Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:35:10 -0800 marlon from private IP, post #14350143 /all Margaret Atwood & 'Handmaid's Tale' https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/arts/2026/02/27/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-detroit-opera/88898372007/ Margaret Atwood talks 'Handmaid's Tale' opera: 'I made nothing up' Ahead of Detroit Opera’s March 1-7 staging, Atwood discusses the real events that inspired ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ and the director shares what audiences can expect. Portrait of Duante BeddingfieldDuante Beddingfield Detroit Free Press Feb. 27, 2026, 10:45 a.m. ET Author Margaret Atwood says "The Handmaid's Tale" was inspired by real historical events and political shifts. Atwood relocated various historical practices into a setting once considered a core of liberal democracy. The director hopes the opera encourages audiences to reflect on the importance of individual choice. During a recent Free Press interview ahead of this weekend's opening of "The Handmaid's Tale" at Detroit Opera, original novel author Margaret Atwood shared her inspiration for crafting the story. “It wasn’t the Reagan administration as such,” Atwood said. “It was at that time that the conservative evangelicals, who had not been that politically active up until then, decided to become a political force. As I’ve said many times, I didn’t put anything into ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ book that had not already been done by human beings somewhere, at some time. I made nothing up. I simply relocated. Author Margaret Atwood. “I relocated a lot of practices in time and place and stuck them into Cambridge, Massachusetts, once thought of as the absolute core of liberal democracy in America. But before that, going back to the 17th century, (there was) a theological school run by Puritans, for Puritans. As Perry Miller, my old professor (to whom she directed the book), says, ‘Unless you understand Puritanism, you cannot understand America.’” More: Detroit Opera's 'The Handmaid's Tale' is an opera for our time Also in arts coverage: Detroit art exhibition celebrates community elders' wisdom Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more! Brenna Corner, director of the production, said she hopes the performance will give people time to pause and reflect on what’s meaningful. “When you speak about the world and things that are happening politically in the world right now, I think the thing that I find really important about this work is that it gives us 2½ hours of time where we sit and we think about the power and the importance of individual choice. No matter what political affiliations or opinions you have, just sitting with that idea is an exceptionally valid and important thing for us all to be doing at this moment in time.” CONTENT WARNING: "The Handmaid’s Tale" contains graphic depictions of sexual and physical violence, state-enforced pregnancy and gender-based oppression, as well as scenes of psychological trauma and hangings. Viewer discretion is advised. Not recommended for children under 16 years of age. Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:37:18 -0800 marlon from private IP Reply #14005344 ‘Unless you understand Puritanism, you cannot understand America.’” yup, try telling a sex joke in public. everybody treats u like a bastard guess what they all do in private Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:26:53 -0800 whiteguyinchina from private IP Reply #14344965 That makes a lot of senseReplies require login.
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