The handmaids tail
Discussion
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
So, does anyone actually understand what's going on yet?
I'm confuzzled.
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An apocalyptic event on earth has rendered most women sterile. Those young women who are still fertile have been purloined by the state as breeding machines, using a skewed understanding of the Bible as justification. The world has become one police state. Those girls who won't play ball are executed.I'm confuzzled.
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Well that's my understanding.
It's based on Margaret Attwoods 1985 novel of the same name, very famous book often used as a reference text for A-level English etc.
I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
The gist of it so far is that the USA government is overthrown by Christian fundamentalists and put under martial law, which turns into a new government based heavily on the old testament (or rather certain parts of the old testament) which deny women of most human rights. such as being able to work, read, have money etc. same sex relationships are outlawed.
Pollution etc. has meant most women are infertile and lots of babies are born with deformities, so women that are found to still be able to bear children become slaves known as "handmaids" and are assigned to military/civil servant couples that cannot have their own children.
I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
The gist of it so far is that the USA government is overthrown by Christian fundamentalists and put under martial law, which turns into a new government based heavily on the old testament (or rather certain parts of the old testament) which deny women of most human rights. such as being able to work, read, have money etc. same sex relationships are outlawed.
Pollution etc. has meant most women are infertile and lots of babies are born with deformities, so women that are found to still be able to bear children become slaves known as "handmaids" and are assigned to military/civil servant couples that cannot have their own children.
lufbramatt said:
It's based on Margaret Attwoods 1985 novel of the same name, very famous book often used as a reference text for A-level English etc.
I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
Indeed, Mrs Checkmate read it when it first came out, I thought she studied it at A-level but no, that was Testament to Youth by Vera Brittain (not recommended btw), she read it whilst doing her nurse training from 83 to 86, I did an English A-level during that time (she wanted to get a sociology a-level to supplement her nurse training iirc, so I kept her company at Redbridge Tech). I studied The Spire (WG), Saint Joan (GBS and saw a National Theatre version at the South Bank with Frances de la Tour, Brian Glover, Anton Rodgers and Timothy Spall in 1984), Chosen Poems of Thomas Hardy (still have will-to-live issues over some of those), Love's Labour's Lost and Antony & Cleopatra (WS and think we caught a live version of A&C somewhere along the line).I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
Handmaid's Tale and Flowers in the Attic warmly recommended by Mrs C as "good reads".
Edited by checkmate91 on Monday 12th June 20:28
checkmate91 said:
lufbramatt said:
It's based on Margaret Attwoods 1985 novel of the same name, very famous book often used as a reference text for A-level English etc.
I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
Indeed, Mrs Checkmate read it when it first came out, I thought she studied it at A-level but no, that was Testament to Youth by Vera Brittain (not recommended btw), she read it whilst doing her nurse training from 83 to 86, I did an English A-level during that time (she wanted to get a sociology a-level to supplement her nurse training iirc, so I kept her company at Redbridge Tech). I studied The Spire (WG), Saint Joan (GBS and saw a National Theatre version at the South Bank with Frances de la Tour, Brian Glover, Anton Rodgers and Timothy Spall in 1984), Chosen Poems of Thomas Hardy (still have will-to-live issues over some of those), Love's Labour's Lost and Antony & Cleopatra (WS and think we caught a live version of A&C somewhere along the line).I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
Handmaid's Tale and Flowers in the Attic warmly recommended by Mrs C as "good reads".
Edited by checkmate91 on Monday 12th June 20:28
I guess, we're 61 and 64 born. And, you're right, The Spire was all about Jocelin and his enormous phallic symbol (reaching to God, oh ok...), Rachel and her husband Roger (no sniggering at the back) Mason. Exam answers were all about Jocelin's quest, adversity, the distraction of Rachel (really, I didn't notice) and Roger's rutheless commercialism juxtaposed with the town's folks ability to pay for the works and the fact that the foundations wouldn't support the mighty phallus. To this day I felt Rachel was an under-developed character...
Oh, and back in 1984, it was quite an experience to witness Brian Glover utter those opening words (no eggs) in, iirc, the minimalist Cottesloe Theatre, him being all TV gangster and all... what a night!
Oh, and back in 1984, it was quite an experience to witness Brian Glover utter those opening words (no eggs) in, iirc, the minimalist Cottesloe Theatre, him being all TV gangster and all... what a night!
Edited by checkmate91 on Monday 12th June 21:30
nicanary said:
It's not about a cult. It's about state use of fertile women to prolong the species.
Tail??
It is a theocracy, so close enough.Tail??
I assumed that 'Tail' was a Freudian slip.
I remember the original film with Natasha Richardson as Offred.
Edited by 4x4Tyke on Monday 12th June 22:26
lufbramatt said:
It's based on Margaret Attwoods 1985 novel of the same name, very famous book often used as a reference text for A-level English etc.
I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
The gist of it so far is that the USA government is overthrown by Christian fundamentalists.
When you look at US politicians, not really far-fetched...scary.I'm liking it so far but its not exactly easy watching!
The gist of it so far is that the USA government is overthrown by Christian fundamentalists.
I recall studying AHT as part of a Dystopian course, along with a few other classics. Grim.
Halb said:
When you look at US politicians, not really far-fetched...scary.
I recall studying AHT as part of a Dystopian course, along with a few other classics. Grim.
Apparently a bunch of trump supporters in the US got their knickers in a twist when it aired over there, labelling it anti-Trump propaganda, without realising it was written 32 years ago. People pointed out that if they are drawing similarities between AHT and Trumps administration they should probably be asking some serious questions about themselves.I recall studying AHT as part of a Dystopian course, along with a few other classics. Grim.
A wonderful book (wonderful a poor choice given the subject matter but you get what I mean) and so far a very chilling adaptation in this series, I think its really well done.
For those not clear so far, we are seeing what remains of the United States, now a theocratic state called Gilead which ceased power as a fertility crisis struck the globe. Its never made clear about the rest of the world with the exception of people escaping to (what we assume to be free) Canada.
For those not clear so far, we are seeing what remains of the United States, now a theocratic state called Gilead which ceased power as a fertility crisis struck the globe. Its never made clear about the rest of the world with the exception of people escaping to (what we assume to be free) Canada.
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