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?

It’s been years and years since I read the book but I remember thinking it made sense in the book, but I didn’t feel the same about the tv series. It felt rushed and I didn’t think the timeline was believable. (Also I think it was a mistake to show all the backstory about the commander and his wife, it didn’t ring true.) I stopped watching the tv series, didn’t even finish season 1. It was too visual and shallow, very music video. So I’m not surprised if it doesn’t make sense to you OP, I think they probably didn’t do a great job on things like the shops and so on?

I’ve just finished studying the book - had my exam on it on Tuesday!!

Gilead came about very quickly. Basically, a religious group had congress assassinated (blaming Islamic extremists) and took over after suspending the constitution. There had already been a move away from paper money so everything was electronic. They introduced checkpoints and ID passes and once everyone was on electronic banking, they passed a law that meant women couldn’t hold bank accounts or own property, or vote. They had all women sacked from their jobs on the same day.
It’s unclear how long this part went on exactly but from the time Offred and Luke tried to escape to Canada, to the start of her placement with the commander and Seren’s joy is three years. So maybe four from the old government being toppled.
Many of the former states are their own republic - gilead is primarily the north east area of the USA, with Boston/Harvard at its heart. The colonies are gileadean territories which are either cities which have been decimated and the unwomen are cleaning up bodies or they are cities which have become toxic waste sites which they also have to clean.

To those who have asked if the book is good - yes it is - but it’s very postmodern and can be a difficult game read. We only know what Offred knows (until the epilogue) so the narrative voice is limited. Considering it was written in 1985, it’s chilling how relevant it still is today.

Good source to check out OP, loads of info https://the-handmaids-tale.fandom.com/wiki/TheHandmaid%27ssTaleWiki