Argument:
The book presents ideas that may not be the most delightful but makes the reader think : What if?. The book can be seen to give a warning symbol towards society showing how the governement can slowly limit the rights of people, and when the people realizing that this is happening ,it is to late. This mostly effects women in this novel, and because of the social distortion and what could happen if people fall into indifference, trusting that things will remain the same.

Evidence:
Women are onsidered property and are not even allowed to keep their own names. Instead the women who are to give birth are called "of and then the name of the owner. An example would be offred, which when seperated is "Of Fred", giving ownership to the man. There is also a close correlation between the governement of Gilead, which is the governement in the Handmaid's Taole, and similar governements of today.

Thoughts:
I think that the author was very clever to use the feminist movements in the way Atwood did in the novel. She deomnstrates a clear cut opinion of what she thinks could happen if the people do not pay attention to the world that is evolving around them. Not only the people are responsible, but the governement is also pulled into the picture. This is mainly seen with how desperate the governement is to hold complete control over the people and the way they act and the way they must think.

http://www.rambles.net/atwood_handmaid.html

Argument:
Science fiction is really about the present, the only difference in the story and the beliefs is that the future just presents the contemporary problems that are dealt with in an unsafe manner, incorrect procedure, or just not taken care of. You can see in Margaret Atwood's novella the correlation to the modern problems seen across the world, and the plot within the story.

Evidence:
During the novel there are members of society who are so desperate for work that they will work anywhere no matter what they must do. "SecretBurgers! Because Everyone Loves a Secret!" this is just one of numerous examples that are shown in the book. The author could be trying to make the point with this example that the people of the world should not focus so much on the money or even the ideal that money now rules the world, not so much moral or even rules.

Thoughts:
I believe that Margarett Atwood brings important issues to the table without actually having to present them. Another clever idea that is found in the book would be how the characters presented in the story represent members of the 21st century society.

Argument:
The article is demonstrating their agreements with Margaret Atwood. The contemporary issues that we are having today could possibly effect the future in an negative way if they are not taken care of the correct way, or in any way. Michael Dirda shows his concern by selecting problems from the book and relate them to the problems that the world is actually experiencing. The relation of the book to modern society sort of opens the readers eyes to what could and the possibilities of what the future may hold.

Evidence:

As dismal as it is, this future often seems little different from today. Pleebrats still have cellphones and hang out in malls and play computer games like Barbarian Stomp. (Michael Dirda).


Still, the book regularly undercuts the horrific with touches of comedy -- Ren talks about her work at Scales and Tails as "the daily grind" -- and Atwood superbly captures the voices and attitudes of the serious Adam One, the frivolous Lucerne, the resourceful Toby and the rather simple-minded and fragile Ren (MIchael Dirda).

Thoughts:

The author of the article gives his agreements towards Margaret Atwood and her thrilling story. He also mentions that he believes that this Canadian writer portrays the effects of the problems not taken care of in a manner that makes the reader understand and think.

Personally, I think that the story is creative and different, but that some of the exaggerations and points made in the book are slightly over exaggerated.

Quotes:

"Blood and Roses was like Monopoly, only you had to corner the genocide and atrocity market. Extinctathon was a trivia game you played with extinct animals." (Year of the Flood).

...only two people have survived a deadly pandemic: the 30-something Toby, who is holed up in the AnooYou spa surrounded by marauding pigoons, and Ren, a befeathered trapeze artist at Scales and Tails, who has been locked up in a sealed quarantine area dubbed the Sticky Zone.
(Michael Dirda).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092304278_2.html?sid=ST2009092401822