The American Dream: Steps Towards Dystopia as Revealed in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale

Abstract

It is easy to see that freedom is a pillar of America’s institutional framework. After all, the Women’s Rights Movement and Civil Rights Movement are only two examples of citizens’ outrage and rebellion against interpersonal inequality. However, it is possible that this great nation has begun taking steps towards a dystopian society. In Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, she presents a future for America that reverses its most fundamental value: living in freedom. Though it may come as a surprise to some, the presence of certain extremist groups, an overwhelming number of Christians, and gender roles that are deeply embedded into the lives of citizens all reveal distinct parallels between Atwood’s vision and America’s current political and societal decline.