The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood presents itself as a social-science fiction. Though that is arguable, I believe it is the most accurate genre for the novel because of its foretelling futuristic plot mixed in with the current structure of society. Most intriguingly, in these chapters I find is the society where knowledge is expected to come from the elder women and go to the young. Yet, at the same time, the elder women are not always willing or able to give advice to the younger generation. Aunt Lydia holds the hands of the main character as an ancient tradition. The main character then goes on to tell us that Aunt Lydia's hands were empty and that her hands, as the young woman, "were supposed to be full, of the future; which could not be held or seen," (pg. 57). That just goes to show how untold the future really is; which I think makes it even more interesting that Margaret Atwood decided to write a novel with her thoughts on what 'could' happen.
This book was written in the 1980's and contains 'images and sardonic wit,' as said by Independent. It is true this book is full of all types of imagery: Auditory, Tactile, and Visual.
Super start, Amna!
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