After eight years of following June Osborne's misadventures in the totalitarian theocracy of Gilead, the finale of The Handmaid's Tale season 6 promises to leave some scars. Yet, behind the series phenomenon, we find a book, published in 1985 by Margaret Atwood. More than ever, the American novelist's text resonates as a topical issue, at a time when the rights of women and minorities are threatened in countries we thought were protected. The fact remains that while the series has enriched the world of Gilead, while opening the doors of dystopia to the general public, the original novel offers a radically different reading experience, more intimate, more poetic, and even more disturbing.
The strength of Margaret Atwood's book lies first and foremost in its first-person narration. The story is told through the voice of Offred, an enslaved Handmaid in a totalitarian theocracy where religion has taken precedence over politics and women are divided into strict castes. Whereas the series uses multiple points of view, flashbacks, and subplots, the novel remains focused on Offred's feelings, emphasizing the closed-doors and the feeling of suffocation.
The major differences between the book and the series
The television adaptation took many liberties with the source material, transforming the production into a complementary experience rather than a rehash. So don't panic, if you've binge-watched the series, you won't be bored reading the novel.
- As we've said, the series has multiple points of view, exploring the lives of other characters like Moira, Emily, and Serena. For its part, the book is limited to Offred's perspective, reinforcing the narrative singularity of the story, which lives through the eyes of its heroine.
- In the novel, Offred's past remains intentionally vague, punctuated by fragmentary memories. The series, for its part, reveals numerous flashbacks and details the transformation of American society into Gilead.
- Gilead's totalitarian society also changes between the novel and the series. The book depicts a much more homogeneous society, close to an Aryan regime, where people of color are excluded in addition to gender minorities. The series, more inclusive, has chosen to integrate characters of all origins.
- Some secondary characters do not experience the same fate in the series as in the book. Moira's fate after her escape from Gilead remains uncertain in the novel, while it is developed in the series. The same goes for Janine, who has a more nebulous ending. Other characters also appear in the series, without being mentioned in the book.
- In the book, the handmaids are marked with a tattoo, while the series opts for microchips.
What strikes you when reading The Handmaid's Tale is the beauty of Margaret Atwood's style. The writing contrasts with the brutality of the world described. The novel follows in the footsteps of great literary dystopias like 1984 or Brave New World, but stands out for its realism and its ability to resonate with our contemporary societies, particularly on the issues of body control and women's rights. Less linear than the series, the novel is like a puzzle, which readers must piece together to understand the main character's life.
Also available in audio
Reading The Handmaid's Tale today means encountering a visionary work that questions how easily a democratic society can descend into chaos. The novel has lost none of its power or relevance. At a time when debates over the rights of women and minorities are raging in the United States, reading it seems more necessary than ever. And if reading isn't really your cup of tea, we also recommend Audible's excellent audio adaptation, performed by Louise Bourgoin, Marie-Eve Dufresne, and Vincent de Boüard. In just 13 hours of listening, you'll be able to catch up on this cultural delay and immerse yourself in the horror of Gilead. The perfect excuse to (re)launch the entire series.
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