The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, is a powerful dystopian novel that has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide. Set in a future society called Gilead, the story follows Offred, a handmaid whose sole purpose is to bear children for her assigned commander. The novel explores themes of power, control, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression.
Throughout the book, Atwood’s writing is filled with poignant and thought-provoking quotes that resonate with readers. These quotes not only showcase her mastery of language but also offer profound insights into the world she has created. In this article, we have compiled a list of handpicked Handmaid’s Tale book quotes that will leave you pondering long after you’ve finished reading.
So, let’s dive into the world of Gilead and explore these memorable Handmaid’s Tale book quotes that will undoubtedly stir your emotions and make you reflect on the themes presented in this powerful novel.
Read these Handmaid’s Tale Book Quotes
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.”
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.”
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
“We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.”
“When we think of the past, it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
“You can wet the rim of a glass and run your finger around the rim and it will make a sound. This is what I feel like: this sound of glass. I feel like the word shatter.”
“There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it.”
“I want everything back, the way it was. But there is no point to it, this wanting.”
“I don’t want to be telling this story. I don’t want to be here.”
“I wait. I compose myself. My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech. What I must present is a made thing, not something born.”
“Better never means better for everyone… It always means worse for some.”
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
“But people will do anything rather than admit that their lives have no meaning. No use, that is. No plot.”
“I want to be held and told my name.”
“There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia, freedom to and freedom from.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print.”
“I am a national resource.”
“I am no longer sure of anything. If I ever was.”
“I don’t want to be telling this story. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be doing this.”
“We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.”
These Handmaid’s Tale book quotes offer just a glimpse into the powerful narrative created by Margaret Atwood. Each quote captures the essence of the characters’ struggles and the bleak reality they face in the world of Gilead. If you haven’t read this remarkable novel yet, these quotes will undoubtedly pique your interest and leave you wanting more.
So, immerse yourself in the haunting world of The Handmaid’s Tale and discover the full impact of Margaret Atwood’s powerful storytelling through these memorable book quotes.
