[@horseenthusiast1250]

I found out about the book by watching the show (then I read the book bc I’m not an animal), and while the prose couldn’t be translated to the screen, I think the cinematography is a good substitute, and the show really holds up

[@mcsmaria28]

lovelysan I love this book! I also haven’t watched the Hulu series for the reasons you stated.

[@valchior4]

Ok

[@DQABlack]

Moira fares a little better in the hulu version (although it is still similar) and the series is so popular that it looks like it may be continued from here, but generally speaking it's pretty true to the book

[@angelfahlife6000]

It took me a second to realise this was John Green, I started freaking out and I wanted to tell someone but then I realised it was 3am and I live alone 😂.

[@freya7016]

Love The Handmaid's Tale, love CrashCourse and love John Green but one thing that might be considered petty to point out is that in the Thought Bubble, Luke and Hannah are depicted like in the TV show, non-white, and additionally there is a black Handmaid, despite the fact that in the book, non-whites are sent to the Colonies as mentioned in this video. I feel like the animations were modelled on the TV show, which might be confusing for some when discussing the original work.

[@whitneyl149]

BRUH just read it it's worth your time it's SO GOOD

[@9786oof]

Whitney L who will I analyze it w tho

[@quleughy]

Agreed. Just finished reading this a few months ago. Well worth the read.

[@noemielisep]

Theres two seasons in the backwoods of Québec: 1) Giant hoards of bugs trying to suck out your soul season and 2) Minus 40 degrees freezing depth of winter season. You cant win.

[@dorothybloomberg9144]

I bought 8 copies of his new book because guess what all my family members are getting for Christmas

[@americancitizen748]

How cheery.

[@CynfarLP]

You must be fun to be around

[@LEO-xo9cz]

Thankfully I'm not a family member.

[@stephanieking7391]

I would have loved that

[@maryhildreth754]

Its wonderful to find a video that discusses its topic without inserting political opinion about US politics after 2016. I have so much respect for those creators and I hope they stay around for a long, long time

[@violetmoon1587]

The puff is reemerging

[@johnarbuckle2619]

Violet Moon +

[@Glossen]

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[@dwnash001]

+

[@17spyguy]

I feel like realistically enslaving a whole class of people and running a theocratic patriarchy would be really counter productive to curing a dangerous global low birth rate epidemic. It's a great book highly worth the read

[@thatjillgirl]

I'm not sure the declining birth rate was global in the book though. The infertility issues were implied to have stemmed from pollution and toxic materials. Presumably less polluted countries were not suffering the same fate.

[@AoiLucine]

I think that's part of the point though. It's a cognitive dissonance you see in a lot of thoughts like that.

[@Albinojackrussel]

That's the point. And those in charge know it. But they're in charge so who cares right

[@sara_sah-raezzat5086]

I think that's part of the cautionary tale; don't look to fanatics to solve real problems. It doesn't matter what form of fanaticism, fanatics only make things worse. I think that's part of why the last chapter is historians looking back so we can see how brief Gilead's rule was, how it was doomed to faliure.

[@soapygirl83]

theocratic patriarchies rarely act in a rational or practical manner

[@miriambradsell7473]

All UK schools are shut so John Green is now my English teacher

[@nancypineda3973]

I know that John would never read this, but I Just love his personality, I know nothing about literature and I dont have much interest about it but doesnt stop me from enjoying this content and learn something way different than my field

[@Prince-wr5ou]

Anyone else here the day before their A-Level Exam on the book?:)))))))

[@shreyaseebs]

Lmfao how did it go? I'm curious.. Bc im studying it at school for my A levels :")

[@theisadiaries]

this book is just pure, unadulterated genius

[@triple0731]

Oh my gosh thank you, I've been needing this video since I started studying it at A Level. Thank you so much, your videos are a great help! ❤

[@hermionepurni9]

my dad was an activist for the people affected by the Bhopal gas leak. I was gonna read the handmaid's tale anyway, but now I'm even more excited

[@ayla6123]

I would love to see John talking about his own books. That would be awesome!

[@bandgeek9723]

I have a first edition of this book. I am proud of it.

[@asherteddington1694]

For anyone who wants to get through the beginning, he actually starts summarizing the book at 4:26.

[@ariannemaskey9371]

Gosh, this is one of the best episodes of CrashCourse Lit I've seen yet. Great job team.

[@lami2909]

The Handmaid's tale is so terrifying it makes me cry.

[@AnthonyRobinson-rc9yd]

Why it's just a book

[@elijahidemudia1607]

@@AnthonyRobinson-rc9yd You must be dense.

[@paulchristian7693]

Mae here....🙋🏻‍♀️ I stated reading it in 1984 but couldn’t finish it because it frighten me. It seemed too real. 😫

[@gemmaohlemacher]

I know this is being picky, but Luke is not black in the book. That was changed in the show. I feel it is important to specify because they use the baby girl against Offred later showing that she is healthy and happy with a family. All POC in the book were banished. I haven't seen the show yet. I am sure there is a good twist on it for the show but we are talking about the book here. Hopefully we discuss this in later episodes.

[@lucykeegan6303]

Gemma Ohlemacher in the TV show there are various people of colour, obviously to appeal to modern audiences. They don’t make any mention to POC being banished in the show. Seems the Thought Bubble artist was heavily influenced by it because all the Characters look like their TV counterparts.

[@taliakellegg5978]

i feel like pandering to the left is something you want to do in a ultra conservative distopia

[@thatboringone7851]

Lucy Keegan It wasn't to appeal to modern audiences, the people working on the show just thought it would make more internal sense for Gilead to try to maximize how many births happen under them (after all, their justifications early on hinged on "this is what we need to do to keep the birth rate stable"). From what I've heard, they aren't opposed to showing more of the racism element from the book later on.

[@user-th3lm9gd2u]

I'm studying this book for English A-Level. Am I alone in thinking that though an outstanding premise, the book is considerably flawed in execution? Don't get me wrong, the political parallels are fascinating and the world building is remarkable. But for me, I find that's pretty much it. Atwood seems so intent on creating an authentic world that she forgets to make anything happen in it. And I don't just mean in terms of action. Because when I have made these criticisms to my classmates the response is always 'nothing happens? but that's the point'. As John says in the video, the hero's journey isn't available to Offred and maybe that is the point. Firstly, I get that, but a good point doesn't always make a good story. And secondly, it's not so much that nothing happens, but rather that the story is unengaging because everything that happens, does just that: it happens - and nothing more. I understand that in such a repressive society, the novel's events cannot really be caused by the novel's primary characters; but it would be possible for Atwood to make these events have lasting consequences for the characters even if they weren't active in orchestrating them. I understand that this is a story which isn't character driven, but if that's the case, then surely you must make an even greater effort to make the characters engaging. And the characters in the novel aren't engaging. They have no real defining qualities, no aspects of their character which explain their actions. Why does Offred suddenly become outrageously reckless towards the novel's conclusion, "taking stupid chances" while visiting Nick, when any prior rebellion has been either forced by an external character (e.g. fear of reprimand from the Commander if she does not visit him in his study) or entirely internal (merely thinking about the past and dreaming of a return to it)? The only reason I can find is her visit to Jezebel's - maybe seeing Moira no longer rebellious inspires her to be more rebellious. Even if this implicit reasoning is true, my issue is this: we know from the Historical Notes that Offred does make it out alive. So in what way does she pay for her recklessness? In what way does she pay for any of the decisions she makes throughout the entire novel? Other than perhaps Ofglen, in what way does any character pay for any of their decisions. Every uncomfortable or tragic event is caused by the society that was shaped by events external to the narrative of the story, which though sad and interesting as a political allegory, doesn't make a good story. I know my thoughts are disordered, but does anyone have any response to my issues with the text and could maybe help me start to enjoy it and see the 'genius' in it that I'm clearly missing.

[@meatpuppet2136]

You are right that the book is flawed in execution, and incorrect that it is based upon an outstanding premise. It sucks in every respect.

[@eddiewillers1]

You are right - there are some searing flaws in the narrative. However, it's because of those flaws that, I believe, Atwood used the framing narrative device to present Offred's story from a point many, many years after it happened; this presents an easy way to avoid explaining some of the anachronisms and inconsistencies in the main text. For example, we are told that there was massive environmental degradation that led to dangerously low fertility levels - so why not use IVF? Framing narratives can be a lazy author's 'get out of jail' card in the same way as the deus ex machina.

[@moriahjmiller]

I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of the book - I wanted to binge read it all! However, about halfway through I began noticing the things you mentioned (among others) that took me out of the story. I found myself not enjoying it, and finishing it just to finish it. It was very disappointing because I started off loving it! I also felt a disconnect with the books having been originally tapes. I can see how the style could have been spoken, but that also made me think, “Wait, really?” Granted, the professors could have edited it...minor complaint, but a complaint nonetheless. Not really impressed with the book, but I could recommend it. I would say culturally it’s a necessary read right now in this political and social climate

[@robynsun]

What novel are you studying it with?

[@englishmuffin7]

I love your book, even though the anxiety i deal with isn't the same, it's similar. Ava captured me from her first words and had me on an emotional roller coaster and i relate with her mentally most of all. I get her way of thinking and how the things she was going through doesn't go away like magic. It's a real issue that will always be there, but can be lessened, snd this gave me hope during my first year in college. I love this book so much💖

[@smartpig555119]

If we consider as well the origins of "speculative" it provides us with an insight into how clever Atwoods self titled genre is; specifically in the case of The Handmaid's Tale. "Speculum", can refer to an instrument used to dialate a canal or orifice; a highly polished or reflective surface or can describe the colourful plummage of exotic or domestic birds. Atwood's a genius in layering meaning.

[@Nexusfighter]

I know you've probably already recorded everything...but please do an episode on something from Ursula K. Le Guin! She's written so many amazing novels :)

[@noahv7528]

Dear authors’ twitter accounts: why did you have to ruin my perception that an author I love isn’t a TERF?

[@arielaguilera96]

I will never get tired of John Green teaching me stuff

[@joyrowancasey788]

I adore both the book and the film The Handmaid's Tale and I am so hyped for season 2

[@charlottex5936]

Im using this for A Level revision so thank you!!! xx

[@marianaribeiro8830]

I love the Handmaid's Tale, haven't read the book but the series is amazing! Thanks for this video!

[@lucykeegan6303]

Mariana Ribeiro the series is very different from the book..they have obviously taken her ideas and built upon them. I really enjoyed both

[@clarity1984]

What a superb crash course! Margaret Atwood is truly a genius, though I must say THT broke my heart and shook me entirely. It's terrifying.

[@bootsofescaping01]

"seek restoration in a glorified past no matter how oppressive it is....when yearning for the future and grasping for the past...."😮👏

[@Autofill120]

Is there any chance "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo can be featured one of these days on the Literature Crash Course? It's a short read, but one of the most important in mexican literature (yes, more magical realism).

[@Ilichburger]

I miss when John had the twinkle in his eye (like in Crash Course World History)

[@Ilichburger]

I really wonder what happened

[@thickerthanwater42]

Ilichburger He aged by like 7 years maybe?

[@Ilichburger]

Ageing doesnt necessarily make you sadder

[@YvonneKa]

He speaks slower in these videos (that was a criticism of many in the earlier videos) so it may be that this is what your conflating with being down/defeated/without twinkle?

[@Ilichburger]

Oh that may be it! You are right! I have to admit, I loved that fast pace he used to have when he talked, so full of energy, but you are right there! Not tiredness, just a more gentle rythm

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

Really clever plug for a Turtles all the Way Down

[@fangirlfortheages5940]

This is one of my favorite books. Thanks for doing an episode on it!

[@goslin8629]

Stop comparing it to all of Islam, the book is about Fundamentalist Christianity

[@caesar0frome950]

The book has more in common with modern Islam then modern Christianity

[@TheZarkoc]

we'll in their defense the two are basically twins.

[@ellisartwist]

And 1984 is about authoritarian socialism but its often compared to the nazis. The direct reference of the book doesn't mean comparison with real life things it isn't explicitly about is wrong, bad, or dumb.

[@mad_max21]

The regression of rights happened in Iran after it became a theocracy under the mullahs. Happened while the Handmaiden's Tale was written. So yeah, we can compare it to Islam.

[@ToharaAmah]

It's based on fundamentalist Christianity. It's pretty obvious. We can stop pretending the Bible is some gentle book. I mean, have you *read* the Bible lately??

[@j00nebug]

I know this is a small detail, but I can't help but bump on John saying Moira was sterilized when she was re-captured. I'm pretty confident she says to Offred that she had her tubes tied ages ago. I'm sure many of the women in the club were, but that was a particular piece of agency Moira had excersied before it could be forced upon her.

[@eveitsnotthatserious1677]

You got me thinking now. I don't remember, I'm gonna have to dig up my book and look it up. But if Moira had her tubes tied previously how could she have been in training to be a handmaid? Her whole purpose as a handmaid is to bear children. She would've been sent to the Colonies, with the other "un-women". But , again, I dont remember. Time to re-read the book 😉

[@limedelta8]

I have to do a one-pager in English class on a book I’ve read. I decided on this book, because it’s just amazing.

[@Kamila_Koziol]

I'm so happy that apparently John Green is the person with whom you can fangirl and gush about Margaret Atwood. I also think she's truly spectacular and I'm sorta still not over the Nobel Prize for Alice Munro (though I'm sure her books are great I'm too into MA to be objective). The Blind Assassin and The Edible Woman are it for me.

[@rebeccakay2320]

I love John green and Margaret Attwood 😍😍

[@phoebehoward8398]

3.50 of the video feels too real now

[@NaumRusomarov]

Wow, the book really is soul crushing.

[@berniekatzroy]

Omg, I have been waiting for a handmaids tale crash course!

[@kristalcampbell3650]

I think not only CAN it happen but it HAS happened. Particularly in the USA enslaved women were handmaids. My ancestors were legally barred from reading and retaining their language and customs (under threat of torture and death) and we were separated from our children and partners to be systematically raped and "bred" like animals sometimes by other slaves under the direction of masters and other times by the master's themselves. Reading this to some extent felt like a window into what my great grandmother experienced right down to the editorializing that boils the attrocity down to "it was a different time we need to understand it", "some of them weren't treated badly", and " but it's interesting how it all worked as a system isn't it?". This was a difficult one to get through.

[@johnspence8141]

4:30 you're welcome

[@nathanielbrown5791]

I'm so glad this show is back.

[@dmknight08]

Off to read this book!

[@skyhunterloveu]

1:55-2:00 is Harry Potter fans when they read J K Rowling's or Pottermore's tweets

[@horseenthusiast1250]

I’m on my phone and on literally every video I watch, I have captions on...but this one is auto generated and therefore nonsense captioning :(

[@Artbug]

Those are probably correct

[@paularodriguez726]

The narration from audible is delightful

[@kimberlyrobinson3992]

Good analysis of the book. I have to quibble, though, with your comparison of Offred and Winston, from "1984", regarding retention of self-identity. It's an apples to oranges comparison. Winston Smith has never known what normal life is, whereas Offred certainly does. Winston was born during the wartime chaos that led to the party of Big Brother taking over. So, he's spent most of his life in the Party system and hasn't known another way of life. Freedom is something he can only dimly imagine, the same way a fish is dimly aware that there's life moving around on the beach but can't quite envision a way of life that doesn't involve being surrounded by water. Offred was an adult when Gilead was created. She had a fully formed Ego; she was a wife, a mother, an educated individual. It's not impossible to break a person like that down but it is harder. Plus, as a fertile woman, Offred does have inherent value. Winston really has none. What is terrifying is what will happen to the second generation, all the children in Gilead being born at the present time. They will be like Winston is. They'll have a vague hatred towards the system but they won't know how to act out against it. They'll be reduced to childish acts of rebellion like scribbling bad words against the government in a notebook -- the ones who ever learn how to read and write, that is.

[@fairyofdoom5009]

im so scared

[@km1dash6]

Offred is also off red. She's not just another Handmade dressed in red. She's different. We get to hear her story.

[@lulu-ug7hg]

as a woman living in a middle eastern country i chuckle at the fact that people think this is oppressive towards women...

[@leab.3393]

i‘ll write my final exam tomorrow, one topic is going to be dystopian fiction and your videos helped me so much, thank you! (: Greetings from germany

[@iBreatheCarolina91]

I finally read this, and that’s because it was required in my English class. So happy to have read this at the age of 27! Any younger, I would’ve been more confused. And older, I would’ve been sad that I waited so long. Such a fantastic book, and scary look at a dreary future for women. I’m excited to read the sequel!

[@crabyman3555]

well this is depressing.......I would fight and die, rather than let this sort of thing happen to my country

[@jnanashakti6036]

The most fascinating part... the prophetic use of Martha for the house women foreshadowing Martha Stewart's greatness.

[@yaumelepire6310]

Hi from Québec everyone! It's fun getting our little piece of home mentionned...

[@RGld-jg8rs]

I was reading Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, it's one of my favourite series. I was on Goodreads and was looking for similar books. I looked at a list called Strong Female Leads. The Handmaid's Tale was listed and reading the description and reviews was horrifying. The premise was abhorrent due to the fact it makes you consider a horrible situation which is completely possible. The following year the T.V series was released. My Literature teacher recommended it to us. She said "we are women who are studying literature, I want you to look at a world where you have the right to read taken away from you"

[@thelionskiln]

This book left me feeling haunted and almost lost, with my foundation shaken. All that said, It's a beautiful, and I enjoyed it so much. Has to be a top shelf keeper.

[@leslie6757]

The show is so much more enthralling and detailed, but I did enjoy the book as well!

[@Vesnicie]

Always appreciate John's hair-by-wind-tunnel look.

[@saltlight4005]

She nailed it. It’s the worst horror show I’ve seen.

[@youjustkilledmylife]

Reading some of the comments it is clear people haven't read the book... Also it seems that some things John refers to are from the TV series not the book. For example the thought bubble includes a "daughter of Ham" who could never have been an Handmaid and later the depiction of Offred's husband is straight from the show. Perhaps I am being pedantic but this did not sit well with me

[@TryinaD]

It's probably the thought bubble person (graphic designer) who refers to things from the show.

[@dearone1]

Fair point but possibly a bit pedantic - John does make clear that people of colour are sent off to the colonies, tbf.

[@fantasticbeck3938]

I find this video very helpful as I have to read The Handmaid’s Tale for my grade eleven English class. Very interesting and insightful.

[@tiaravenesa]

Boy, I miss John Green in Crash Course

[@JokerL1000]

Ill never understand why handsmaiden tale is so big when black women were treated like this for literally 400 years in america.

[@Ricefroid]

Slavery was not brought to North America until the British came, which was about 300 years ago...

[@irishmigit]

I don't believe they were raped and forced to bare the Master's children, or I've been reading the wrong books.

[@Jessica-uv9sp]

they were raped but not raped for the purpose of bearing children like the women in hand's maid tale

[@elleplaudite]

JokerL1000 Because it’s set in modern society, and shows what can happen when people get too comfortable in the status quo, and become too passive to resist before it’s too late. Because the oppressed had education and finances to start with, and it was taken away. It’s about fertility as a commodity. Because it’s 2017 and we’re still struggling to have the rights to rule over our own bodies. Atwood’s books seem so eerily timely, even though written decades ago.

[@MaureenMurphy_]

Um..black women weren’t forced to have children to repopulate the country lmao

[@famitory]

"This machine kills fascist" just the one, though.

[@deniseglines1705]

I was in high school when this books came out, I couldn't finish it. It was too close to home, too much like my home. Thanks to Crash Course for explaining parts I never read, maybe I will someday.

[@nimb321]

Well isn't that depressing. We're steaming towards this dystopia at full throttle with no breaks. Is America great yet?