The reasons why The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu didn’t succeed as feminist TV
Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s feminist novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, has wrapped up, marking the end of its run. If you’ve been following the series, you know it delves into the future state of Gilead, shining a light on the oppression faced by women. Interestingly, the show first hit screens back in 2017, right after Donald Trump began his presidency, drawing parallels with real-world women’s rights struggles.
The show’s impact went beyond the screen, with the handmaids’ iconic red cloaks and white bonnets becoming symbols of defiance at women’s rights demonstrations worldwide. With strong feminist themes, The Handmaid’s Tale resonated with audiences, but some critics, myself included, believe it doesn’t fully capture Atwood’s original vision. Here’s why:
1. **Misrepresentation of Female Roles**
The show puts a heavy focus on motherhood and birth, diverging from Atwood’s central themes of rape and oppression. By developing extended character arcs and backstories, Hulu’s adaptation turned into a darker maternal drama. Characters who can’t bear children or aren’t biological mothers are often portrayed in a negative light, reinforcing stereotypes of bitter spinsters or cruel women.
For instance, Aunt Lydia and Serena Joy, pivotal figures in the adaptation, are shown in a complex light that wasn’t present in the original novel. This shift distorts the original message by attributing moral value to women based on their reproductive abilities.
In Aunt Lydia’s case, her character arc reveals her past, turning her from a lonely school teacher to a vindictive figure who separates a child from his caring single mother. Serena Joy, once a vocal proponent of traditional gender roles, becomes a central character with a desire for motherhood at any cost, implying that infertile women are incomplete without children.
2. **Portrayal of ‘Natural’ Parenting**
The show also highlights the pressure on mothers to adhere to ‘intensive’ and so-called ‘natural’ parenting practices, which can be overwhelming. Characters like June and Janine effortlessly bond with their children, breastfeed without issue, and excel at caretaking, despite the challenges they face. On the other hand, adoptive mothers struggle with their duties, painting a biased picture of what constitutes good mothering.
The narrative subtly suggests that the ability to bear children defines a woman’s worth, overlooking the diverse roles women can play beyond motherhood. This narrow focus detracts from Atwood’s original commentary on gender and power dynamics within a dystopian society.
While The Handmaid’s Tale brought important issues to the forefront and sparked conversations about women’s rights, the adaptation’s portrayal of female characters missed the mark, clinging to outdated stereotypes and simplifying complex themes. Ultimately, the series, while impactful, falls short of capturing the nuanced storytelling of Atwood’s seminal work.
