In The Groove: Margaret Atwood on memory, resistance and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

Margaret Atwood, the celebrated author behind “The Handmaid’s Tale,” joined In The Groove to talk about memory, storytelling and why some moments in life stay with us forever. 

Reflecting on her book “Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts,” Atwood says a memoir isn’t a list of dates or events. “A memoir is what you remember,” she explains. And what we remember are the moments that stand out — near-death experiences, humiliations, catastrophes, and what she calls “moments of unusual joy.” 

Another distinction between her memoir and other works, like biography and fiction, Atwood notes, is that “you don’t really get to know the end.”

At the time of this interview, Atwood was just about to have a talk at the Detroit Opera House to talk about her life and work, particularly centered on her feminist dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”.

Published in 1985, “The Handmaid’s Tale” has sold millions of copies and inspired a film, a TV series, and even an opera. Decades later, it continues to speak to readers because its core themes still resonate. Atwood says the novel was shaped by real history and the workings of power: “People need to understand how totalitarianism works to avoid having one,” she explains. Understanding that, she believes, is the first step toward preventing oppression. 

Starting on March 1, Detroit Opera will stage Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” with three live performances.

The word “resistance” often gets thrown around, Atwood says, but it needs clarity. “For it to mean anything, you have to say resistance to what, and for what?” she explains, noting that today it may mean defending fundamental institutions and freedoms.