Gilead: Could This Happen Here? | Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
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- Опубліковано 27 кві 2021
- How plausible is the Republic of Gilead from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale? Let's find out...
Super special thanks to all of my followers on Twitter for listening to me rant about this.
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SOURCES & PHOTO CREDITS
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (amzn.to/3dXol71)
The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy by Adam Tooze (amzn.to/2S4sflL)
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Gilead blaming women for the infertility crisis when it may have been mens' fault is like Henry VIII blaming his wives for not being able to give him a son.
Which he could do because he was in power...
A disease is no one's fault, other than those in power who allowed it to happen.
Not exactly. It’s actually much worse. Henry VIII was blaming his wives for not giving him a son, because the way gender is determined wasn’t known. In Gilead, although the method of conception is well known, it’s the male hierarchy that ignores science to blame the women.
@@seguebythesea Sorry, It's much too stupid.
I mean, he did have sons with his mistresses. I think it was just bad luck
My husband keeps saying NO country could ever devolve this far, which made me realize how blind he is to the suffering of other countries.
It's pretty much what happened in Iran, just a more extreme.
@@pablodelsegundo9502 it’s definitely spooky to look at photos from like the 1970s and such from there. Everything looks so normal and happy. And then to switch so quickly to rule under an extremist religious group and the rules put on women. It definitely is one of those events that makes you realize it could happen anywhere.
@@pablodelsegundo9502 Closer to Saudi Arabia really. Some similarities with Iran. But in Iran women can read, go to university, drive, even hold government office. Saudi Arabia bans all these, and some of these can even result in a woman's death. Women in Iran since the 1990s have also excelled in professions where women's participation is banned by the more strict Saudi System (female doctors, professors, and scientists, though in some cases their roles are restricted). Women can also practice law in Iran, but cannot serve as judges.
There are lots of third World countries being run by stupid people, but we aren't one of them.
@@thomaskalbfus2005 Not yet.
Attwood is on record as saying she perposely didn't put anything in her book that humans hadn't already done to each other. Chilling.
I remember reading an article that said she carried a collage of newspaper cuts of events she took inspiration for the Handmaid's Tale while doing interviews to prove the inspiration IS real.
I've heard, from interviews, that she took inspiration from the story of Jacob. What's interesting is that its not based on the exploitation of Jacob. 14 years of hard farm labour, then being russed into marrying someone he doesn't love, to end up being passed around like the prison b1tch & pimped out in exchange for vegtables, was not the important part to Attwood. What was important was that 2 servant women were asked/ordered to bare children in place of the two sisters, who got into a cat fight over Jacob.
Purposely.
That explains why Gilead didn’t construct a Death Star. (sarcasm)
This CAN HAPPEN PERIOD!!
Problem with this book and series is not that Gilead is implausible, rather that it is entirely possible and is therefore terrifying.
Specially when they show how it starts. They go so far unnoticed, because no one is taking them as a serious threat, just like daily we don't take religious cults as serious threats because " is just a bunch of crazy people who can't do anything".
In newer published book, margaret Atwood left a preface explaining that she wrote the book in the 1984 in Berlin Germany and explained how fast change can happen, literally over night. It's a great beginning for a book and how everything written can happen or has happened somewhere in the world.
this is the reason i hate most flashback scenes in the show. the world is so similar to our current one, and even when women lose the right to own money the main characters go on to live life as normally as they can, even considering having another child!!! i know people like the oppressors in the show exist and i believe they would jump at the opportunity to live out their bigotry freely.
@@nessyness5447 depends on which cults you’re talking about. The people’s temple wasn’t a threat because they owned San Francisco and I’d imagine today such a progressive church wouldn’t be viewed harshly on the west coast. The only reason it got out of hand was because of communism (which is what got many wealthy people part of the church to bail out)
Something like Heavens gate or similarly small cults it’s kinda a toss up but ant hill kids never had the kind of power others did and was basically similar to the Manson one.
Ya the first 2 seasons scared the crap out of me. Then covid hit and you can see small micro changes happening to bring us more in line with gilead
In the book everyone that didn’t fit into their ideal was executed. Black people, lgbt people, people of different faiths, and people with disabilities. They kind of hint at it on season 3 when commander Lawrence takes June to the intake cages. They take the people with disabilities in a different area then you hear screams off camera.
If you think about it all these people are useful as long as they are fertile according to series which make sense as, if fertility crisis happen all fertile people will become an assest rather than only selecting few group which fit their purpose they will be focusing on kids not wite supremacy lol think about it
@@Farhankhan_the1 in the book they valued fertility just as much as race and physical/mental ability so that’s why they executed the people that did not fit with in the ideals of gilead.
@@Fatemaforlife straight passing “able-bodied/minded” white women
Yeah it was weird that the woke need for diversity overpowered the orginal book in so many areas. Also the amount of Mary Sue moments that were super cringe
@@Fatemaforlife the "slave" angle is a creation of the show. I
The thing that The Handmaid's Tale is important because everything that's done to the women in Gilead it actually is done or still doing to women all around the world.
Season 1 and part of 2 yes. By season three it became torture porn.
@@David-bf6bz Mrs. Jimmy Two Times is probably referring to the book. Atwood was clear in her process that she wouldn't have put anything in the book that hadn't already happened.
Yeah, I shockingly realized this while I was watching the show...that every injustice and atrocity committed against women in this show IS happening, RIGHT NOW, somewhere in the world. As a father if 3 daughters, this is deeply disturbing to me.
@@thethirdchimpanzee I hope you are doing something to help them and the world. Even if it is as big as marching in a protest or as small as voting in local elections.
@@thethirdchimpanzeeso who is sewing mouths shut ? Season 1 and some of two sure buy once the writers ran out of material they went in to torture porn.
In the books, Jewish people initially had a choice: convert, fly to Israel if you could, or take a boat (where Gilead takes everything from you in payment, then dumps you in the Mid-Atlantic to drown before going back to collect a new batch of victims).
Free Palestine
Evangelicals support doing this at some point
@@ManiacMayhem7256gfys
@@ManiacMayhem7256 NEVER!
@@PatGeo95only a matter of time
The lack of mention of Jesus has to do with the fact that Gilead only uses the old testament. It's scary, crazy, and entirely too plausible that this could happen. I read the book way back in high school and it terrified me then. It's no lo less terrifying now.
They use some of the more atrocious parts of the new testament too, such as tearing families apart.
Yeah, but think about how Janine lost her eye and Serena, her finger. They twisted the scriptures from NT
In defend of Old Testament not everything that was mentioned there had positive connotation. You had to look at the context. For example when Lots daughters slept with him his children were doomed and couldnt succeed. Some of stories mention time before the Moses Law for example Leah and Rachel story. They really shouldnt be an example in the series.
@@triciawhite8706 What are you referring to?
I would love to say it's Impossible. Yet.. *i am german* .. i know that this is in fact very possible.
Yes, but as an American now living in Germany- I think I would prefer it here now!
@@basstrumbo well yes, but i'm talking about the past and possibilities of societies changing to cruely very fast
@@d.7416 well I tried voting, but it seems to me the voting was rigged, I was given a pencil to fill out my ballot sheet instead of the usual marker! Pencil Mark's can be erased!
@@thomaskalbfus2005 my polling place has used pencils in the past, as have hundreds of others. This seems like a very small concern in context of the broader discussion about fkn Gilead lol
@@TheFreshTrumpet what's to stop me from erasing your pencil mark for Biden and then filling in the circle for Trump on your ballot in 2024? Pencils are erasable, and they could just say you just changed you mind about who you wanted to vote for while voting, that is why pencils are objectionable.
If I was doing the counting in your district, hypothetically, I could just send the Democratic observers home telling them we're done, counting the votes, and then go crazy with an eraser. All is fair in love, war, politics, and vote counting, isn't that right?
The author gave an interview where she said all of the things that happened were taken from various times in history.
The only issue I have is that she changed her thoughts during the previous administration.
@@berniekatzroy Changed her thoughts on what? Nothing in The Testaments was invented by her.
American slavery, The Salem Witch Hunts, yes
@@jenniferc8913 a lot of civilisations throughout history have slavery. It's still happening.
@@alexoppy7864 Sorry, I didn't add all my thoughts. What I meant for the longest time Atwood always categorized the handmaids tale as speculative fiction even while Trump was early on in his first year or two of his term. Afterwards she said that it could happen because we have Trump as president, which like everyone else watched the series just totally forget that birthrate and all other factors from the book leads to this dystopia. I just mean she bandwagoned.
Jews are shown hung with the star of David on their hood multiple times in the show.
As a Jew, I always notice it, and it's one of the most personally upsetting part of it for me, so I notice it every time.
"O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends...:" Quran 5.51
@@louisfriend6924 stop. www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/41218/Evidence-of-protecting-Christians’-rights-churches-in-Islam
@@elizabethmunoz6479 Was that before or after those Egyptian Coptic Christians were BEHEADED on LIVE TV?
Free Palestine
I sincerely hope you are also personally upset over Palestine.
Also with the Aunts- they are not necessarily infertile, apart from their age. They are comprised of educated women (lawyers and judges especially) who were rounded up very early and imprisoned until they either capitulate or rebel- if they say no to the commander then they're killed. If they say yes then they become Aunts. They're given a role like nuns- able to be educated and given a higher calling, completely exempt from marriage and 'biological destiny'
Handmaids Tale:This Show is kinda One Big Trailer for Atheist-UA-camrs.
I mean, s-it, have you heard of what Christianity and Republicans are up to nowadays? Hahh, yeah, kinda Dystopian,
even if we fully ignore Qanon and dismiss them in Fill.
@@loturzelrestaurant I’m spiritual but love the show. I just don’t believe in cults- I mean…organized religion.
@@fibonaccisequins4637 I take yuor word for it and shall then recommend UA-camrs like Emma Thorne, Some More News,
and Hbomberguy.
Oh, and Professor Dave (at least his videos about Cultss and Pseudoscience.)
@@fibonaccisequins4637 :)
On the topic of lacking religious freedom; I think it is in season three that Serena Joy is shown a empty house in Washington DC. She asks the other wife who lived there, and she answers that she think they were baptists. In season one June walked by a church that had been destroyed. So it seems that not only other religions, but also other denominations are basically not allowed.
That is clear, one of the first scenes in the show is a catholic priest hanged alongside a gay man
I mean, if a country declares to have a primary religion, then all its citizens are bound to follow that right? This happened in the past and in present too.
@@Sun.Shine- I think the main difference between your comment and Gilead is “primary” and “only”. There are modern and developed countries that have a primary/most common religion, but that does not force their people to only believe in that religion.
It was only in 2012 that Norway stopped having a state church. Among other things it meant that every baby was automatically written in to the church, and parents or baby am had to ask to get the person out of the lists. But both when we had a state church and not it is allowed to have other religions and none at all. There are mosks and churches of other denominations in many towns.
yeah in the book most Christian denominations are fighting an active civil war against Gilead, for example the Quakers help refugees flee to Canada and the Baptists are waging an active insurgency in the Virginia mountains
in the book the Jews were given a choice to convert and follow the laws of gilead or emigrate to Israel. Many chose to go to Israel but even the character June isn't sure that the news report was true.
It was also implied that the jews forced to immigrate to Israel were drowned at sea by Gilead
What about other religions ?
@@anneneville6255 They were probably told "convert or die". At least one Catholic Priest is shown dead on the wall.
I am currently living in the Republic of Gilead, namely the fuckinh Islamic Republic of Iran. I'm not exactly a handmaid but this autocracy resembles the autocracy going on here
I've always thought Gilead is possible. I'm a history teacher and documentary buff. I can pick out a lot of what Atwood has added to the story. If it's happened once it can happen again. And some of it is already happening. And we are ignoring it. And it's crazy because it won't end well.
No, it won't.
Post January 6, 2021...happening. In addition, extreme beliefs ("right" and "left") are driving us to insanity. If we can't get our shit together, then....
@@sparker7768 don’t know how people can’t see the references. The book references a breakdown of women’s rights that leads them to basically underground railroads into Canada. I just read an article this morning that thousands of women are heading to Mexico for their abortions, and Canada has expanded their rights. All we need now is the red robes.
There are too many people to control. With all the guns and non Christians living in the us i really don't think so. Plus the rest of the world would step in.
Oh hunny this isn’t about you
You forgot about the foreign visitor who says to June that their country hadn't had a baby In a long time so they sympathise with Gilead
Kinda wondered what happened to her. Once she agreed did she know that someone would take her place or did she keep her position, did she know she signed over her rights and power
On the absence of the name of Jesus. The original movie Handmaid's Tale says "The Old Testament is our guide" .In the book, Quakers, Amish, Baptists, and Catholics are rebels against the Gilead government. Since Christ said very little on fertility, except when he was on the road to Golgotha, he told a group of women, "Blessed is the barren womb, and the breast which will not give suck". So Jesus would be low on the list of quotable prophets except in some truncated way. They often quote the Beatitudes that have been edited to serve one's purpose.
You seem to have taken that out of context a bit, in that quote he was saying that in the future people will be saying those things, in a bad way.
Apostle Paul also said it is preferable to be unmarried and childless for the purposes of spreading the Gospel but that would not serve their purpose at all either
Anyone can twist the bible for their own harmful ends. Have you never heard of televangelists? I've also read that Hitler claimed that his movement was Christian. If there is an Antichrist in our lifetime, he will claim to be Christian, in order to deceive the maximum amount of people. And he might be Republican, too, since that's perceived as more Christian in America.
@@feezlfuzzl564 Nothing Christian about Republican Evangelicals.
Evangelists are Christians.
Nothing Christian about Democrats either.
@@WayneSmith-lo8be "Evangelists are Christians." I hope that was a typo. Have you heard about the private lives of Paula White, Benny Hinn, the Crouches, etc? Other than that, I mostly agree with you.
Freedom dies from a thousand wounds inflicts by the hands of those who say they are protecting us
-America 2021
@@nikkie4216 before or after the capital being seized
No I can see they are protecting themselves with National Guard troops in Washington DC, not us!
The series is the perfect example of what a totalitarian socialist or communist state can do to Americans. It's very similar to what happend in Soviet Union, North Korea, China, Venezuela, Cuba and many others. The more I watch The Handmaid's Tale the more I fear a socialist society. Never surrender to a totalitarian State. Very well done!
@@reacionario2026 no that's a fascist State not socialist
You're right about it being authoritarian
For anyone who watches the show, going back in time pre-Gilead it’s so sad because it hits to close to home
where are you from if I may ask I’m from America
@@MyHugoboss12 yeah, I'm from America too. To say there are parallels between current America and pre Gilead is beyong dramatic exaggerated hysteria.
@@cloudambient I feel the same it is so scary ☹️😩 another one that gave me the same feeling is the joker movie
@@MyHugoboss12 No, I said there are not parallels between current america and pre gilead. To say that there are would be dramatic exaggerated hysteria.
@@cloudambient ooo lol sorry misread it
Don't downplay the religious angle of Gilead. What are humans capable of when they (1) believe this life is just a waystation to an eternal existence, (2) their morally atrocious acts are approved of by the creator of the universe, and (3) are convinced that, if they follow this god, they will spend eternity (the REAL existence) in paradise?
The United States is too multicultural to be dominated by a single religion like Iran is!
@@thomaskalbfus2005 well i mean before the arab spring there was a decent amount of peace and freedom of religion. (I realize your comment is sarcastic lol ) anyone still remember the 90s cancel culture lol.
@@thomaskalbfus2005 Yet nearly 50% of the US fell into a worship of Trump which lead to an organized attack of the capitol. It failed because the man had no follow through. But with anyone smarter? It can easily happen again and worse.
@@thomaskalbfus2005 65% of the US is Christian...Id say thats pretty dominant
@@sosalosarosanos7006 it is not the puritan branch if Christianity that is dominant in America. The Salem Witch trials were the most un-American thing that happened in American history, I don't think we're going back to that.
I like the show, but ask it goes on I find myself being more interested in Gilead itself and less interested in June's story. I'd like to see a spinoff or something that's more about a group of resistance fighters, or a war movie about a few countries teaming up to take Gilead out or something like that.
the spin off will be thee sequel book "thee testaments"
Totally agree with you, Commander Kline.
No one would invade Gilead, not because they’d lose, but rather because there’s no point. It has an extremely decentralized and weak political structure to begin with, to the point where it’s highest ranking member is now a political prisoner in a foreign country and a slave revolt eliminated many members of leadership.
It’s going to completely fall apart any day now, it just needs more time and pressure
I am completely the same i really don’t care about June and her boring savior role. I would much rather learn about the surrounding world
@@TheOriginalPoon he’s not the highest ranked tho is he
“They’re just Nazis.” My jaw dropping when you said that.
Its a pretty valid comparison
Well they were Socialist like the Nazi's
@@David-bf6bz *facepalm*
@@David-bf6bz Nazis are fascist. They hated socialism just as much as communism.
@@David-bf6bz Check the parties actual platform ,views , and actions before blindly believing them to be even remotely socialist because they threw the word in their party title.
I would chose the death of humanity, over Gilead. A thousand times over.
@@svevsky If you like Gilead, you should emigrate to Afghanistan. It is the next ''best'' thing.
Then your a enemy of humanity.
@@theo9952 at this point sounds a lot better then the West.
@@Brandon-yy5cc Νot at all. I am an enemy of INHUMANITY. Or my enemy is inhumanity. Depending what you mean.
@@Brandon-yy5cc Why ? Don't you like democracy, human rights, freedom of speech ? Would you rather live under an insanely fanatic theocracy which would deprive your daughters of education beyond primary school like in Afghanistan and condemns them to spend their lives under a burka, not allowed to work or even walk the street on their own? What is your reason for thinking so?
I mean Margaret Atwood did base the events of the book on what she felt was the logical conclusion of far right religious beliefs on the proper place of women and a lot of actions of Gilead is based on things that have actual happened in the real world. It's uncomfortably plausible.
With the difference being that those thing have to countries with VERY different societies from the US thus they are actually to do such things which are impossible in the US but you know keep ignoring for your own purposes
@@dirckthedork-knight1201 They already tried to do it with the January 6 insurrection but you know keep ignoring that fact for your purposes.
@@pixelcount350 That was a riot but you know keep repeating "insurection" (despite having no resemblance to any historical insurection) for you own purposes
@dirckthedork-knight1201 How we quickly forget the speeches by both Sen. Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy calling January 6th everything from a riot to domestic terrorists acting under the direction of Trump, both practically and morally: m.ua-cam.com/video/EHTSRQQWgAI/v-deo.html
@@dirckthedork-knight1201 dude trump tried to stay president. Lol
I've always felt unsettled watching HT, but when I saw one the Nuclear Waste Zones on the map was a little to close to home I figured at least I would be dead from the fall out. I could probably watch any explosion at Diablo Canyon from my back porch. It's good to know it would be face-meltingly quick!
I’m in Texas. At least I know I wouldn’t be under Gilead rule. Not sure if the Republic of Texas would be any better though lol
At this point I could see Gilead happening, or Panem or Westeros minus the dragons, were all so fucked.
"May the odds be ever in your favor."
As someone who grew up in a religious household, I noticed that Gilead's people read whole passages from the bible but cut out any verse that condemns what they're doing lol
Every 10 min I'm like, that's not what it says
The Bible you know doesn't say what it originally did, there are a lot of versions, all of them edited, translated from a translation of a translation..., and it's full of contradictions. So everyone's gonna interpret it the way it pleases them.
Basically that’s what every religious person does. No disrespect, don’t take it the wrong way.
They follow the old testament... which is why they hate all other religions.
I noticed that they don't use the word, Christ. I think I heard it once. They also cherry-pick bible verses, where it sounds kind of similar to an actual bible verse but they changed it. I'm not sure if it's true of the book, but the TV show shows that all denominations of Christians that didn't conform were hung. You would see people marked "Priest" or "Baptist." I'd assume it was to introduce their own version of Christianity without anyone protesting what the Bible actually reads.
They should be using the book of some other religion. The one that has the most people actually living by the lunacy to be found in it. They certainly aren't AMERICAN Christians. This show is fabulous but the idea that AMERICANS would allow it is ludicrous. Haha
And yet here people are planning their little left wing war scenarios to take down the magat's Its absurd and hilarious. Good luck boiys
@@laurakane2252 I think that's why they execute Christians that do not conform to their idea of Christianity.
Gilead's legal system is based on fundamental Christian ideas, but the Bible is not a legal text.
Gilead law enforces moral behavior but doesn't define the nature of God. Many Gilead Commanders are former judges and high-powered attorneys. Putnam was a lawyer.
Christ's teachings have a little too much leniency and mercy for Gilead's purposes. The Gospels aren't important. What's important is adherence to the law.
The justification for Gilead law is not really Biblical precedent, the justification is to secure God's one undeniable blessing: children. Any law or policy that promotes fertility is, by definition, made legal under His eye.
Apostates and heretics are subjected to "the common mercy of the state" as is said at Ofjoseph's trial. Prefectly legal. Nothing to do with Christ.
Oh yes they would. If the fundies in this country take over we are screwed. They will implement a similer system.
Horrible but true: this is a possibility. In the early 17th century we almost had a puritan coup in the still young republic of the Netherlands. It led to civil war which nearly went sour. Imagine a puritan Amsterdam...
More based than current Amsterdam
That's pretty much exactly my take on Gilead: a short-lived Fascist state that inflicts immense suffering upon its population for a few years while promising them the world, never delivering, ultimately collapsing if it isn't demolished by outside pressure.
Project 2025 is our version of the sons of Jacob. Mark my words
On Heritage Foundation site, they are asking for people to be “in place” on day 1. If that’s not the most nefarious sounding thing- until you read the 900+ pages of how they plan to dismantle the government and take away rights to most people, gut benefits to military and veterans and our SS, Medicare etc. If that’s not a warning to heed, imagine the parts they are keeping secret.
How is that? I'm not arguing with you or saying your wrong, I took Gilead as an American version of the Taliban. I also should add that I have not read the book either.
Go to bed
This whole show is about Power. Everything. Women are expected to accept total rule. But the men know better than to think women do not have agency even under a totalitarian regime. They know women are highly intelligent.
June is training for the government at this point.
I’ve noticed that some men actually respect or even admire June.
That convo scene with Janine and June in the milk tank was glorious! Whoo… that’s some mighty fine writing.
😘
I think that the men are controlled and individually powerless as well. Look at what’s happening to Joseph, left in Canada to rot. Or Nick who doesn’t want to be a part of the machine.
The Handmaidens Tale woke me up to how extreme Republicans are becoming. Along with a documentary about how fascist take over and wow we are not looking good in this country.
Yeah, it's very possible. America isn't immune from this. No country is. It's why we must always be vigilant.
The radiation zone in Missouri also had to be a weapon. The nuclear reactor in Columbia is a tiny research reactor. Also the radiation zone is south of it.
What about the one in Fulton?
I always figured it was the nuclear power plant in Mexico, Missouri.
Never forget that this alternate history fiction dystopia is more plausible than some people think it is
Let’s think about it, what countries are similar to Gilead the way they treat women ? Muslim held countries !!!!!!!!
@@MissMarinaCapri that’s just xenophobic American propaganda, but you might wanna look in your own back yard because the US is literally on the verge of this happening, Texas just made it legal for citizens to sue women who get abortions, and completely rewrote the curriculum to further indoctrinate children. Sooooo good job showing your racism. Don’t bother trying to feel to Canada when it happens either you won’t be welcomed with that racist attitude.
@@NiamhOBx92 imagine thinking that saving children's lives is something bad
@@NiamhOBx92 Islam isn’t a race lol
@@KingCrimson02 do you not understand what the word xenophobia means?
Just a quick correction, the TV adaptation of the Handmaid's Tale isn't set in the future. It's an alternative present. Note the headline on The Boston Globe at 11:05 regarding the attacks on Congress, and therefore the beginning of the takeover being written as 'September 15, 2014'. It's mentioned early in the series that the takeover occurred three years prior, which would put us in 2017, when the series aired. By the time we get to season 4, I don't think the date could be much later than late 2019, maybe early 2020, at best.
On a side note, I wish the lore of this show was explored more. The insular view of the world we see earlier on is understandable, but once Luke makes it to Canada, they should have started explaining more about how the US was faring, and what the rest of the world was like. Hell, they barely even go into what's happening in Toronto; I'm sure a lot could be explored there. The flashbacks to the pre-takeover days could certainly be utilized better by explaining more about the fertility crisis and how things in the US were starting to collapse. It's a good show, but they really keep us in the dark too much on a lot of things.
But we had flashbacks that approached most of the stuff you mentioned 🤔.
I can completely believe Gilead rarely mentions Jesus - he was too much into that forgiveness schtick and not into condemning people. "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44) does not sound like the sort of thing Gilead would encourage: "'If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman... They are to be put to death" (Leviticus 20:13) by contrast, sounds right up their street. Ironic that they might draw more from the Old Testament (the Jewish Tanakh, largely) then the New and yet outlaw Judaism!
THIS SHOW SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME!!To see how things are in the world right now it makes you wonder .
Since the novel is firmly based in the idea that Gilead must, and does, end, it raises the question of how much the producers of the television series have baked Gilead's end into the structure seen on screen. There do seem to be signs in the show at various times.
There's also implication that Gilead is around for at least a century, and June is in the Early Period before they crack down on everything because the leaders still remember modern life.
The testaments sequel implies Giles won’t last more than 20-25 years tops from the time of the Handmaid’s tale. Given that the wives and Handmaids still remember pre-Gilead I’d guess as a State it lasts maybe 30-40 years.
I'd say after yesterday's Supreme Court ruling and Clarence Thomas's added opinions, that it is very much possible.
Episode 1 of the show has a jan 6th lol
A few things that Gilead would run out of very quickly would be iron orr and oil, which would severely impair their ability to wage any kind of war. Their anti-stance against technology would render their the bulk of their weapons obsolete within a few years and without the means to make more, they would be ripe for an invasion from all sides. Spare parts for things like fighter planes are mostly made in China, which would mean that most of their air force would be grounded, the moment they start to run out of them. Lawrence does say that the reason why the rest of the world haven´t attacked them yet is that they´re afraid of their weapons, but once that fear is gone they would be over and done with in no time and he clearly knows it.
The part I find to be least believable is that the UN didn´t interfere right away, given the enormous risk for the world economy, if a takeover was to happen. China, with it´s huge financial interest in the US, would for sure have pressed for immediate action against the regime and if they wanted it bad enough, then we all know that they would get it. Putin would have been the first to jump on the band wagon, seeing it as his chance to show the world how mighty Russia still is and a way to win some goodwill with a world, that for the most part don´t like him. The EU (fearing a Chinese/Russian takeover) would then be forced to join, in order not to be left out of the decision making after the war is over. Finally, South America would join, seeing as they need the steady money coming in from the US more than anyone. If a few blurry pictures of supposed weapons silos in Iraq was enough to start a war against Saddam for, then the stories of mass executions alone would have been enough to send the rest of the richer part of the world into a full out war against them, if it was needed.
I think that in reality, even in the far our scenario that the takeover could happen, they wouldn´t have lasted more than a year, at the absolute most. But of course, that wouldn´t make for nearly as interesting of a story and when it comes down to it, that´s all it is and sometimes to make it as good as you can, you have to count in a few very implausible things happening now and again.
I think you are forgetting that they have nuclear weapons.
@@Thecuriousincident1 And you don´t think they´re well aware that if they used any of them, then they would get hit with multiple times more of them from the other countries, who have them too? This isn´t 1945 anymore, when the US was the only country,, that had them. There´s also such a thing as missile defense systems.
In what episode did Lawrence say that?
@@Stinger522 I honestly can´t remember, since it´s been years since I saw the early episodes. I believe it was in season one though, but I can´t say that I´m entirely sure of it.
@Phrankster163 Nuclear weapons are deterrents, nobody wants to be the one to strike first, even if it's Gilead. Besides, in a fertility crisis using weapons of MASS destruction is the least thing anyone wants.
Would love to see you do an update to this with recent changes in the news this week. Just seems like another check…
Margaret Atwood based all things in Gilead on things that had already happened around the world btw
In Islamic and Communist countries. She just gave it a Christian Fascist paintjob.
Polygamist Mormons live in gilead they even have the local cops.
@@cheesecakeisgross4645 in fascist countries lmao
Sadly, this show is feeling more plausible today…
It's not plausible, *IT'S INEVITABLE.*
It really isn’t lmafo
Biden won you ain't oppressed COPE
@@PussNBootoswell the show has a jan 6th riot episode 1 and bans abortions. I think that's what they mean.
There’s a lot to update this with, unfortunately :(
What got me was the realization that everything that happens in this show has happened to women around the world (much of it in America’s recent past), or is even happening as I write this. Sexual slavery, domestic slavery, genital mutilation, prohibition from owning property or a bank account, banning of family planning options, having their children taken, forced to wear a modesty uniform, child marriages to old men, torture and murder of wlw, prohibition of education/reading and voting... ALL OF IT HAS HAPPENED OR IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. It’s all entirely plausible, because it’s already occurred.
I started watching the show towards the beginning of the pandemic, and I remember thinking, "There's no way this could happen in America." Fast forward through a year of utter chaos, and it chillingly does seem possible. These things have happened in other countries, and perhaps it could happen in a very divided U.S.
Problem, you have a high % of the male population in their early 40's & 50's who got their childhood wreaked by Southern Churches during the end of the USSR Cold War, and they have no children of their own. They will not .. feel .. sorry about any mass gatherings.
If you really want to be scarred polygamist Mormons are basically gilead and some even control the local government
I can’t believe you could be so naive. Republican men who police women’s bodies are Gilead wanna be’s, happening right now!
They want to ban abortion and any contraception gilead is crowning it’s head out of the mother of Christian conservatism
The prognosis has only worsened in the interim.
I noticed that about them never speaking about Jesus as well. It's one of the reasons I point to when my more religious friends feel offended.
I don't think they're Christian, although they're clearly Biblically based. Idk, just my thoughts.
To my memory the rules are based on the old testament (the more extreme side).
I imagine they're like Mormons. Their faith is "inspired" by Christianity and they may even call themselves Christians, but their most sacred texts were written by them (extremely recently) and have no connection to actual canon from the ancient church. No offense to Mormons lol
I think of the Gilead commanders as being like the "Teachers of the Law" in the Gospels. You know, the people Jesus compared to vipers and whitewashed tombs.
Welp, that didn't age well. It's not a case of plausible, it's a question now if it's inevitable.
I was just about to post that they may want to revisit this question.
@@DaveCM I think that it is probably inevitable, if things keep going this way. Only it's going to be a bit different from continent to continent. in Europe, if something like this happens, it would probably not stop women from working completely, just make it more difficult.
You should read about the women in the the Morman group fundamentalist of Latter Day Saints
You do realize that Gilead is telling the tail from the perspective of black women in American slavery. All of the things that happen on the show are real life things that happened in America to black people and native Americans.
@Pan-European Slavic Novorossiyan Ultranationalist illegal, yet it happened and that's historical fact. To even deny it is laughable and proven in the genetics of Black Americans today. You're blathering falsehoods.
@Pan-European Slavic Novorossiyan UltranationalistDid I claim to be a slave, you indignant dolt? No, so when did I claim to be as oppressed as a fictional novel inspired by real history, and what is it with right-wingers being unable to interpret literary metaphor?
Margaret Atwood was partial inspired by the 1979 Iranian revolution which its extreme religious draconian rules are still around today 42 years later. So yes it can happen anywhere.
No it cant
Because Iran was a WAY different scociety than the US
This is not happening at least not in the west
Google Utah sweet dreams
@@dirckthedork-knight1201 There is footage and photos of Iran prior to the revolution showing it was very much like the west.
Excuse me, but what rock are you living under? The religious fundamentalists in this country are paying politicians to do what they want, which is have a theocracy. They are bought and paid for, and no longer serve the people who elected them. Roe vs. Wade is just the beginning. They will chip away at our rights until we have none left. You need to wake up. Yes, it can happen here, in the near future.
I can easily see this happening in a Republican Evangelical America. It doesn’t take a great leap of imagination.
Apparently Texas is its own republic in the show, atleast according to a line in season 4. So who knows if that map means anything anymore.
God Bless Texas.
It could be that Texas is like Gilead but with a little bit more Baptist zeal.
I'm pretty sure the map is made from Gilead so its not a accurate depiction
I'm not sure if Texas would be much better than Gilead.
The Metro areas (Houston, Austin, El Paso, San Antonio and Dallas would be resistance strongholds) but the rural and suburban areas might be sympathetic to Gilead.
The only chance is that there are enough Baptists to keep the Evangelicals at bay.
In the epilogue of the book, Texas is independent
Their current war on women certainly indicates it. They also don't like elderly people, their Lt Governor thought we should just get Covid and die, to preserve the economy. As an active senior citizen who contributes time and effort to my community ( In NE, you couldn't pay me enough to live in TX or any other Red state) I found that insulting and abhorrent. Sorry, but I and others deserve to live. Isn't it interesting that Red used to mean communist. Now it means a Republican state! If the shoe fits, wear it.
one important note: the rules restricting women’s rights and lgbt rights were rolled out slowly, so slowly that people didn’t see what was happening and what it could lead to, sounds kinda familiar right?
It's absolutely plausible. Yes, Gilead is extreme. Maybe my experience has been a bit different than most: I had to stop watching The Handmaid's Tale after 3 or 4 episodes because it was too familiar to me.
Know the Duggars, their show "19 Kids and Counting"? I grew up in a Christian fundamentalist cult that preaches and enforces the same rules the Duggars abide by. Women wearing long skirts/dresses, long hair, wives "submitting" to their husbands (translated, men can do whatever the hell they want because they're "the head of the house"). Child abuse isn't only accepted but encouraged, because it's Biblical to beat your kids...in fact, it's seen as wrong NOT to physically discipline your kids, because you're going against God's word.
Not to mention they're legit all Trump supporters, young earth creationists, pro-birth (if you couldn't tell by the 19 kids, in fundamentalism having 6+ kids is normal), many are antivaxxers/conspiracy theorists, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, and everyone who doesn't believe like them is going to hell (or is just wrong, but same difference). There are so many more things I could go on about, but I want to be concise (and honestly my mind is blanking right now).
Honestly if there's one thing I could say that I find the most disturbing about this "faith" (if you can call it that): it's that outside of "God" or the faith, people have no value. It's why they're so hostile toward anyone "other" than themselves...the only thing that gives them value is their definition of God, and if you don't have God or share their definition, you are of no worth. On our own, people are incomplete, we're defective, we're lacking, and are therefore less valuable. Any assigned value we have comes from God and "placing our identity in Christ."
Treating lesser people as lesser bears no consequence because either I'll be saved and God will heal all of my trauma in the end (so it's all good), or because if I don't repent, I'm just going to hell anyway. Ultimately, this life doesn't matter: the only thing that matters is what you do here for the kingdom of God, because what you do here affects eternity, and isn't that all that matters in the long run?
After being raised in a cult for most of my life where this is the norm, seeing the world of The Handmaid's Tale wasn't too far of a stretch for me...and that was TERRIFYING.
[Also, please be respectful to Christian fundamentalists for their humanity (but also don't put up with their BS). I'm not sharing this information for any other reason than to educate and to share my own experience. I was once a fundamentalist. If anything, be kind: kindness spoke and still speaks volumes to me.]
Yeah, having been in a fundy church group that was cult-like, then watching four years of trump this show seems to close to reality. I don’t mean that there could literally be handmaids and Martha’s, etc., but I do think an authoritarian fundamentalist regime is possible. I suggest you read “The Power Worshippers” for an in depth look at “Christian” nationalism. It’s a disturbing book.
@@777sillydog I'm not sure I want to look any more in-depth than I already have. I've lived it, that's enough. I may read it sometime, but not now. I probably wouldn't be able to handle it right now, my mental health is already disturbed enough as it is. Thanks for the recommendation though. ☺
I've been there as well, raised quiverfull and escaped. Now openly lesbian and the family think they're being decent for clenching their teeth most of the time.
The quiverfull movement exists to produce women who will be broodmares, and men who will go into government to head a regressive, misogynistic and evangelical agenda. I was brought up believing that they should take over America, and I thought that I would get married and have twelve kids. Now I've got a girlfriend and I talk about my experience at stand-up comedy and open mic nights because it's a great way of educating people. Yes, there's shows like the handmaid tale, which seems fare out there. But then I educate people with comedy, like giving a dog it's heartworm meds wrapped in cheese.
@@cathycat4989 I also grew up hearing quiverfull, our church was huge into "To Train Up a Child" and "Created to Be His Helpmeet" by Michael and Debbie Pearl. I identify as nonbinary and I love women (which pisses my family off considering I'm AFAB). Good for you, I hope you and your girlfriend are happy.
💖❤💛💚💙💜
@@sassylittleprophet This is a bit random.....but, given what you said, I have something for you to check out.
I think, like me, you'll find it absolutely hilarious given your background.
Look up "Kid Farm" by Pete Holmes. It's a series of short videos of a fake TV show created by comedian Pete Holmes, who himself grew up uber Christian. It's a parody of those "x number of kids and counting" shows. And it's brilliant...just hilarious and so on the mark. And just FULL of little inside jokes that you'll only get if you grew up within that whole insular weird modern Christian American quiverful moralizing world.
11:02 oh god, this hits a little too close to home, very uncomfortable parallels to our world.
This is exactly why I think this could happen here.
@@Tina-qn6pq and Jan 6 was such a watch up call, thankfully they weren’t organized, but god forbid they were, they were feet away from congress men and women and there were armed terrorists among those there that day.
The scary thing they replaced Jesus with Trump and were literally willing to die for him. We really were at the a knife edge that day, for gods sake they’d built a set of gallows to hang our elected representatives.
Gilead has already happened. It’s called North Korea. Never underestimate humanities level of cruelty and stupidity.
It's also Iran.
@@triciawhite8706 America
Islam and Communism will do that.
Sons of Jacob is what the Heritage Foundation is planning to establish as they have stated in Project 2025.
Yes, Project 2025 is real-life Gilead.
I feel like it's fair to point out that in the flashback scene with June and Luke watching the news about the attack on the government; it wasn't like they blew up the capitol during the state of the union and killed every elected official like they do on the show designated survivor, and that instead it was more of a targeted attack where gunmen infiltrated the capitol building and "open fired from the gallery" killing lots of people, but not the entire congress/senate and then there is secondary explosive attack on the white house and then martial law is declared. That, to me, is a far more plausible scenario; that the people who were elected officials knew not to be there, or maybe some disposable ones weren't told and were there to dissuade suspicion, and then the major targets in the line of succession were all taken out with those remaining being involved with sons of Jacob.
Also fully aware this comment is probably gonna put me on a watchlist somewhere lmao
We must ask one thing; how would this affect the the economy?
They still have never mentioned how the economy works in Gilead; main example being currency, only food tokens have been shown. However, the show has heavily hinted that human trafficking is a form of currency.
@@berniekatzroy The economy of Gilead is probably the most compelling part of the show for me. They receded to roughly 1/3 of the country, their male workforce is fighting wars with rebels or guarding the streets, and their infrastructure is absolutely shot. When Fred told Tuello that he would invade Canada to get Nicole back i audibly laughed at how ridiculous is would be for Gilead to fight a war with Canada and expect to not get slaughtered
@@cavemanzach9475 as much as you make sense all other western nations do dare get involved with gilead because they're scared of their military power mentioned in both books and in season 3 I believe the swiss diplomats mention gileads power. Also given how the US was the main world power, the changing to Gilead turned the whole geopolitical scale on its head. So we know slave labor accounts for sonething but who and what is Gilead trading for with other countries other than people as we saw in season 1.
@@berniekatzroy I do recall many mentions of the power of Gilead's military, but unless they're dumping their entire economy into the military (I don't doubt they would do that) there's no way that they're going to be able to maintain an effective war front against rebels, Canada, and controlling the hyper-regulated population of Gilead. Where are they getting jet fuel to drop nuclear bombs? Where are they getting the food and armaments necessary to maintain a war against a first-world country when they can't even quell a rebellion which has taken a fairly significant portion of the country? My guess is that Gilead is 30% capable of actually giving someone a hard time and 70% being good at fluffing their feathers to people that were, at one point, inferior to the US
I do really love the dialogue that stems from this show. Politics and economics taking such a hard turn is fascinating. I would love it if someone wrote a small companion book outlining the canonical functionings of Gilead's government and economy.
@@cavemanzach9475 same. If you remember the epilogue to the first book at some point Canada gives into pressure from Gilead and actually returns escaped handmaids along with other undesirables under Gileads standards. I do believe the majority of their economy is poured into their military given how common commodities in modern times are rationed and theres several mentions of food being a rare or synthetic in both books as those on the frontlines get what is necessary.
It's happening now that Roe vs. Wade got overturned.
Can confirm. Women in the US are slave-concubines since they can't murder their children. It's horrifying.
But at least the actual handmaid outfits we got look better than the ones in the show.
The toughest scene I saw in this show is the one where a handmaid is in labor, runs into problems and the dr. decides to do a quick C section. They take the baby, leave the room, and the mother is left to die. No effort to save her. It's really scary that this attitude is happening in this country right now, with the draconian laws against "abortions" which aren't really abortions. Dr.s are leaving women to die. Think Gilead can't happen here? Guess again.
Yeah how terrible that discussion going back to the States, so terrible
after row vs wade... you should rethink this....
Yeah stopping people from murdering babies is completely unconstitutional!
I recently re-watched the whole series to prepare for season 4, and it was scary to see the flashback about the takeover of the U.S capital.
@@hyzenthlay713 lol small town Police in America have army surplus APCs and infantry fighting vehicles. When they say defund the police, they mean stop acting like an psudo army.
The fundamentalists are all Republican anyway
This is why when the Insurrection happened here, I had a bag in the car ready to drive all the way to Canada. Can’t take any chances anymore
I was also scared for my life when a bunch of Waffle House regulars stole a podium and pissed in Pelosi's office. That's when I knew democracy was over and soon the Wal Mart Paratroopers would float in and install a new government with a new Constitution written on the back of an Applebee's menu.
I still can't sleep.
good thing they turned out to be clowns.
@@hyzenthlay713 The cartels are a tough but fair authority.
@@hyzenthlay713 Canada has the audacity to treat every citizen with respect unlike what happened under trump, who discriminated against people because he needed a scapegoat.
@@hyzenthlay713 Discrimination isn’t a religious freedom it’s bigotry. Your false delusions are no basis for exception from the laws.
I actually noticed the no-Jesus thing too, I always questioned their title as a “Christian” nation because of that- I thought they were some other extremist monotheistic society
The monotheistic part is what allows theocratic governments to be more tyrannical, in a polytheistic religion, some gods are evil, and it is totally acceptable to go up against the gods, and it's even considered heroic. Hercules went up against the gods, so did Odysseus, in pagan religions no god is an all powerful know it all that you can't contradict, they have powers but they are not always right or moral. A totalitarian state finds alot of things useful about monotheistic religions so long as they control the religious narrative. Since governments often kill and torture people, with monotheism, they can make excuses for doing so and the priests they control will give them absolution, as that is their job and they work for the state. This is one reason why separation of church and state is so important, states that don't have that tend to be oppressive, and the religion tends to become a tool for government control.
Well you to have to factor in rhat the book is written by a staunch atheist and I am wilingl to bet that the writing room didn't have any practicing Christian's, probably gonas far as to say practicing Jews or Muslims. At best a couple of half baked Buddhists and a "I not religious but I am spiritual " crystal rubbers. So in defiance of "only those with the lived experience can write (insert identity) you have non believers trying to build a believer based society...
@@David-bf6bz why do atheists have to hate Christians and try to smear them as evil? If they don't believe in God, fine, let others believe what they want to believe, most Christians do not try to oppress women.
@@thomaskalbfus2005 "not all atheists" There are the simple non believers, and then there are those where atheism is a religion of it's own and believersare by extension "heretics". Much of that seems to be rooted in egotism. Interestingly the "blue church" Atheism is some of the most convoluted secularism seen to date. Two out of three of the Abrahamic faiths are evil but one is a religion of peace. If want to have fun take white (literal caucasian) Chechen Muslim and a Black African Christian and ask a leftist which one is more "wrong"
@@thomaskalbfus2005 are serious? Are you familiar with any of the governments of pagan polytheistic Mesopotamia? Even the Roman and Greek dabbling in democracy was limited to a small segment of the aristocracy. Tyrant is a pagan polytheistic word.....
Yeah, they turn the Washington monument into a cross but all references are to Old Testament. Not one reference to Jesus, “As you do unto the least of thee you do unto me.”
That’s because American fundamentalism puts the focus on the cruelty and vengeance of the Old Testament God and not the love and mercy of Christ.
I can't believe that the Gilead Eyes could possibly defeat a half drunk battalion of Marines.
Oops. The Guardians couldn't do it either.
Treason, some Marines would be part of a fifth column. RW already has infiltrated law enforcement in the U.S.
I have an exam on The Handmaids Tale on tuesday, might end up quoting you as a critic!
This was posted over a year ago, and look how far we've already moved toward Gilead here in the U.S., supported by a theocractic SCOTUS.
Atwood reportedly said that she intended the book to be a warning, but some are now using it as a playbook.
omg yeah I dont want to live in the US right now its getting scary... I just try to be positive
Wow that was so satisfying coulda listened to another hour of this breakdown Well done
I will like to a see a 1984 movie or tv show by Netflix
There is already a 1984 film adaptation released in 1984 with John hurt playing Winston smith. We do not need another.. god forbid one made by Netflix.
I would like to see a 2084 movie be made. If they really wanted to mess with people, make it from the state's perspective and consider Winston a rebel or terrorist.
@@nhoff6858 Even after a year of staying home and catching up on shows, I haven't gotten to the Brave New World series yet. But it is on the list.
Isn't there already a current adaptation of _1984_ from a POV perspective on the cable news channels?
Turn on CNN and follow the dumbfuck Biden administration's bullshit. There's your 1984 coming true
Hey so it’s June 25, 2022. Turns out the foundation was probably pretty solid.
Hello and all the Best from Austria. My English is quiet bad, but I try my best to express my thoughts as good as possible: In my opinion Gilead was and is possible, looking at the current social and political situation and the rhe rise of religious extremism (which goes hand in hand with a new prudery and conservatism coming from people due to different motivations). Gilead is happening right now (as you staded). As an European I do see a lot of analogies to (american) creationism. I like your work!
American creationism? Seriously? You think Creationism came out of America?
Study any history much?
@@justlina2769 as I stated, my English is quiet bad - I mean Creationism all over the world AND in America.
how this ideas are less popular in america if some nazi like shit would rise becouse of terrorism and the fact that muslims have more children than european gilad is just most american thing in terms of religion
Your English is just fine (especially considering the fact that most of us Americans don’t speak a second language at all)!
Also, as an American, I agree with your assessment and I see your point about American creationism. If I am correct, you are referring to the unique type of Christian fundamentalism in America and its ties to the far-right. Sadly, I think you are correct; Gilead could happen.
Yes, I agree and I refer to the unique type of Christian fundamentalism in America including respectively connected with the far-right
Weird that a church of Scientology member and quite well known since MadMen as well,is the main in this show.
Ah, yes but she is of celebrity status. She has already spoken about being a feminist and gaining a lot from her study of Scientology. The ones who suffer Gilliad- like are the Sea Orgs. They sign billion year contracts, are overworked with little pay, forced to have abortions, kept from their children, spied on, harassed. And on and on.
Very good video! I’m plunging back into the lore with the new season coming out, seems like they’re doing some more world building so it will be interesting!
According to the show they removed the street signs to make it harder for people to organize or escape...
This is a kind of Christian interpretation that existed in history and parts of which still exist.
When I was reading the hand maiden it reminded me so much of what happened to countries like Afghanistan, Iraq etc with all these extremist and the depravities that came along with it.
I love this show....
And I hate how Hulu won't allow me to binge the new season. Literally sitting at my computer at 11:59pm Tuesday night hitting refresh over and over. Leave it to Hulu to look at Netflix and ask themselves....How can we do this, but worse?
Anyway....excellent show. I find the flashbacks do a great job of showing the incremental progressive slide into authoritarianism. Little by little by little.....until one day, it's too late to change course and nothing will ever be the same.
Pretty frightening powerful stuff.
Bro tell me about it. I was scared the finale was gonna premiere when I was in boot camp.
I only recently started binge watching this series and I'm in season 3. I find it terrifying because it seems like it could actually happen, unlike zombies, etc. I am "enjoying" the series, but watching man's inhumanity to man is disturbing...
After everything occured right now gilead seems so realistic !
man’s inhumanity to woman*. most men would LOVE to live in Gilead.
This was an amazing break down! I just subbed to your channel and look forward to your new posts! Going to watch your older ones while I wait :)
I have been saying plausible since 1994.
This earned you a subscription & the UA-cam algorithm a dirty look for not showing me your content sooner!
It has started... Supreme Court Just reversed Roe x Wade because "the adoption line for parents is too long"
This sounds like shit that happens all the time in America already. Also things that are current happening at this exact moment.
Since every major part was taken from real history I would say this dystopian series might be more probable than most dystopian fiction.
If an author can pull from current events and make a world like this, it’s totally plausible IRL. If anything, reality often ends up much stranger than fiction.
If we wanna prevent Gilead, shouldnt we support Atheist-UA-cam-Channel?
I literally read this passage, for those who wondered what happened to non Christian sects (Judiasm in particular), the Jewish were to immigrate to Irseal. Many did. Those who were caught fake converting were killed
Honestly Gilead is pretty much how I always pictured the Mayflower Pilgrims, and it wouldn't really surprise me if the USA would end up like that
I read that Margaret Atwood is a real historian and studied the Puritan extensively in graduate school.
6-24-2022 response: YES!!!!
Very well put together video !
Congratulations on the video! Very nice well detailed. It's really easy for everything that's in the series/book to happen in a context where fertility in the world drops drastically.
What I don’t think Atwood could’ve anticipated is that America wouldn’t need an infertility crisis to devolve to the level of Gilead
5:25 "How furious she must be, now that she has been taken at her word."
Yes it could think of June as Harriet Tubman and the story basically is the same...
One thing that I noticed was the concentration camps that Gilead had for people who they deem genetically unfit like mentally ill, special needs people or disabled people. They were warehouses where they would eliminate them. I can't remember which episode though
I believe Gilead's economy is mostly like the USSR's during the post-1917 revolution civil war, or "War Communism" as they called it. There probably is no real-world 1:1 example, but it looks like total state control and planned economy with vouchers for rationing and control reasons. The USSR even had the sleazy clubs for Commissars and foreign guests that didn't follow the strict rules of the new system.
Maybe they want to move to mercantalism, but as you said, that's really difficult without the soft or strong power to involve other states.
Really interesting video, glad I got recommended this channel. Sometimes the algorithm works??+
No, more like the Khmer Rouge