The Handmaids Tale

Settings

Settings

Crucial to understanding the oppressive nature of the society of Gilead and the psychological impact on its characters.

The Rachel and Leah Center

Formerly a high school, the raining camp for handmaids symbolises the transformation of familiar safe spaces into places of control and indoctrination. The presence of the aunts with cattle prods highlights the loss of freedom and the imposition of fear.

The commanders house

Offreds residence represents the domestic sphere where women are confined and controlled. It is a place of surveillance and limited freedom, reflecting the broader societal constraints on women.

The wall

A public space where the bodies of executed men are displayed. It serves as a constant reminder of the regime's power and the consequences of rebellion, instilling fear in the populace.

Jezebel’s

A secretive club for the elite, illustrating the hypocrisy of Gilead’s leaders who indulge in forbidden pleasures while enforcing strict moral codes on others.

Harvard University

Now part of Gilead’s center, it symbolizes the regime’s disdain for intellectual freedom and its repurposing of educational institutions to serve its oppressive agenda.

Offred

The protagonist and narrator, Offred is a Handmaid whose primary role is to bear children for the ruling class. Her perspective provides insight into the oppressive nature of Gilead and the struggle to maintain identity and hope.

The commander

Offred's assigned Commander, who holds a high-ranking position in Gilead. He represents the patriarchal power structure and complicates Offred's life by seeking a personal connection with her.

Serena Joy

The Commander's wife, who is both a victim and enforcer of Gilead's rules. Her complex relationship with Offred highlights the tensions between women in the society.

Ofglen

Another Handmaid and Offred's shopping partner. Ofglen is involved in the resistance, offering a glimpse of hope and rebellion against the regime.

Aunt Lydia

A key figure in indoctrinating Handmaids at the Rachel and Leah Center. She embodies the regime's manipulation and control over women.

Moira

Offred's friend from before Gilead, known for her rebellious spirit. Moira's resistance and eventual fate underscore the harsh realities of Gilead's oppression.

Characters

reveal the complexities of life under a totalitarian regime, exploring themes of power, resistance, and identity.

themes

collectively underscore the novel's critique of totalitarianism and the resilience of the human spirit.

Love

a central theme, serving as both a source of strength and a means of resistance. Offred's love for her family and Nick provides her with emotional resilience and ultimately aids in her escape. Love is portrayed as a powerful force that can transcend the oppressive structures of Gilead.

Storytelling and Memory

play crucial roles in Offred's survival. The shifting tenses and Offred's imaginative storytelling highlight her need to maintain a sense of identity and sanity. By reconstructing memories and imagining different scenarios, she creates a mental escape from her grim reality.

Rebellion

depicted through both overt and subtle acts. Characters like the Commander and Serena Joy, despite their positions of power, engage in rebellious acts that reveal the cracks in Gilead's oppressive system. These acts underscore the inherent human desire for autonomy and connection.

Gender roles

rigidly enforced in Gilead, illustrating the extreme disempowerment of women. The society institutionalizes sexual violence and limits women's roles, highlighting the dangers of a patriarchal system taken to its extreme.

The eyes

symbolize surveillance, paranoia, and Gilead's oppressive authority. The Eyes are the secretive enforcers of Gilead's laws, instilling fear and suspicion. Offred encounters eyes everywhere, from badges to tattoos, representing the constant watchfulness of the regime. The plastered-over light socket in Offred’s room, imagined as a blinded eye, signifies death and freedom, as it was used by a previous Handmaid to hang herself.

The colour red

a dominant color associated with the Handmaids, symbolizing both shame and fertility. Offred uses red to describe blood, linking it to life and violence. The red tulips in Serena Joy’s garden symbolize fertility, yet their potential is cut short, reflecting the futility of the Handmaids' roles.

The wall

once part of Harvard’s campus, now serves as a prison barrier, symbolizing the violence and control of Gilead. The bodies of executed men hanging on the Wall highlight the regime's brutality and the suppression of rebellion.