The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel that has been turned into an award-winning TV series. The story follows the life of handmaid Offred, and it takes place in the fictional Republic of Gilead where women are not allowed to hold any property or read. In this blog post, we will discuss how the TV show relates to the book and what you need to know about both mediums!
What is the Handmaid’s Tale about?
The TV series and book follow Offred, a handmaid in Gilead. She has no true name of her own because she was born to serve as a vessel for children from powerful men who can’t have their wives pregnant. The story begins with an opening monologue that lays out the nature of Gilead’s society.
What is the difference between a book and a TV show?
The Handmaid’s Tale was originally a novel, but it has since been turned into an award-winning TV series that has just wrapped up its second season on Hulu. The story follows Offred in both mediums, but there are some key differences. In terms of plot points, we find out what happens to other handmaidens or Aunts by reading about them in the past tense as they were before Gilead came into power while watching their fates unfold through present-day scenes with those characters from season two onward. Furthermore, Aunt Lydia doesn’t exist in any form within the novel because she wasn’t born until after the change in government.
Have there been any adaptations of the novel?
There have been three different formats that The Handmaid’s Tale has come out as a series on Hulu, a film for theaters, and an audiobook. There are plans to adapt it into four seasons with 12 episodes each based on Margaret Atwood’s award-winning book so you won’t have to wait long before seeing more content related to this story!
Why is The Handmaid’s Tale so popular?
The handmaid’s tale has always been a story about women and their voices, but it takes on an even greater meaning in the current political climate. There are many parallels to be drawn between Gilead that Margaret Atwood crafted as being oppressive and prejudiced while America currently struggles with those same issues.
What did you think of the book or show?
I thought this novel was wonderfully written and I enjoyed reading from Offred’s perspective for most of it. That said, when we got out into flashbacks with other characters such as Moira and Janine there were some more interesting stories told than just what happened at Jezebels (the local whorehpuse) or in the Commander’s household.
What did you think of Joss Whedon’s adaptation?
I’m a big fan of his and found him to be very faithful to the novel while also adding some new elements that were enjoyable. I felt like he added more time for Offred (Elisabeth Moss) and Moira Pierce’s friendship which is really nice because they are both lonely women who need each other. The show doesn’t have flashbacks but it feels as if we get deeper into her life through Offred telling us what she thinks about things at Jezebel’s, with Serena Joy, etc. It does make me wonder how much of this was due to Margaret Atwood being involved…
What did you think of the show’s treatment of sexism and misogyny?
I felt like it was very faithful to the novel which is both good and bad. It cuts out a lot, but makes up for that by adding some new elements (Moira liking Offred). I found myself feeling more frustrated with how women are treated on screen because while I knew this already from reading Margaret Atwood’s book as well as other feminist literature, watching it happen in my own backyard made me feel even worse about it.
Heather didn’t really understand what feminism means when she read The Handmaid’s Tale before seeing the TV adaptation. Now after all these years of struggling with learning how to be herself without constantly being told how she should act, it finally hit her that this is what feminism means.
The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985 and has been a bestseller ever since. The TV adaptation of the novel premiered on Hulu last year to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It has received numerous awards nominations including Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series (Drama), Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Elizabeth Moss) among others.
I love how faithful they were to one another! They’re both so good at giving you an experience; I don’t know if I wanted more or less because there are things about them that make me think “Oh yeah!”
