We slept in what had once been the gymnasium.
In Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," the narrative unfolds in a dystopian future where the protagonist reflects on her confinement in a repurposed gymnasium, once a site of exercise and community. This setting highlights the stark transition from normalcy to oppression, as spaces of freedom are transformed into symbols of control and subjugation. The gymnasium serves as a chilling reminder of what has been lost in this totalitarian regime.
The quote encapsulates the haunting reality of the characters' existence, where familiar spaces are stripped of their original meanings. This transformation underscores the broader themes of power, gender, and identity within the novel, illustrating how societal changes can turn places of joy into areas of despair. Atwood masterfully uses this setting to emphasize the characters' struggles and the loss of their former lives.
