This novel places strong emphasis on environmentalism, corporate evil, and oppressed minorities, with character traits often serving as ideological stand-ins rather than deep personalities. There's plenty of allegory at the expense of grounded character choices. The identity of characters is foregrounded, and the story sometimes feels like it's built to make a point rather than tell a naturalistic narrative.

Atwood portrays traditional pillars, religion, family, and masculinity, through a lens of dystopian dysfunction or outright corruption. Religion is largely depicted as cultish, and traditional structures are seen as either outdated or problematic, while progressive collectives and eco-feminist ideals are front and center. This is revisionism with a side of satire.

The book takes a dim view of old-school values, and alternative worldviews are largely absent except as caricatures (evil corporations, religious fanatics, etc.). There’s little room for dissent or honest debate, the approved ideology is baked in from start to finish, and opposing perspectives rarely get a fair shake.