Margaret Atwood’s sharp critique of Alberta’s recent book ban has sparked discussions about censorship and the role of literature in education.
Margaret Atwood’s Response to Alberta’s Book Ban
Attempting to ban The Handmaid’s Tale has led to the literary backlash from Margaret Atwood, as Alberta’s government discovered with its now paused censorship initiative.
Atwood’s Short Story Critique
In a short story published online this past weekend, Atwood criticized Premier Danielle Smith, labeling her approach as “selfish rapacious capitalism,” while also taking aim at Ayn Rand enthusiasts and the hypocrisy of ignoring the teachings of Jesus regarding the poor and the Good Samaritan. Atwood humorously noted, “So they lived happily ever after. But while they were doing that, The Handmaid’s Tale came true, and Danielle Smith found herself with a nice new blue dress but no job. The end.”
Government’s Halt on Book Ban
Demonstrating the enduring power of the written word, Premier Smith’s government announced via email to school boards that the book banning was being suspended “until further notice.” Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides indicated that more information regarding the ban would be clarified in the coming week.
Books Targeted by the Ban
The critically acclaimed Handmaid’s Tale was among 200 books scheduled for removal from school shelves in Alberta due to claims of sexually explicit content. In July, the Education and Childcare Ministry mandated that local school boards implement this policy by October, just as the school year commenced. Under this policy, students in ninth grade and below would be prohibited from accessing these books, while those in Grade 10 and above could only read them if deemed educationally appropriate.
Exemptions and Controversies
Interestingly, the often explicit Bible was exempt from the ban. Alongside Atwood’s 1985 novel, other notable works like Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings were also included in the list of 200 books that the Edmonton Public School board announced would be restricted due to the new provincial policy.
Atwood’s Reaction
Margaret Atwood was not pleased with this decision. On August 31, she took to social media to share a “piece of literature by me, suitable for seventeen-year-olds in Alberta schools, unlike — we are told — The Handmaid’s Tale. (Sorry, kids; your Minister of Education thinks you are stupid babies.)”
See More ...
Future of the Book Ban
Following the government’s retreat from its book ban, Premier Smith stated that the revised goal was to remove books with pornographic images from libraries while preserving the classics.
Upcoming Adaptations
On the entertainment front, Handmaid’s Tale star and executive producer Elisabeth Moss is set to produce a sequel based on Atwood’s 2019 book The Testaments, alongside THT collaborators Bruce Miller and Warren Littlefield. Although Hulu has not announced a release date, production for Season 1 began in April.
Will a certain Western Canadian politician make an unexpected appearance?
