An interview with Margaret Atwood
In this interview, Margaret Atwood discusses how the changing political context has affected the way people have read The Handmaid’s Tale in the years since it was written.
The Waves of Feminism, And Why People Keep Fighting About Them, Explained
The Handmaid’s Tale is widely recognized as one of the major literary products of “second-wave feminism,” the period of feminist history lasting roughly from the sixties to the eighties. This article explains what second-wave feminism is and places it in the broader context of feminist history. The article also provides a reading list of famous second-wave books.
Gloria Steinem: Testimony Before Senate Hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment
Feminist writer and activist Gloria Steinem gave this speech in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1970. The speech is regarded as a powerful rallying cry for second-wave feminism in the U.S. The debate about the ERA was still raging when The Handmaid’s Tale was written.
Dig: Puritan Sex
Dig is a podcast on historical topics. This episode examines the sexual beliefs and behaviors of early American Puritans, which Atwood drew on to create the Republic of Gilead.
“This Is a Photograph of Me”
As well as a novelist, Margaret Atwood is an acclaimed poet. This poem, written around the same time as The Handmaid’s Tale, addresses some of the novel’s themes—vision and identity—in a very different way.
An interview with Elisabeth Moss
Elisabeth Moss plays Offred in Hulu’s television adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale. In this interview she discusses the challenges of creating her role, providing insight into the character.
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