Characters
The main character
Offred
The Commander and Offred
The Handmaids
The Handmaids have to get pregnant by the Commander and have a healthy baby.
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum
Offred
Chapter 1, Night
Serena Joy
Gave Offred a cigarette while discussing children
Serena Joy
The Aunts
The Aunts oversee the actions of the Handmaids and tend to the house.
"He asks, are you happy," (29)
The interpreter asked this to Offred when Japanese tourists see the Handmaids.
Nick speaks to Offred and she does not answer him because he is not supposed to speak to her.
Waiting Room
This person was raped at age 14 and took the blame for it
Janine (also known as Ofwarren)
Their daughter was taken away while trying to escape
Offred and Luke
Commander's wife
The Commander's wife tends their gardens.
I want you to keep your ears open. Maybe one of the others was involved (132)
Aunt Lydia tells Janine this to spy more closely on the Handmaids.
The Commander begins to read the Bible to the Handmaids.
Household
The person who was tied up behind the furnace by Moira
Aunt Elizabeth
This person tied someone up behind a furnace to escape
Moira tied up Aunt Elizabeth
The Econowives
The Econowives have to clean, cook, and buy groceries.
We use butter, I said. When we can get it. Or margarine. A lot of the time it's margarine" (158).
Offred tells this to the Commander during one of their secret get-togethers.
Cora drops the breakfast tray because she believes that Offred is pregnant.
Soul Scrolls
The person who received a beating on their feet
Moira
This person took someone to a night club
The Commander took Offred to the night club
The Marthas serve as domestic servants to wealthy or high-ranking families.
There Is a Bomb in Gilead (218)
Moira says this about a hymn sung at Thanksgiving.
Ofglen tells Offred about Mayday
Jezebel's