Post- Election Thursday New Canon

A dystopian science fiction or a harrowing new reality ...

As the reality of Tuesday’s election results begins to set in, I have felt a ton of different emotions. Sadness, disappointment, anxiety, anger. I have thought about the new world we are seeming to step into, and have decided this week to canonize The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood because of it.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian sci fi novel set in near-future New England in a patriarchal, totalitarian, theonomic state that has overthrown the U.S. government. The women in this novel are called ‘handmaids’ and they are assigned to different members of the ruling class to produce children for them. Sounding at all familiar?

The book touches on themes of the powerlessness of women in a male-dominated society, loss of agency, suppression of reproductive rights, and the resistance and fight for independence that the characters go through. It also dabbles in environmental issues and classicism.

The characters in the book are diverse, all in race, sexuality, and gender identity. It is not a ‘classic’ canon book in this sense.

The Handmaid’s Tale is not an easy read. The topics are heavy and unsettling, especially in light of recent events. It is incredibly thought provoking and definitely not an ‘escapism’ fantasy book, but it is one that I strongly believe all people should read, and one that needs to be taught in schools.

Speaking of schools, The Handmaid’s Tale has already made it onto the list of books banned in several states: Texas, Florida, and Oregon. All the more reason I am harping on the importance of it being taught.

The Handmaid’s Tale was published as a fiction book almost 40 years ago, but the parallels to America today are horrifying. Atwood was able to capture multiple plights of marginalized groups, and show the extreme case of what could happen with unchecked power. It would be a more recent book inducted into my canon, but a necessary one.

Leave a comment with your thoughts on my newest canon induction!