The novel, "The Handmaid's Tale", by Margaret Atwood takes place in a dystopia, which is a fictional society, usually existing in a future time period. In most dystopian fictions, a corrupt government creates or sustains the poor quality of life by conditioning the people to believe the society is proper and just, even perfect. Atwood focuses on the choices made by those controlling the society of Gilead in which increasing the population and preservation of mankind is the main objective, instead of freedom or happiness. The society has undergone many physical changes that have extreme psychological consequences. I believe Atwood sees Gilead as the result of attitudes and events in the early 1980's, which have spiraled out of control. "The Handmaid's Tale" reflects Atwood's views and critiques on civilization. In an interview with Gabriele Metzler Atwood says, "There is nothing in the book that hasn't already happened. All things described in the book people have already done to each other"(2).
             Throughout "The Handmaid's Tale" Offred is constantly conscious of her
             life before Gilead. This is reflected in the sections of the book
             headed "Night". Offred often refers back to her life with her daughter
             and Luke, "Luke was in the living room. He put his arms around me. We
             were both feeling miserable. How were we to know we were happy, even
             then? Because we at least had that: arms, around." The realization of
             how much her life has been altered occurs in the beginning of the
             novel when Offred comes across a group of Japanese tourists, "They
             seem undressed. It has taken so little time to change our minds about
             things like this. Then I think: I used to dress like that. That was
             freedom. Westernised, they used to call it." Offred is also envious of
             the women as they still have freedom of choice, whereas all she has
             are memories of how she used to be. "...