If you punch links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Watson called up Atwood to discuss.
Id love to know how the novel came about.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio
So it was very interesting to be there, but it wasnt the primary inspiration.
Watson:What was the inspiration, if you dont mind me asking?
Atwood:There were three inspirations.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio
First, what right wing people were already saying in 1980.
So that was one of the inspirations.
If youre going to make women go back into the home, how are you going to do that?
If America were to become a totalitarian state, what would that state look like?
What would its aims be?
What sort of excuse would it use for its atrocities?
Hulu
Because they all have an excuse of some kind.
By the way, thats not an anti religion statement.
Recently, someone said, Religion doesnt radicalize people, people radicalize religion.
George Kraychyk/Hulu
So that was one set of inspirations.
The second inspiration was historical.
The 17th-century foundation of America was not, Lets have a democracy.
Penguin Classics
Watson:Yes, yes.
Was it a very depressing moment for you?
Atwood:Im not easily depressed by these sorts of things.
So, it has happened before, but its also un-happened before, if you see what I mean.
History is not a straight line.
Youve probably seen that womendressed as Handmaidshave beenturning up in state legislatures and just sitting there.
You cant kick them out because theyre not making a disturbance, but everybody knows what they mean.
Watson:Thank you for answering my question so thoroughly.
Its amazing howThe Handmaids Talehas been read and discussed since its publication.
Its never faded from view.
All of the details have precedents in real life.
So thats one reason: People know that I wasnt just making up horrors to be entertaining.
Theres a great deal of literature on that.
People say, Why do you have Aunt Lydia?
Why do you have the female aunt being so controlling to women?
And I say because they would be!
So its not a case of all women being angelic.
We know thats not true.
Women are human beings, a mixed lot.
I tried to be true to human nature.
So the book isnt a violation of human nature, and its not a just an invention.
Its based on stuff that people have really done and therefore could do again.
Then theres no gadgets in it, theres no technology in it that we dont already have.
But there were credit cards, so they could already track you and control you through your credit cards.
Watson:Thats really freaky for me.
Atwood:Dave Eggers book?
Watson:Yes, exactly.
Atwood:I reviewed it for theNew York Review of Books.
Watson:Ill have to read itthats amazing.
Well, I read the book and became kind of obsessed with it.
Atwood:My review will explain the cover to you.
[laughs] My theory is that its a manhole cover.
Atwood:Well,this [Hulu] television series is very good.
Watson:Yes, its insanely good.
Atwood:The opera was also good.
Watson:There was an opera?
Atwood:Yes, it debuted in 2000.
Watson: Do you like seeing your work adapted, or do you find it hard?
My first one, it never got made, but it was very interesting to do.
A film is a group effort, any film or television series is.
Watson:This is the gamble we all take!
Atwood:Yeah, making a film is not predictable.
Do you think its possible for all women to be harmonious with each other?
Im interested in whether its harder because of the shape of the power structure and our place within it.
Atwood:Of course; there are hard things.
But were human beings!
Its possible for men to be harmonious with one another even though theyre often very competitive.
Love, hate, jealousy, competitiveness, cooperation, loyalty, betrayal the whole package.
And we dont live in just a patriarchy, we live in a number of different kinds of patriarchies.
If you make faulty clothing the man will get wet and then he will freeze to death.
Watson:Definitely not!
Misogyny has no gender.
And it has nothing to do with whether women should have voting rights.
If voting rights were determined on all men behaving well, they wouldnt have any.
Rights as citizens are quite apart from individual behavior.
Watson:Are you bored of theAre you a feminist question?
You must have been asked that a lot whilst talking about the new TV show.
So do we mean equal legal rights?
Do we mean women are better than men?
Do we mean all men should be pushed off a cliff?
What do we mean?
Because that word has meant all of those different things.
Watson:I agree.
Atwood:Its like Christians.
Do we mean the Pope?
Do we mean Mormons?
What are we talking about here?
Because theyre quite different.
Watson:Of course.
But do we mean, are women always right?
Give me a break!
Im sorry, but no!
Theresa May is a woman, for heavens sakes!
Atwood:Its true!
But Im not a professional one; its not my job.
I dont get paid for it.
So I cant be fired.
So thats why artists and writers are so often picked.
They cant be fired.
They can vilified, people can call them names…but they cant actually be dismissed.
Watson:Have you ever experienced burnout as a campaigner?
Atwood:I think I have experienced overload, but if you meanburnout likeI give upthen no.
Watson:And now they are.
Atwood:They are more.
Watson:You are also very supportive of other writers.
Atwood:Well, I cant be supportive of all other writers!
Atwood:Yes, but I cant pick favorites, otherwise the others would get upset.
Watson:Thats very diplomatic.
But I am getting kind of old for it, to tell you the truth.
Atwood[laughs]: Yesssssss!
Watson:Do you, as a novelist, see that as part of your role?
If you werent good at what you do, none of your other things would actually matter that much.
So your first responsibility is to your primary vocation.
In my case, writing.
If I give up trying to be a good writer, then what the heck am I doing?
Should novels have a message?
Everything you write is of your own time.
You cant help that.
Walter Scott wrote a medieval romance calledIvanhoe,which is a 19th-century novel because thats when he lived.
Tennysons long poem about King Arthur was a 19th-century poem with all of the 19th-century values that he had.
Theyre not medieval values.
Watson:Yes, yes, very true.
You have your own perspective, and you think for yourself.
Im really interested in how you came to be this person that believed in her own perspective and opinion.
Atwood:You meannot easily frightened?
Thats exactly what I mean.
Atwood[laughs]: Okay, so Emma, I grew up in the woods.
It gives you a different viewpoint; I was improperly socialized.
But as it is I am frightened of three thingsthunderstorms, forest fires and bears…. [Laughs]
Watson: [laughs]: Thats amazing!
Atwood:Well, its not.
Its foolhardy, actually.
I should probably be more fearful because not having enough fear can certainly get you in trouble.
Watson:Yes, Ive found that too.
Atwood:Well, Emma, how do you account for yourself then?
[laughs] You didnt grow up in the woods.
Atwood:So we should try for pragmatic realism, I suppose.
Watson:Yes, yes, thats the goal, thats the dreampragmatic realism.
Atwood[laughs]: Well, good luck with it!
Watson:Yes, best of luck!
Atwood:Thats really wonderful to hear.
Watson:So thank you so much for doing what you do and being Margaret Atwood.
Atwood:And thank you for being Emma!
I think youre inspiring a lot of young people.
Watson:I, well, I hope so.
Life has handed me an extraordinary set of opportunities, and Im just trying to be worthy of them.
Atwood:And you are.
And thats a good thing to see.
Watson:Thank you, thank you.
Atwood:You are immediately forgiven.
