http://hem.passagen.se/replikant/dystopia_definition.htm

Nathan Hutchinson

English 102

Laura Darrow

7-16-2010

I have decided to do my research on how as Americans we continue to lose rights little by little. Since this country was founded on the bases of freedom, ultimately freedom is a big issue. In the story the Handmaid’s Tale they tell a story about how this dystopian society has been plagued by low birth rates from pollution. Apparently since these changes were taking place society need to change as well. In the current U.S we have a lot of the same situations happening with the way we eat and the way we live which ultimately can lead us to a similar situation with health issues.

When first reading the beginning chapters of the Handmaids Tale I found it very confusing almost as if it started in the middle of the book. How does society ever become like this. In the years of Adolph Hitler it virtually happened over night. This way of life takes decisions from powerful people and when the majority of society is poor changes can happen fast. If society is just trying to survive they are not focusing on the bigger problems in the world.

The book the Handmaid’s Tale deals with a lot of complicated problems. In today’s society we ourselves deal with some very complicated problems and we choose people to make these decisions for us without ever really know who they are or if they have our best interest in mind. In the book they are not really given a decision of whom to elect, the changes just take place. I can relate all of these questions to the Handmaid’s Tale and especially to a dystopian society. At one time things seemed so beautiful but over time they have turned so ugly. Understanding the subtle changes that take place in a society over time helps me understand that people will do anything in times of desperation.