To have so many questions about the Handmaid’s Tale

[Rowenaravenclawsdiadem]

I’ve been watching again from the beginning. I have so many questions!

1. How long did it take for Gilead to form
2. Where is all the technology?
3. What is going on in the colonies and where are they supposed to be?
4. Why is everything so basic in the shops is there a shortage of food

Am I overthinking it?

Read the book

Read the book. It answers most of them

Sorry posted too soon....it's really good and explains how it all started

Yeah please read this book

Dd is currently reading it. I’ve been telling her to hurry up.

I haven't read the book but I'll take a guess

1. How long did it take for Gilead to form

Probably years? I'm guessing there was plenty of animosity for a few years before it escalated to civil war and Gilead winning.

2. Where is all the technology?

They still have it but probably pick and choose which aligns with their religion the most. For example they use cars and ultrasounds.

3. What is going on in the colonies and where are they supposed to be?

I believe they are radioactive wastelands and probably areas that fought hardest against the ideologies of Gilead, so probably more liberal areas like California.

4. Why is everything so basic in the shops is there a shortage of food.

I'm guessing this is them shunning worldly pleasures and the free trade has stopped.

1. Read the book
2. Read the book
3. Read the book
4. Read the book

She's written a follow up which is out on 10th September.

Is the book good? I’ve been meaning to read it but I’ve never gotten around to it. Love the tv series tho haven’t started season 3 yet! Will have a binge on it.

I get the impression Ihave is a fan.

As other people have said read the book it is excellent and explains a lot of the background to Gilead, by this series they have gone way past the book, but the ending of the book leaves a lot of loose ends that could be filled in with tv series

I think if you imagine America became its own version of North Korea with a cult undercurrent then everything makes sense.

Spoilers

Read the book? But the TV has diverged - The racial dimension (sons of Ham in a separate area in the book, diverse security guards, Marthas and handmaids in the TV series) seems to have diminshed or disappeared.

Regarding the timeline, the protagonists were adult and working before and during the transition (losing their bank accounts and jobs) so presumably Offred and others were at least mid-late twenties before the change. Offred and Emily? are still fertile so presumably mid-late thirties (I know could be older but falling fertility?) so presumably from democracy to Gileadic steady-state would be no more than ten to fifteen years?

I've read the book, but can I ask a question?

Are the commanders allowed to be intimate with their wives?

Currently rewatching season 2 before watching the new one!

I've read the book twice & didn't know most the answers! I thought the answers weren't explicitly stated in the book. It's a parable.

I don't remember a single statement in the book about typical food.

Don't see why commanders wouldn't have sex with their wives... and probably random birds on the side like all corrupted by power men tend to have.

Best
Book
Ever.

Plus for some reason I only posted once but it magically multiplied

I can't quote the text but got the impression the Gileadic economy is screwed from the nuclear bombs and problems with international trade so consumer goods and food in the shops aren't as plentiful as now. I'm not sure but the guardians seem well-equipped with equipment and new cars in the TV series beyond what I thought the book implied.

The site is having a glitchy day, I have, so I've seen many multiple posts. At least yours could have been deliberate for emphasis.