The Handmaid’s Tale: A Glimpse Into The Reality We Live In

At the time Margaret Atwood’s novel about a dystopian future was published, it seemed as though the world depicted in The Handmaid’s Tale was simply a grim look at an alternate reality. “This is what might occur if ‘the wrong people’ take over; fortunately we don’t have to worry about it.” I don’t know if that thought holds true today.

In today’s divided socio-political climate, as our society battles to overcome a novel viral pandemic, as incels band together to create insurgent factions with secret agendas, and as our society questions science while embracing pseudo-philosophical opinions, the world of The Handmaid’s Tale suddenly becomes are very frightening possibility.

“Aunt Lydia” [Anne Dowd] & “June Osbourne ‘Offred’ “ [Elizabeth Moss]

Sure, the likelihood of us experiencing extreme, abrupt, and completely life-altering changes — like those June Osborne (Elizabeth Moss in the show), aka “Offred,” experienced overnight — is very slim. Keeping that in mind, we have seen how things in our own reality can escalate in the blink of an eye. Our country can be turned upside down as terrorists make us question our daily routines — as they did on that infamous September day twenty years ago — or our identity as individuals and as a nation can become blurred as parties try to paint us as “patriots” and “the enemy.” A relatively calm crowd can go from audience to violent mob in minutes, and without question. Our businesses can shut down overnight due to unexpected events and health risks; causing people to lose their livelihood and homes without warning. We even see how figures we may have seen as infallible civil servants can become questionable and feared because of ideals they hold.We’ve been shown that our society, as we know it, is not as firmly constructed or impervious to damage as we may have previously thought. Moreover, we learned — first hand for too many — that life itself is demonstrably more frail than we may have ever realized; and that nothing, absolutely nothing, can be taken for granted. Our reality is not different than the one the citizens of Gilead live in. It’s eerily too similar. That is something the television series has made very clear.

Handmaids perform mandatory “shaming” ceremony.

In the show — currently streaming on HULU — we get to connect with the characters on a level we don’t always experience in the books. As we see the lives of everyone in Gilead being affected by the decisions of a select powerful minority, we see the vivid images of the pain decisions can have over so many; while those in power reap the benefits.  We are exposed to suffering, anguish, and the despair caused by oppressors in ways some may not have ever realized could happen… and that it already does happen.  The imagery is relatable and palpable… it’s “real.” As the pages of Atwood’s novel come to life, we now see things we may have missed while reading her work. We see the world in real-time, in vivid detail. Watching The Handmaid’s Tale allows us to empathize with characters in a way that only a visual medium can provide, because we are visual creatures. That’s the beauty of film and television; that is why we love these mediums. Seeing the story unfold while we experience our own dystopia helps us bridge the gap between the two worlds. Suddenly the fictional dystopian future of Gilead becomes a scary and true possibility. It allows us to take a step back and reflect… asking ourselves the question: “Which side would I be on?”

As the new season kicks off, we will see what fate holds for June Osbourne and the oppressed class of Gilead. One thing is for sure, we can no longer see it as pure fiction. Margaret Atwood’s message resonates louder today than it did three decades ago. While entertaining and enthralling as the show is, we must never forget that this can happen to us. Thus, we must stay vigilant and cognisant that while we may be “under His eye,” only we can make a difference in the world at our immediate disposal.

Season 4 of The Handmaid’s Tale premieres April 28th, 2021. You can catch the new season, and every season, streaming on HULU. If you don’t have a subscription, just follow the link below and start your free trial to catch this and more amazing shows.