Mrs. A B Literature Lecture Notes: Key Symbols and Motifs in The Handmaid's Tale

Introduction

• Focus on exploring key symbols and motifs in The Handmaid's Tale.

Do Now Task: Doubles

• Doppelgangers: Consider characters that serve as doubles or foils.

• Examples of doubling in the novel:

  • The woman who lived in Offred’s room before her, committing suicide.
  • Offred and Ofglen as physical doubles walking together.
  • Moira as a character foil to Offred.
  • Janine as a warning of losing hope.
  • Serena Joy and Offred’s previous selves as reflections of lost identity and ambition.

Symbolism of the Color Red

• Red has contradictory symbolism in the novel:
  • Fertility: Represents women's reproductive roles.
  • Menstrual Blood: Signifies both hope and failure.
  • Childbirth: Associated with blood and suffering.
• Cultural References: Explore what red symbolizes across different cultures.
• Atwood's poem "A Red Shirt": Discusses themes of red, including:
  • Death, passion, war, and sacrifice.
  • Deontic modality indicating restrictions on women.
• Red Shoes Motif:
  • Represents female independence but may also symbolize captivity.

Color Symbolism in Costumes

• Commanders: Black symbolizes authority and fear.
• Wives: Blue symbolizes purity and the Virgin Mary.
• Aunts: Khaki symbolizes military power and control.
• Handmaids: Red symbolizes fertility and oppression.
• Unmarried Girls: White symbolizes purity.
• Marthas: Green symbolizes servitude.

The Eyes and Surveillance

• Eye Symbolism: Represents constant surveillance in Gilead, paralleling Orwell's 1984.
• "Under His Eye": Suggests omnipresent judgment and the loss of privacy.

Mirrors and Reflections

• Absence of Mirrors: Handmaids not allowed to reflect on their identity, symbolizing loss of self.
• Distorted Reflections: When Offred sees her reflection, it represents a distorted identity.
• Jezebel's Mirrors: Reflect the superficiality of women's roles in sexuality.

Flowers as Symbols

• Flowers in the Garden:
  • Represent fertility and the oppressive nature of Gilead.
  • Daffodils symbolize fading femininity, while tulips symbolize sexual openness.
• Types of Flowers:
  • Iris: Represents faith and hope but lacks love.
  • Forget-me-nots: Symbolize true love, evoking lost pasts.
  • Bleeding Hearts: Symbolize love lost or unrequited.
  • Lilies: Represent reproductive aspects, emphasizing femininity.

Summary

• A variety of symbols and motifs are intricately woven into the narrative of The Handmaid's Tale, reflecting themes of oppression, femininity, and the struggle for identity.
• It’s essential to explore these symbols to grasp the depth of Atwood's commentary on society and gender roles.