What do you think of Atwood's portrayal of freedom and oppression among women in the Handmaid's Tale?

Question

Some useful links on the above would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

In the book, for women the freedom from fear has been achieved by losing the freedom to live as they choose, to work, to have financial independence, to have an identity. Men are in control of a society which is totally controlled and freedom is unknown.
It is a powerful portrayal of a totalitarian society.
The following site should be useful: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/handmaid/context.html

Answer 2

I loved this book, dark as it was. So many of the things that happened to create her society I can see being in the early stages of being in place now. I think that is why I liked the book so much. The taking away of freedom is a very slow process, the pollution of the world leading to infertility is happening--but $$ capitalism refuses to acknowledge it.
If we don't wake up, we could form something even worse.

Answer 3

Try this site:

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/science_fiction/handmaid.html

I enjoyed the Hand Maids Tale immensley & I am a male. (I think!)