The Handmaids Tale
Overview:
• Democracy in the USA has been brutally overthrown by the Sons of Jacob and replaced by the
totalitarian Republic of Gilead in a Coup D’eat.
• This novel was partly written by Atwood in response to the rise of Christian fundamentalism and
growing right wing views held in the USA in the 1980s.
• The text concerns itself with the consequences of religious extremism and fanaticism
(particularly in relation to the rights of women), as well as issues to do with morality, personal
freedom, government control and Orwellian surveillance (embodied through the “eyes”).
Historical parallels:
As previously stated by Atwood, “Nothing happens that the human race has not already done at
some time in the past, or that is not doing now” — therefore, there are many historical parallels
that have inspired Atom’s novel:
1. The Handmaids Uniform: relating to the Burkas worn in Afghanistan, to remain modest.
2. Public execution: alludes to the Taliban stonings in The Kite Runner.
3. Underground railroads: the Mayday movement alludes to the underground railroads used by
slaves to gain freedom.
4. Enforced religious conversion: can be linked to Tudor England, where religion aligned with
what the Monarch believed in.
Character pro les:
O red:
• O red is the narrator and the protagonist within the novel, however, it is clear that she is just an
ordinary woman placed in an extraordinary situation.
• The name O red is a patronymic given to her — this is a symbol of male dominance and
female subservience.
• By attaching O red’s identity to a single colour, she becomes one-dimensional.
• Red ironically symbolises violence and desire, despite sexual attraction being sinful in Gilead —
this foreshadows rebellion.
• Red also connotes menstrual blood, fertility and life — which essentially is the purpose of
O red’s role in society as a Handmaid.
• O red is dynamic, resilient and intelligent — covertly rebelling against the Gileadean regime.
Serena-Joy:
• In the pre-Gilead era, Serena-Joy was a Christian gospel singer on TV, and later became an
advocate for women to stay in the home.
• However, she is ironically unhappy within her role as a housewife — nding herself trapped in
the society that she helped create.
• Like her husband, she is a hypocrite, but also a victim of her own advocations.
• Serena-Joy lacks empathy and abuses her position of power to oppress other women.
• In order to exemplify her hypocrisy, Atwood even made her name ironic. Serena-Joy suggests
that she should be serene and joyous, yet she is neither.
• Within the novel, the wives wear blue in order to evoke the Virgin Mary, which is the dichotomy
of the Handmaids.
• Serena-Joy is a woman who is an enforcer of the patriarchy, and is a ctional embodiment
of Phyllis Schla y — American conservative activist and anti-feminist.
• Her garden connotes power and fertility — Atwood suggests that the two are interlinked which
is ironic considering that she herself is unable to have children.
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, Ofwarren:
• Ofwarren is a victim in both of her lives, being gang-raped in “the time before” and a victim of
the Gileadean system as a Handmaid.
• As soon as Ofwarren’s baby is born she is neglected and has no reward. Ultimately, her baby is
declared an ‘unbaby’ and is consequently destroyed.
• After the partition, Ofwarren is no longer able to distinguish reality.
The Commander:
• Though the Commander is often depicted as likeable, sympathetic and unassuming, he is
directly responsible for O red’s oppression.
• His purpose is to show that oppressors do not often look evil, but nonetheless have the
capacity to commit atrocities.
• The Commander is a hypocrite, he uses his power to out the rules which suggests his hubris
but ultimately leads to his downfall.
• He embodies the previous US president, Ronald Reagan, both being straight, white and
able-bodied Christian men who embraced family values.
Aunt Lydia:
• While Aunt Lydia is not an orchestrator of the Gileadean regime and ideals, she is an enforcer of
it.
• The merciless matriarch prevents any form of female unity — which could be essential in
overthrowing Gilead.
• She indoctrinates the Handmaids, uses both positive and negative reinforcement, she is violent
and is also patronising.
Moira:
• Moira is an unconventional character, she is outspoken and overtly rebellious.
• Despite her fate being ultimately unknown, she serves as O red’s moral compass and is often a
source of hope and a voice of reason for the Handmaids.
• Moira is a lesbian and arguably one of the most oppressed within the regime due to their
emphasis of heterosexual relationships and condemnation of homosexuality.
• At the time of writing, homosexuality was becoming more accepted within US society. With the
emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, gay rights were becoming a key political issue.
• Alongside her attempts of escape, Moira embodies female empowerment and liberation, in
which Atwood implies that the bonds between women are crucial to resisting Gileadean
oppression.
Key quotations and analysis:
O red:
• “She’s a ag on a hilltop” — referring to Ofwarren being pregnant.
• “Waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?” — links to ‘folk art’ and traditional
values.
• “I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely” — O red is referring to
her body, which determines her role within Gileadean society.
• “Two by two”
• “I move my hips a little” — covert rebellion.
• “I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone. Passive but there.” — O red enjoys using her body to
exert power by sexualising herself and attracting male attention — therefore rebelling against
the regime.
• “Like ightless birds, wrecked angels” — O red is referring to the bodies of those who have
been hanged for rebelling against the regime, this highlights just how dystopian and dangerous
the regime is.
• “Nobody dies from lack of sex. It’s lack of love we die from.”
• “The da odils are now fading” — this is an allusion to the lack of fertility which is a key theme
within the novel.
• “You wanted a woman’s culture. Well, now there is one. It isn’t what you meant, but it exists. Be
thankful for small mercies.”
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