Real Dystopia

• The Handmaid's Tale is often referred to as science fiction, but it draws from many real-life events.
• Margret Atwood has stated that 'nothing happens in the book that hasn't already happened'.
• The Handmaid's Tale can be explored in a social/political context, and is often seen as political satire.
• The Historical Notes section of the end of the book references the pre-Gilead period, referencing real events from the 1970s.