“The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood

by Angelica WerthArt & CultureOct 7, 2024

This spinoff to The Handmaid’s Tale, set in the same tyrannical theocracy (the Republic of Gilead), alternates between the perspectives of three very different women. Aunt Lydia, the only character who’s in both this novel and the original, was coerced into helping shape the regime when it took over, but covertly uses that power for justice as often as possible. Agnes is the biological daughter of a Handmaid (a woman forced to conceive a child for the Commander she’s assigned to) who’s raised as the daughter of a Commander and his wife; she’s groomed to become a Wife to a high-ranking man herself, but eventually decides to follow her friend Becka into the service of the Aunts, the nunlike organization that manages marriage and women’s education. Daisy is an ordinary teenager who grew up in Canada in the care of people she eventually learns are operatives of Mayday, the organization that resists Gilead.

Key Ideas

  • Power over others corrupts
  • Knowledge is the enemy of…

On Solid Ground

On Solid Ground is the hub for content from OSI fellows and affiliates, along with announcements about OSI’s programs and events. Here, you’ll find links to our team’s articles, videos, and other materials published across various platforms. And you’ll discover opportunities to support and engage with our global community.

Latest Blog Posts

Mr. Savior

by Maddox LocherPhilosophy

Oct 28, 2025

To “save” someone means to protect him from something that threatens or hinders his life. So... is God really a savior?

Violence as Spectacle in Chain-Gang All-Stars

by Angelica WerthArt & Culture

Oct 28, 2025

Brutal and at times jarring, Chain-Gang All-Stars nevertheless reminds us to view every single person as a fellow human being.

Why I’m Not a Republican

by Kiyah WillisPolitics & Liberty

Oct 28, 2025

In her new video, Kiyah explains why she’s not a Republican.

No, Not All Worldviews Are Faith-Based

by Maddox LocherPhilosophy

Oct 24, 2025

Maddox examines the divide between reason-based philosophy and faith-based Christianity—and why it matters. It’s the difference between knowing how to know and merely assuming you do, without evidence.