Margaret Atwood: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale is being read very differently now’

[@mitchellswope6717]

She speaks so thoughtfully, I could listen to her talk for hours.

[@magussimon7221]

it's a he, not she...a deceiver...

[@peeweepixie3655]

ASMR.

[@MrUndersolo]

I had no idea it was written in Berlin when the wall was up. I think that adds a great deal to how I perceive it now. An amazing talent and a wonderful talk!

[@layunirocha7111]

I absolutely love her writing and her views on feminism. And her voice is so soothing.

[@billwilliams5889]

This woman is a Force of Nature. My lady and I have been watching “The Handmaid’s Tale” and are struck by how threateningly real it feels. She has spun a cautionary tale that should put all of us on High Alert.

[@thursoberwick1948]

High alert for the wrong people. Apart from the fact that she clearly doesn't understand her ideological opponents, she also unwittingly makes Gilead a socialist society (which has communal ownership and no cash), which is created by the Deep State mounting a type of coup, subverting everyday values and censoring everything. Oh and this communal state condemns most men from having sex at all. She did give us a warning, just not for what she intended. Her Gileadians also spurn fundamentalist Protestant values such as Bible reading for all, monogamy etc, or even the mention of Jesus (who isn't namechecked once).

[@davewriter100]

She has spun a cautionary tale that is right up there with Lord of the Flies, and THIS is why it NEEDS to be in more high school English curriculums. However, if the conservos want to restrict it because of the SEX and LANGUAGE (Christ forbid), then maybe it should be in a Grade 11 or 12 English class. Also, because of its advanced literary style, I would put this in a university course, as opposed to community college.

[@db5094]

@@davewriter100 We learn it in Year 12 (17 years old), and we handle it just fine, I think its important to have these discussions and break down meanings and motifs in the novel.

[@FunkyLookingDuck]

@@davewriter100 Currently reading it right now in 12th grade English class (Advanced Placement at least).

[@izamils]

@@davewriter100 I am actually going the non-traditional way of reading this book for my English 12 class (17 currently as well) and I am actually reading the graphic novel version of this book. My teacher allowed us to choose any book done by Margaret Atwood, and I choose The Handmaid's Tale as I'd always heard so much about it. I never realized what it was about until I read it, and I'm glad that I read it because it has changed my view on society.

[@stoneroses3493]

Such a clever and relevant book. Praise be, for this author

[@wild_burn]

relevant if you live in Saudi Arabia

[@hopedean6424]

@@wild_burn Tell that to the 11 year old in America who had to carry a baby to term

[@sangeetasharma912]

May the lord open

[@ceilingeye]

@@wild_burn relevant if you live in america. This is a book based upon AMERICAN and BRITISH evangelicals. the laws are based entirely on Christianity

[@DoodleMaster380]

Blessed be the fruit

[@crackheadvibez5318]

She predicted Roe vs Wyde being taken down 4 years ago.

[@dumbfrog6999]

I've been reading a couple of her novels and was curious to find out what she sounded like in person. She's amazing. I don't class myself as a feminist because the term can mean a multitude of different things these days, but Atwood's branch of feminism is something I deeply respect and support.

[@peppapig-mf4cs]

Kay Paperfrog Just like the high school requirements of a class called Future Home Makers of America, it was actual class they made my mother take in 1969, my mother who 70 years old took it and moved on to her college career to be a University Professor, she was one of 4 women in her accounting department the rest were all men, there was no FMLA for 12 weeks off if you did not return to your job, you just lost it! those were the times. My mom lost her job after child. My mother lost couple of years credit of senority, lucky she had nice male boss who offered her job back because the males were not getting the work done. People forget majority of people don't understand cost our prior females had to fight for, FMLA was formed in 1990s, it has not always been fair for women. So you don't have to be a feminist because someone else has done for you, so the luxury to have equal rights even for women to vote comes from these type of women, majority of them are from Baby Boomer Generations, the question remains can we maintain these rights and make it better for all women even the ones who think a women place is in the home.

[@nobodysXghost]

@Kay Paperfrog what kind of feminism dont you agree with? I dont understand how can you agree with what Atwood is saying and not consider yourself a feminist (a believer of equal rights between genders)?

[@thomaschristopherwhite9043]

@@nobodysXghost I believe she's talking about the fact that feminism is, in some cases, weaponized which creates an imbalance in how we conduct the law. You can see this in how mainly men are the ones who suffer financially when paying child support and alimony. When men that experience domestic abuse are often not taken seriously and sometimes ridiculed for their experiences and in worse cases jailed for causing their spouse injury out of self defense. Extreme examples of this would be considering flirting as a form of sexual harassment. Netflix has a 5 second eye contact rule. Of course some examples I've written down are just some of the extremes but it's there. And there's no line where moderate end and extreme begins, these are all gradients in this ideology we are trying to navigate through. I just hope we use our heads and find a good middle ground someday or our society will suffer greatly like it did before.

[@nobodysXghost]

@@thomaschristopherwhite9043 I agree that those are issues, but I do not consider that the fault of feminism. feminists have tried so hard to get where they are today and now when there are some extreme examples of unfairness from attempting to gain equality, society just jumps right on that opportunity to poison the feminist name. there is nothing feminist about the act of assuming custody to the female as default or assuming that women are the ones who get beaten and arent capable of being violent. these examples are not of feminism- just because it's an event in which a single woman appears to have benefitted does not make it feminist. feminism is not "a movement to give women the upper hand" it's about equal treatment, and those examples display the exact opposite. it's ignorant to think everything a woman does or benefits from is a display in the name of feminism, just like how everything a black man does or accomplishes is not an outcry or demonstration of his race.

[@hopedean6424]

@Secrets of She What about TERFs or SWERFs or anti-choice feminists? Would you consider these branches or would you consider them fake feminists? (Personally, I consider the first two to be fake feminists because they are most commonly the man-hating ones).

[@jasonaus3551]

This book was very relevent to us today in a very different way than it was to the fundamentalist Reagan 80's, where there was a sense of this from the West but today this is a commentary on "What if Sharia type laws were implemented in the west" even if the Author and TV show creators know it or not "Symbolism Happens"

[@matthewposey1211]

No matter what your views are, Atwood is an amazing writer and a Handmaids tale is definitely worth reading.

[@saysHotdogs]

I wish there was about three hours of her just reading from the testaments her voice is entrancing

[@mariamkinen8036]

The best thing we can do is to write on our emotions, feelings , n experiences. Life lived. Thank you for this one.

[@serahann1627]

Waiting for "The Testaments".. ❤️

[@bluemacaw1473]

She sounds a little like Meryl Streep.

[@OfftoShambala]

I totally agree about protecting the ocean and the real concern about losing oxygen.

[@isobel9427]

Atwood for president

[@doneestoner9945]

Unfortunately, she's Canadian. But she'd get my vote !

[@daphneraven9439]

Or Prime Minister?

[@saysHotdogs]

@@doneestoner9945 weirdly enough she’s more American than most Americans. Her people came off of the Mayflower

[@catty_5656]

I just started reading it but I'm 13 and I'm not quite sure if I should be reading it though. Tomorrow at school I've got to bring in my reading book, I'm kinda nervous to bring in this in case my classmates of teacher judge me

[@Esvtln]

phillinda #1 How did it go?If they judged you they were fools.

[@ceilingeye]

Dont allow them to judge you. The fact you’re reading this kind of literature at your age shows how advanced you are!! The handmaids tale is considered an advanced novel for high school students. Be proud you’re reading complex novels!

[@prystanski]

The way it is written is what is important for you when it comes to age appropriate novels. 50 shades of grey? Now I would say no to that for a 13 year old, and there is far less actual sex within that book (tho there is still lots). Because the difference is the writing, and the way it pushes the perspective and ability to understand or somewhat get the point of the book. This isn't just a novel for fun and enjoyment, its not your usual sexual piece. Its very very well done, and I know this comment you made was years ago, but I am sure your experience reading this book changed you as a person, even if it was a little bit. And I do hope it was a good read for you.

[@catty_5656]

@prystanski wow, I forgot I even commented this. I did read it and I didn't really understand at the time, but it's now one of my favourites. I'm 18 now and wrote my English dissertation on Atwood's exploration of feminist dystopia in Handmaid's and The Penelopiad!

[@macyjudkins8667]

She is so brillant.

[@sapphicsx]

doing a paper now. thanks for this

[@hawkpeterson]

We should probably do something about the oceans guys

[@sheleciarogers7662]

Amazing and insightful! Thank you for posting! ☺️❤️🙏🏽

[@elizabethfraser2996]

LOVE YOU MARGARET

[@TeamMaddisonYT]

It is almost as if they are using it as an instruction manual, not a warning. :(

[@OfftoShambala]

The instruction manuals for the handsmaid tale came from Nazi germany, communism, Islam and the historical status of women ... and so is true for any power structure ... they always gravitate in those directions... the forefathers of the USA tried to do everything they could to prevent our powers from going in that direction too easily... be careful about the power you give away at the voting polls

[@hopedean6424]

@@OfftoShambala That doesn't change the fact that the US is shifting closer towards it than further away from it

[@OfftoShambala]

hope dean yes, and now is the time to stop it ... however, many people are oblivious to the ways in which these things are shifting

[@hopedean6424]

@@OfftoShambala I'm not sure if I misunderstood your stance or if you misunderstood mine...

[@keriprice3481]

Interesting times were in.

[@msoda8516]

Very wise woman

[@nicbentulan]

looked up Margaret Atwood on wikipedia and found out 2 things: 1 - Margaret Atwood is still alive. 2 - Margaret Atwood is CANADIAN. OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. i get it now......

[@TeamMaddisonYT]

She should be president

[@noahhale4862]

She's not American

[@SuperTonyony]

The US Constitution requires that a POTUS be a "natural-born US citizen". Mrs. Atwood is Canadian.

[@victoria_atmosphere9290]

Atwood for Prime Minister.

[@maxroske8654]

we don't have one.

[@SuperTonyony]

@@maxroske8654 He means Canada. Mrs. Atwood is Canadian.

[@francelaferriere6106]

I'd rather have her as an author, we all know how powerful they can be, much more than any PM could. I don't think that PMs really have the true power.

[@solangeboudreau6467]

I want her to live forever!

[@kuribojim3916]

Margaret Atwood is one of my heroes. I adore her.

[@lilyla7593]

Everything in the book is happening right now somewhere in the world, mostly religious part of the world. Religion might be necessary to help people to establish a functional society when first cavemen decided to get out there but in modern society, it’s just holding us back with its BS

[@thursoberwick1948]

The supposed Protestant fundamentalists in this book never refer to Jesus by name, only the Hebrew Bible, spurn monogamy and forbid women from reading (including the scriptures). Oh, and Gilead has a socialist economy, where ownership is communal and controlled by the state! We are also supposed to believe this society was set up over the course of a decade, and has successfully managed to persuade almost all men, and some women, to give up their sex lives entirely.

[@justme8255]

People crave meaning and purpose in their lives. Work and material possessions aren’t filling that hole that was left where religion or belief in a higher power used to exist. Some segments of society are figuratively coming undone in the absence of God or religion.

[@spaceballs44]

I wonder what she thinks today? 5/19/2022

[@jenwal420]

There sure are some strange comments down here...

[@kuro-kuromi32]

I know right...loosing faith in humanity by the second

[@SuperTonyony]

@@kuro-kuromi32 "Loosing"?

[@FajrA88]

🙌🏼

[@miguelcorres338]

Man this hits harder now with happened to ROE V WADE

[@kaitlinmills6412]

Some of these comments are disgusting!

[@kellyanncannon2420]

A fantastic author.

[@Potomacstud]

Aunty Lydia brought me here

[@marmitechickenlegs8331]

I can't believe I guess correct with the relative to east Germany

[@jointhejourney7472]

Evangelicals are rolling back the rights of women

[@thursoberwick1948]

Evangelicals also encourage everyone to read the Bible, and to stick to monogamy, yet in this book women are banned from all reading (Bible included). Gilead also has a socialist economy, imposed by a deep state coup and artificial economic collapse... which is contradictory.

[@thekingjaune]

dedicace aux anglais spé du lycée moissan

[@afterthesmash]

Atwood's physics is wrong about oxygen. We have 2000 times as much oxygen as CO2. If you break the carbon cycle on plants (including marine algae) to not continue to harvest CO2 from the atmosphere, what you will get is an even more rapid accumulation of CO2. This _eventually_ has direct health effects on animals ("wheezing"). "In concentrations up to 1%, it will make some people feel drowsy and give the lungs a stuffy feeling. Concentrations of 7% to 10% may cause suffocation, even in the presence of sufficient oxygen, manifesting as dizziness, headache, visual and hearing dysfunction, and unconsciousness within a few minutes to an hour." I got a reasonable estimate from Google Gemini of 1.6 trillion barrels of petroleum burned in the history of the human exploitation of carbon for energy. This has increased atmospheric CO2 levels by about 140 ppm so far as we can reconstruct this, about 1 part in 7000. It would take another 70x as much to push CO2 up to 1% where we actually start to feel drowsy and begin to wheeze. That's another 98 trillion barrels of petroleum as yet unburned. That would have to include reserves we haven't discovered yet, discovered by methods of discovery we haven't even invented yet, invented by methods of invention we haven't yet invented. This is long after planet Earth's biosphere must reorganize itself to an entirely different thermal equilibrium due to the greenhouse effect. On established rates of evolutionary adaptation, so far as we can reconstruct these, a good starting bid would be 100 million years. By then we are probably well adapted to breathing an atmosphere containing 1% CO2, and maybe we could continue to push it up to 5% by burning another 400 trillion barrels, though where we would get all that carbon from, I have no idea.

[@jonanamar8503]

This woman’s writing is amazing but I don’t want involved in the BS politics… just love good writing…leave me out of the hatred please…

[@dlee3710]

Quaker women spoke in public, or maybe that doesnt count?

[@susiecrawfish5363]

Hmmm. I bought and read The Handmaid’s Tale when it came out , as I did most of your novels. You could have knocked me over with a feather when you said to Mary Beard in a BBC interview that you are “Not the sort of feminist who says that trans “women” were not, in fact , women. Thereby nullifying your legacy . Sorry.

[@tristeighmey9944]

Hated this book in highschool

[@SuperTonyony]

Because it offended your right-wing sensibilities?

[@journeyfortwo5211]

Islam

[@macclift9956]

Didn't Trump (who hates women?) appoint America's first female CIA director?

[@joan98610]

And he chose someone accused of using torture

[@Toastwig]

Women who sustain and support the patriarchy have always existed. Sometimes they are rewarded by being given a semblance of power by the men in charge. Just because a female is present does not make something feminist.

[@macclift9956]

On terrorists?

[@joan98610]

Torture is just torture, it doesn't matter who you torture. Also, everyone is innocent until the contrary is proven (and, still, if guilty nobody should be tortured)

[@macclift9956]

I do get your point, but terrorists have a nasty habit of not responding much to kid gloves treatment: the proliferating death by truck, death by knife, death by nail and other bombings, can attest to that: not so nice for the victims and their families: the Manchester bombing, for example, claimed the lives of many young people and ruined the lives of many others. We don't get to see the carnage close-up, so we can distance ourselves and intellectualise about how terrorists ought to be treated: until it's our father, mother, son, daughter, murdered in cold blood; then the harsh treatment of terrorists starts to make sense: it becomes close-up. Also, terrorists, if they're not afraid of the "enemy," have a peculiar habit of making up in bloodthirstiness, for lack of it in their opponents; the walking on eggshells and general prancing about, shows them that their target is weak, and just results in more heinous acts being carried out: beheadings, throwing people off buildings, there's a long list.

[@mysticaltyger2009]

Too bad Atwood doesn't seem to understand dictatorship can also be a left wing phenomenon as well. I agree with her on dating/hookup culture/pornification, though.

[@nobodysXghost]

she doesnt say a thing about left or right, why do you have to bring political separatism into this?

[@jerilynbridges1740]

mysticaltyger2009 Too bad you can’t see that no left wing person has ever threatened violence unless the right has already committed violence! This happened during WW II, the Sixties! You still can not see past your own freedoms!

[@OfftoShambala]

polesmoker it was brought up in the video by the author... maybe you need to re listen to what Atwood was saying

[@OfftoShambala]

Jerilyn Bridges really? Hillary has, but maybe she’s not far left enough... have you seen the joy she expressed when she destroyed Libya during the Obama years? And have you heard the accounts of the women she stalked and threatened with violence? And the child rape victim she mercilessly humiliated in court?

[@OfftoShambala]

mysticaltyger2009 yes, Obama signed off to allow for indefinite detainment without charge... which means the govt can arrest anyone for no reason and keep them locked up as long as they like.... that’s a fascist- totalitarian - dictators dream set up right there... even the aclu criticized it... if u go to the aclu website you can find an article about it ... I believe a judge ruled it unconstitutional, but people in power will always try to sneak these things in and often they do, with the consent of the people often.

[@richardhawkins2248]

She'd be a happier person if she shut the media off.

[@SuperTonyony]

She would also be less informed. An intelligent person knows how to separate wheat from chaff.

[@richardhawkins2248]

@@SuperTonyony Sounds like she's not up to the task.

[@WeatherMondacicci]

@@richardhawkins2248 She very much is.

[@daveholland6293]

Abortion is being banned and restricted more and more, blessings to you all.

[@eszemaszeszed]

Excuse you?!

[@kaitlinmills6412]

I'm with you Hannah x It's a choice, being pro-choice isn't pro-abortion it's pro-feminism and pro-women and pro-it's-my-body NOT YOURS

[@kaitlinmills6412]

And don't patronise her by calling her a princess

[@kaitlinmills6412]

And Jesus Christ-Tranny??? That's a horribly offensive word and disgusting that you can use that in an opinion that has nothing to so with them! Disgusting.

[@igorspitz]

@@kaitlinmills6412 Actually it is not your body but that of a baby. But I know what you are trying to say by that.

[@thursoberwick1948]

She makes no attempt to understand her ideological opponents, which is why this book has so many literary issues. For one, we're supposed to accept that this society (set up over a mere ten years) is a patriarchy, but most men never get to have sex. Or that most conservative women would accept watching their husbands at it with another woman. Or that fundy Protestants, who try and get everyone to read the Bible would forbid these women from reading even that? Or that ten years in, all resistance has vanished? Not even Stalin or Mao could achieve that. Or weird little tics, like making Gilead a mostly Hebraized society (Jesus is not mentioned once by these supposed Christians) and it harks back to the Old Testament... or the weird quirk that Gilead's economy and ownership patterns are essentially Socialist.

[@dababy4182]

Its literally a leftist projection, befitting the left wing dystopia we live in now.

[@bunker2276]

i am a little cross with her assumptions about women who embraced birth control. They didn't screw because they could.

[@rydrawong1245]

I think she means they were put under social pressure to screw because they could.

[@amazigh8087]

y'all know your complimenting a witch right?

[@Nobody-hc3fp]

F off

[@KM-nt6bt]

You know that the word “witch” has been used to demonise women who had the AUDACITY to not fall into line for centuries right? You’re not proving any point by harping on that old trope lol. Go read a book

[@WeatherMondacicci]

@1984(George orwell version) Apparently this person is still living in the days of the Salem Witch Trials.

[@amazigh8087]

witch descend from the devil's seed btw

[@Nobody-hc3fp]

Want me to teach you how to zip it?

[@Northcountry1926]

writes the Zealot … LOL