The novel explores theme of subjugated women the various means by which they gain individualism and independence. It is a dystopian novel offering a fresh perspective on what happened in society long ago, what still happens among some groups of people and what could be happening in a future where human kind would have problems to produce healthy offspring.
Even though this novel was published the year I was born,with or without knowing this fact, it is timeless. You are not able to place it in a certain time frame,except in a possible future. It reminiscences on times past, where women were free to decide their present and future, as an anchor and element of comparison to the books present times, where subjugated women are property of their men owning them as their husband or as their keeper for a certain purpose : help in the house or ,as our main character, baby-maker. The other choices women could make would be a brothel, farmer or to work in the radioactive areas leading to certain death. Following certain events - that caused radioactivity or an escaped lab created virus that made men impotent (but apparently not all nations) - mankind reverted to certain practices used in the past. Women have restricted roles in society, they are used to breed, the ones that can, but need to be subjugated t the new beliefs as they have known another decadent,libertine lifestyle, whereas the new generations will be able to know a different society, not as the old but also not as restricted as the one unveiling before our eyes.
Let's face it, even today women are seen as baby-makers. It is seen as normal for women to take care of children,even stay home for it. If they decide not to have children or can't, they are seen as rejects, abnormalities. Or at least interrogated about their choices, why not conform to "normality". What is normality? it is the one society creates. Throughout history there have always been rebels, and so there are some in this book as well. And we are left to wonder what happens to them.
There is also one stark element that I had to notice- without a distraction and with too much time to think, the human mind either goes crazy or looks for ways to break free, rebel, be different. We are made to crave attention and to feel unique and appreciated for being us. Also, even though the society in this book is dominated by men, apparently, the women are educating and enforcing the lifestyle on the other women. There are ranks clearly depicted and even the wives...well, there is a saying, behind every powerful man, there is a powerful woman (pushing and/or supporting him).
I loved the book, and will not offer spoilers here, just commenting on ideas provided by this intriguing book. It is a must read with a very interesting ending that encourages one to wonder what happened at the end,without leaving it frustratingly open.