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Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
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2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
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3
0
Ashfia
01/12/2025
English Literature
The Handmaids Tale Context
106
•
1 Dec 2025
•
Ashfia
@ashfiyali_
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Taleisn't just a dystopian novel—it's... Show more
Margaret Atwood was born in 1939 in rural Canada, where her father worked as an entomologist studying insects. This background deeply influenced her environmental awareness, which runs throughout her writing. She's not just a novelist—she's also a fierce advocate for women's rights, free speech, and climate change action, often tackling issues before they became mainstream concerns.
Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale in the mid-1980s, right after Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher came to power. This was a time of conservative revival in the West, with growing religious movements criticising the sexual revolution of the 1960s. For feminists like Atwood, the increasing power of these religious groups felt genuinely threatening.
The Cold War had been raging for almost Atwood's entire life by this point. This psychological tension between the Soviet Union and the US created a constant fear of nuclear destruction. Whilst The Handmaid's Tale doesn't focus directly on nuclear apocalypse, the threat of radioactive poisoning lurks in the background—characters face being sent to "the colonies" as punishment.
Remember: Atwood famously said, "There's nothing in the book that hasn't already happened." She drew inspiration from real historical events, making her dystopia terrifyingly believable.
Understanding feminism's three waves helps you grasp why Atwood's novel feels so urgent. The first wave focused on women's right to vote. The second wave fought for workplace equality and marriage rights—shockingly, marital rape was still legal until the late 20th century. The third wave introduced intersectionality, recognising how different forms of oppression overlap.
In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood explores what happens when all these gains are reversed. The Republic of Gilead represents a nightmare world where conservative religious extremists have seized power and turned back the clock on women's liberation. Women can't vote, read, or write—they're reduced to their biological functions.
The parallels to Hitler's rise to power are deliberate and chilling. Like Nazi Germany, Gilead promises a return to "traditional family values" whilst systematically oppressing anyone who doesn't conform. Both regimes used young people as enforcers (Hitler Youth vs Guardians of the Faith) and banned undesirable literature.
Key insight: Gilead isn't just anti-feminist—it's a society built on sexual slavery, justified by environmental crisis and declining birth rates. This makes the oppression feel "necessary" to those in power.
The Handmaid's Tale follows Offred, a handmaid forced to bear children for Gilead's ruling class. Set in a near-future America transformed into a totalitarian theocracy, the novel shows how quickly a society can strip away women's autonomy. Environmental pollution and declining fertility rates provide the excuse for this oppressive system.
The story works as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extremist ideologies. Through Offred's eyes, we see how language, identity, and resistance become powerful tools for survival. The regime controls every aspect of life through a distorted version of Christian fundamentalism, dividing women into rigid social classes based on their fertility and usefulness.
What makes this novel so powerful is its contemporary relevance. Issues around reproductive rights, gender equality, and political extremism continue to shape our world today. The successful TV adaptation has introduced Atwood's warnings to a whole new generation, proving that her message remains urgently important.
Why it matters: This isn't just historical fiction—it's a blueprint for how quickly democratic freedoms can disappear when people stop paying attention to politics and human rights.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Ashfia
@ashfiyali_
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Taleisn't just a dystopian novel—it's a chilling warning about what happens when women's rights are stripped away. Written in the 1980s during a time of political tension and conservative revival, this powerful story explores themes... Show more
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Margaret Atwood was born in 1939 in rural Canada, where her father worked as an entomologist studying insects. This background deeply influenced her environmental awareness, which runs throughout her writing. She's not just a novelist—she's also a fierce advocate for women's rights, free speech, and climate change action, often tackling issues before they became mainstream concerns.
Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale in the mid-1980s, right after Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher came to power. This was a time of conservative revival in the West, with growing religious movements criticising the sexual revolution of the 1960s. For feminists like Atwood, the increasing power of these religious groups felt genuinely threatening.
The Cold War had been raging for almost Atwood's entire life by this point. This psychological tension between the Soviet Union and the US created a constant fear of nuclear destruction. Whilst The Handmaid's Tale doesn't focus directly on nuclear apocalypse, the threat of radioactive poisoning lurks in the background—characters face being sent to "the colonies" as punishment.
Remember: Atwood famously said, "There's nothing in the book that hasn't already happened." She drew inspiration from real historical events, making her dystopia terrifyingly believable.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Understanding feminism's three waves helps you grasp why Atwood's novel feels so urgent. The first wave focused on women's right to vote. The second wave fought for workplace equality and marriage rights—shockingly, marital rape was still legal until the late 20th century. The third wave introduced intersectionality, recognising how different forms of oppression overlap.
In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood explores what happens when all these gains are reversed. The Republic of Gilead represents a nightmare world where conservative religious extremists have seized power and turned back the clock on women's liberation. Women can't vote, read, or write—they're reduced to their biological functions.
The parallels to Hitler's rise to power are deliberate and chilling. Like Nazi Germany, Gilead promises a return to "traditional family values" whilst systematically oppressing anyone who doesn't conform. Both regimes used young people as enforcers (Hitler Youth vs Guardians of the Faith) and banned undesirable literature.
Key insight: Gilead isn't just anti-feminist—it's a society built on sexual slavery, justified by environmental crisis and declining birth rates. This makes the oppression feel "necessary" to those in power.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Handmaid's Tale follows Offred, a handmaid forced to bear children for Gilead's ruling class. Set in a near-future America transformed into a totalitarian theocracy, the novel shows how quickly a society can strip away women's autonomy. Environmental pollution and declining fertility rates provide the excuse for this oppressive system.
The story works as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extremist ideologies. Through Offred's eyes, we see how language, identity, and resistance become powerful tools for survival. The regime controls every aspect of life through a distorted version of Christian fundamentalism, dividing women into rigid social classes based on their fertility and usefulness.
What makes this novel so powerful is its contemporary relevance. Issues around reproductive rights, gender equality, and political extremism continue to shape our world today. The successful TV adaptation has introduced Atwood's warnings to a whole new generation, proving that her message remains urgently important.
Why it matters: This isn't just historical fiction—it's a blueprint for how quickly democratic freedoms can disappear when people stop paying attention to politics and human rights.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
3
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
App Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology