The Handmaid's Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, is a dystopian novel set in a near-future totalitarian society called the Republic of Gilead, which has replaced the United States government

. The regime is a patriarchal theocracy that arose after a military coup and is characterized by extreme control over women’s reproductive rights due to widespread infertility caused by environmental and social factors

. The story is narrated by Offred (a name meaning "of Fred," her assigned Commander), a woman forced into the role of a Handmaid. Handmaids are fertile women assigned to elite couples to bear children for them, as many women in Gilead are sterile. Women in Gilead are strictly categorized by age and fertility into classes such as Wives, Marthas (housekeepers), Aunts (indoctrinators), and Unwomen (exiles). Handmaids must submit to ritualized sexual ceremonies with their Commanders to conceive, while their freedom is severely restricted-they cannot work, own property, read, or handle money

. Offred’s narrative alternates between her present life under this oppressive regime and memories of her past, including her life before Gilead when she was married to Luke and had a daughter. The novel explores themes of female powerlessness, loss of individuality, and resistance within a repressive patriarchal society

. The story also touches on the underground resistance movement and the complex relationships between characters, including Offred’s illicit affair with Nick, the Commander’s chauffeur, and her interactions with Serena Joy, the Commander's wife

. Overall, The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful commentary on gender oppression, reproductive rights, and authoritarianism, resonating strongly with contemporary social and political issues