Characters
This character is Offred's shopping partner and a fellow Handmaid.
Who is Ofglen?
The government of Gilead uses this method to intimidate citizens with the bodies of dissenters.
What is the Wall?
This color is worn by the Handmaids, symbolizing fertility and obedience.
What is red?
Offred frequently recalls this past relationship, highlighting her lost love and the emotional bonds that were severed in Gilead.
Who is Luke?
This religious text is referenced in the epigraph of The Handmaid’s Tale, highlighting themes of fertility and the use of handmaids in the context of Rachel and Bilhah.
What is the Bible?
These women are responsible for training Handmaids and maintaining order at the Red Center.
Who are the Aunts?
Handmaids are trained at this location before serving in Commanders' households.
What is the Red Center?
This biblical phrase is used as a greeting among Handmaids, symbolizing Gilead's control over language.
What is “Blessed be the fruit”?
Offred recalls this store name that subtly references Biblical language, where Handmaids are allowed to shop.
What is Milk and Honey?
In Gilead, this practice serves to foster distrust among Handmaids and reinforces the regime's control, reflecting their roles as both companions and prisoners.
What is walking in pairs?
This character is a high-ranking woman who helps indoctrinate the Handmaids and is known for her harsh lessons.
Who is Aunt Lydia?
In Gilead, Handmaids are assigned to this person’s household.
Who is the Commander?
This flower, which Offred often notices in the Commander's house, symbolizes both fertility and the rigid control of Gilead.
What is tulips?
These soldiers serve the role of Gilead's society, repressing the frontline of defense and enforcing control.
What are the Angels?
The narrator experiences this unexpected emotion when encountering the bodies on the wall, reflecting her complex relationship with fear and societal control.
What is relief?
Offred occasionally remembers her past life with this person.
Who is her daughter or Luke?
Offred uses these objects instead of money to “pay” for goods in stores.
What are tokens?
The form of the address used for the handmaid stips them of their individual identities.
What is their names like "Of-Fred"
These people are responsible for keeping the handmaids in line and maintaining order within Gildead.
What are the Guardians?
This author, known for his satirical works, is referenced in the epigraph to highlight the absurdities of human nature and societal control.
Who is Jonathan Swift?
Once a prominent public figure, this character is now confined to her Commander’s home and garden.
Who is Serena Joy?
Gilead uses these secret operatives to monitor the population for rebellion or dissent.
Who are the Eyes?
The concept of this type of "freedom" is frequently debated in the novel, particularly as it contrasts with the enforced limitations placed on women in Gilead.
What is "freedom from"?
What colors do the Handmaids, the marthas, the commanders, and the wives wear?
Handmaids - Red
Marthas - Green
Commanders - Black
Wives - Blue
This element of the epigraph serves as a philosophical reflection on the nature of reality and perception, suggesting that true understanding comes from inner awareness rather than external circumstances.
What is Sufi Proverb?