The Biggest Unanswered Questions From The Handmaid's Tale
By Jamie Liu | The Biggest Unanswered Questions From The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood’s chilling masterpiece, continues to resonate due to its eerie prescience and lingering mysteries. Though the story concludes with a somewhat ambiguous resolution, numerous unanswered questions linger, haunting readers like silent sirens.
What remains of the outside world? The text hints at a past ravaged by ecological disaster and political collapse, but what were the specifics? Did other countries survive? Did the resistance achieve their goals? The void left by these unanswered questions fuels speculation and allows readers to weave their own interpretations.
The nature of Gilead’s leadership remains shrouded in shadow. We know their ideology is based on subjugation and control, but what are their ultimate goals? What drives their unwavering belief in their twisted vision of a perfect society? Is it ideology or a lust for power that fuels their cruelty?
The characters themselves remain enigmas in certain aspects. Offred’s true motivations and desires remain elusive. Does she truly believe in Gilead’s ideology, or is she simply playing the hand she’s been dealt for a chance at survival? Similarly, the Commander’s inner conflict and true feelings remain largely unexplored.
The ethical dilemmas of the Waterfords’ clinic remain unresolved. While they provide a lifeline to the Handmaids, their methods are questionable at best. Do they truly believe they are offering a viable solution, or are they simply exploiting the women for their own purposes?
Beyond the immediate questions of the story, The Handmaid’s Tale poses a larger philosophical inquiry. What is the relationship between freedom and security? How far can individual liberties be restricted in the name of achieving a utopian society? The text suggests that the pursuit of perfection can often lead to unintended consequences, leaving us to ponder the balance between security and freedom in a dystopian world.
Ultimately, The Handmaid’s Tale encourages us to question the systems we take for granted and consider the potential for dystopia in our own future. But it also reminds us of the human capacity for resilience and resistance, even in the face of great adversity. What questions remain unanswered for you in the world of The Handmaid’s Tale?
