Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? Explained in detail 

The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu has been one of the most successful shows. For five seasons, the show has narrated an extremely powerful and important story. As the sixth season of the show is right around the corner, it is important to talk about the book that started it all.

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale was published in 1985 and was inspired by real social events of the time. The novel focuses on a dystopian society called the Republic of Gilead, formed after destroying the government of the United States of America. This is done by a radical political group called the 'Sons of Jacob'.

A new totalitarian government is created that gets rid of the Constitution, censors media, and establishes a society based on how the radical group interpreted the Old Testament.

The new society in The Handmaid's Tale is deeply misogynistic and does not let women read, write, or own property. Women are denied basic human rights, and fertile women are treated as baby-making machines for the elite.

The book was banned in several states in the United States of America for its alleged anti-Christian nature and for containing sexually graphic content that was deemed inappropriate for children.

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The Handmaid's Tale ban explained

The Handmaid's Tale's protagonist is Offred whose real name is unknown. She was separated from her husband and daughter when Gilead was formed and was taken away to be a handmaid. The novel is about her journey trying to escape to Canada and reunite with her family. It also eventually becomes the story of rebellion against gender discrimination and dictatorship.

Offred (June in the TV series) is the handmaid to a commander and his wife, Serena Joy. Handmaids are supposed to have intercourse with the men they are assigned to when they are the most fertile to bear them children. This is done because most women in Gilead are infertile due to the harsh weather and radiation, and thus, fertile women are rare.

The government thinks it gives them the right to use fertile women as baby-making machines.

The novel goes on to explore Offred's life as a handmaid, her giving birth to a baby she conceives with her Commander's bodyguard, Nick, her 'mistakes' in the eyes of Gilead law, and consequential arrest. Her fate is not well known in the book.

The Handmaid's Tale received bans from a few states in the United States of America such as Florida, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah, as many claimed it had sexually graphic content that should not be read by children.

Since the novel brought up a misogynistic interpretation of Christianity that normalized polygamy, many called it anti-Christian as it did not reflect the true teachings of the religion.

Many parents wanted the novel banned from schools because they believed it could lead to children having a false and negative understanding of Christianity. This could allegedly lead to non-Christian students bullying Christian students.

Despite getting banned in several states, the novel has been greatly praised in other places. The novel discusses issues that might seem fictional but are a reality in many countries or societies. Every little aspect of the novel might not match with reality, but much of it does.

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The Handmaid's Tale TV Series

While the book was banned in several places, the Hulu series has received quite the love. Showrunners have changed some names and details in the series to make it more suited for TV. The series has also gone forward into exploring how Offred/June and the rest of Mayday (the rebel group) fight against the Republic of Gilead. It helps us see the character of Offred have a chance at a better life.

The TV series was released in 2017 and has five seasons. A sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale is coming out on 8th April on Hulu. A sequel series called The Testaments, based on a sequel novel of the same name, is in the works.

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