American an emerging Gilead
This thought-provoking article draws powerful parallels between Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and the contemporary political and social climate of the United States. Referencing themes of authoritarianism, religious extremism, reproductive control, and censorship, the article argues that recent developments—such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Christian nationalist policy initiatives, and widespread book bans—mirror the early stages of Gilead’s dystopian transformation. Through carefully selected quotes from Atwood’s novel, the writer highlights how gradual erosion of rights can become normalized, raising the central question: Is America drifting toward a real-world Gilead? While acknowledging that the U.S. remains a democracy, the piece serves as a cautionary reflection on the nation’s “slippery slope” and emphasizes the urgent need for civic engagement to prevent the loss of fundamental freedoms.
HUMAN INTEREST STORIESPOLITICS NEWS
FIZA FATIMA NAQVI
11/22/20253 min read
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, you'd be boiled to death before you knew it.”
-The Handmaids Tale
The dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale written by Margret Atwood in 1985 is becoming the nuanced reality of America. The novel depicts a picture of a totalitarian society where women’s rights are stripped away under the control of theocratic regime. The novel also presents themes of authoritarianism, religious extremism, gender oppression, and reproductive control. All which in recent years or months is becoming the reality faced by many Americans. The question which is becoming the topic of great debate is “The greatest country of the world” is an illusion which is finally cracking! Is the new America heading towards becoming a real life Gilead?
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
-The Handmaids Tale
One of the most astonishing parallels between the novel and America is the recent regulations on reproductive rights. This includes the overturning of Roe V Wade in 2022. Even though force birthing practices are not something that is pushed by the government but this ruling has started a roar of comparisons between the Gilead society and America. Another one of these reproduction regulations like the Texas's Heartbeat Act is what the left describe as a violation of reproduction rights. Though it is a subject of great debate between the right and left yet a great similarity nonetheless.
One of the biggest topics of concern was the recent religious ideology being the center of attention in Trumps government. The fact that biblical verses were used to enforce an authoritarian rule in Atwood’s novel can’t be coincidence right? This is again becoming the reality of many Americas with recent regulation being implicated by Trumps Governments. Thisincludes Project 2025 and the Infusion of Christian Nationalism. A project under the leadership of the Heritage Foundation which serves as a blueprint for the reshaping of Trumps Federal government under conservative Christian principals. Education Policies Promoting Religious Content is another one of many regulations that are being put forth by conservative lawmakers under The Trumps administration. They are mandating to put forth the 10 commandments in classrooms as well as integrating biblical lessons in many subjects. The intertwining of religious fundamentalism with state governance is another prominent theme of Atwood’s novel.
"For the ones who come after you, it will be easier. They will accept their duties with willing hearts."
-The Handmaids Tale
There have also been the recent book bans and censorship practices under the Trumps government. These book bans are mostly on books talking about religious ideologies, historical injustices, identity, race, witchcraft as well as some dystopian classical novels. These include Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and many more. Though America has not yet reached dystopia but the increasing censorships is a fair warning of the dangerous road that lies ahead.
The US is not Gilead. Though the novel serves as but a warning of what will happen when rights are systematically eroded under the guise of morality or national interest. The declining reproductive rights; the influence of religion on government and the increasing restriction of personal freedom have raised concerns. Will The US heed to the warning of Atwood’s novel before more rights are lost? It’s still a democratic society where citizens can vote, protest, and advocate for change but it’s on a very slippery slope.
“Ordinary is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary.”
-The Handmaids Tale