The roots of the book go back to my study of the American Puritans. The society
they founded in America was not a democracy as we know it, but a theocracy.
novel isn't simply a vehicle for private expression, but that it also exists for
social examination
This is a book about what happens when certain casually held attitudes about
women are taken to their logical conclusions.
These "Suggested Topics..." could form part of your note taking as they will get you thinking about the structure of the text and Atwood's purpose and design.