The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood P2 Info/Characters

When was it published?

1985

Literary Period

Feminist

Setting

The dystopian government of the Republic of Gilead

Antagonist

Though the Commander, Serena Joy, and Aunt Lydia seem to be Offred’s enemies, the real antagonist is the Republic of Gilead itself.

Point of view

First person limited

Offred

• Major Character

• Protagonist

• First person narrator

• Handmaid for the Commander and Serena Joy

• Moira’s best friend

The Commander

• Major Character

• Head of the household

• Husband of Serena Joy

• High ranking member of Gilead but breaks many laws

Serena Joy

• Major Character

• Commanders Wife

• Unable to have children

• Was a famous singer of TV for her Christian music

• Dislikes Offred

Nick

• Major Character

• Commanders driver

• Serena Joys helper in the garden

• Low ranking guardian because he hasn’t been assigned a woman

Moira

• Major Character

• Offreds best friend

• Feminist Lesbian

• Manages to escape and joins the Jezebels

Luke

• Minor Character

• Offreds pre-Gilead husband

• Father of Offreds daughter

Aunt Lydia

• Minor Character

• Aunt in charge of the red center (Rachel and Leah Center

Ofglen

• Minor Character

• Offreds shopping partner and member of Mayday resistance

Janine (Ofwarren)

• Minor Character

• Handmaid in Offreds class at the red center

• No one shows any sympathy for her

• Has a baby but not from her commander - From a doctor

Rita

• Minor Character

• A Martha (household servant and cook) at the household of the Commander and Serena Joy. She thinks of Offred as a slut and is generally unkind.

Cora

• Minor Character

• A Martha, along with Rita. She does less cooking and more general chores, and is friendlier to Offred. She discovered the previous Handmaid’s death.