THT - Key AO3 Context

Question 1

The Cold War

Answer 1

Being born in 1939, Atwood grew up under ongoing threats of nuclear warfare. The US dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki set precedent for nuclear warfare. though this is not dealt with in the novel directly, radioactive poisoning from the Colonies remains a threat, as well as the declining birth rates being caused by radioactive materials, leading to Gilead’s regime of sexual slavery.

Question 2

The Nazi Regime

Question 3

The Rise of the Christian Right Wing

Answer 3

1980s saw pressure on the government by the far right, Reagan emphasising ‘family values’, alluding to the hetero nuclear family plan. The Moral Majority