Genesis Reference: Begins with a biblical reference from Genesis 30:1-3, highlighting themes of envy and surrogacy, setting a religious tone for the narrative.
Literary Allusions: Quotes from Jonathan Swift and a Sufi proverb suggest themes of despair and survival.
Setting and Atmosphere
Night Chapter: Describes sleeping in a former gymnasium, symbolizing a loss of personal space and autonomy.
Description: The room's description evokes a sense of nostalgia and memory.
Patrolling and Control: Aunts patrol the area with cattle prods, emphasizing a regime of fear and control.
Social Structure and Routine
Daily Life: Details the regimented daily life, including communal meals, monitored walks, and restricted conversations.
The Commander's Household: Introduces the Commander's wife, Serena Joy, and the domestic hierarchy.
Reproductive Purpose: Emphasizes the handmaids' sole purpose for reproduction, reflecting a utilitarian view of women.
Themes
Power and Control: The regime's control over women, their bodies, and their actions is a critical theme.
Surveillance and Fear: The constant monitoring and fear of punishment maintain the regime's power.
Resistance and Compliance: Explores themes of passive resistance and the psychological impact of compliance.
Important Characters
Offred: The protagonist, tasked with bearing children, struggles with her past and present reality.
Nick: A guardian with whom Offred develops a complex relationship.
Serena Joy: The Commander's wife, a former public figure, now resentful and authoritative.
Key Events
Ceremonial Nights: Describe the ritualistic sexual ceremonies, highlighting the lack of agency and dehumanization.
Offred's Relationship with Nick: Develops secretly, symbolizing hope and rebellion against the oppressive state.
Salvaging and Particicution: Describes public executions and punishment, reinforcing the regime's brutality.
Symbolism and Motifs
Red Color: Represents fertility, sacrifice, and control, often associated with the handmaids.
Mirror and Reflection: Mirrors symbolize self-awareness and the duality of identity under oppressive conditions.
Societal Commentary
Gender and Power: Explores themes of gender roles and the repressive power dynamics within the society.
Religion and Oppression: Critiques the use of religious texts to justify control and subjugation of women.
Memory and Identity: Offred's flashbacks and memories highlight the loss of identity and autonomy.
Conclusion
Ending Ambiguity: Ends on a note of uncertainty, reflecting Offred's precarious position within the regime.
Overall Message: A commentary on the dangers of totalitarian regimes and the resilience of the human spirit.