e women have for these children is unique in that theyare determined to get everyone involved, including militant feminists, and international equalityorganizations. With the combined efforts of these groups, the captivity of these children will bestopped. While Gilead forces its inhabitants to choose ignorance, we have been taught to assist theneedy. Yet there is one aspect of real life that is captured perfectly in this novel; pollution. Thisproblem creates so many difficulties, in both the novel and our world. Atwood's warning regardingpollution is stated as follows. Still births, miscarriages, and genetic deformities were wide-spread andon the increase, and this trend has been linked to the various nuclear-plant accidents, shut downs,and incidents of sabotage that characterized the period, as well as to leakages from chemical andbiological-warfare stockpiles and toxic-waste disposal sites, of which there were many thousands,both legal and illegal - in some instances these materials were simply dumped into the sewage system- and to the uncontrolled use of chemical insecticides, herbicides, and other sprays. - page 286Atwood believes that pollution is causing the demise of the human race, and most ecologists wouldnot argue with her. Pollution in every industrial area of Russia exceeds acceptable standards, often bymany times. According to two Russian government reports, scientists have calculated that 15 percentof the territory of Russia is ecologically unsafe for human habitation. That's an area of 2.5 millionsquare kilometres - an area the size of Ontario and Quebec put together ... Infant mortality is soaring... If trends continue, doctors have calculated that only 15 to 20 percent of all babies [born in Russia]will be bon healthy by the year 2015.1 (Hearst) Atwood's visionary talents have aided her in creatinga masterpiece, which will most likely be suitable in every age. The problems she deals with in TheHandmaid's Tale are very ...
