Whether it was Atwood's intention or not (I suspect it was), those of us who insist that the separation between church and state is crucial for our pluralist society and our religious communities alike to flourish, will interpret Gilead as a not untypical example of the tyranny that must develop when an assertive, Bible-based religious group takes over control of a state. So the story reads best as a dystopic critique of the political ambitions of right-wing Christian groups in this country, esp. Evangelicals, but also conservative Catholics whose complaints about "religious freedom" involve making women and LGBT people second-class or subservient citizens.

Most fascinating to me are the relationships among the women: We might expect there to be a natural sympathy and solidarity among women, but no!, even as we saw in the election. Women can be as bitterly competitive as men; and they can be the worst enemies of other women, as they compete for the favors of the male rulers.