The Handmaid's Tale: Character Analysis

Offred

Overview

Offred, the protagonist and narrator of "The Handmaid's Tale," is a Handmaid in the dystopian society of Gilead. She is known for her introspective and observant nature, providing a deep and personal view of the oppressive world around her. Offred's character is marked by her internal rebellion, emotional resilience, and longing for freedom and her lost family. Despite her outward compliance, her narration reveals a rich inner life filled with memories, hopes, and subtle acts of defiance.

Key Plot Moments

• Introduction to the Commander's Household
  • Offred is assigned to the Commander's household and begins her role as a Handmaid, facing the oppressive rituals and rules of Gilead.
  • She meets Serena Joy, the Commander's Wife, and feels the cold, business-like arrangement of her new life.
• The Ceremony
  • Offred participates in the Ceremony, a ritualistic act of intercourse with the Commander while lying between Serena Joy's legs.
  • This moment highlights the dehumanizing treatment of women in Gilead.
• Secret Meetings with the Commander
  • The Commander invites Offred to his study, where they play Scrabble and engage in forbidden conversations.
  • These meetings give Offred a glimpse into the Commander's character and the contradictions within Gilead's leadership.
• Encounter with Nick
  • Under Serena Joy's arrangement, Offred secretly meets Nick, the household chauffeur, in an attempt to conceive a child.
  • Offred develops a romantic and emotional connection with Nick, finding solace in their relationship.
• Escape or Capture
  • At the end of the novel, Offred is taken away by men she believes to be part of the resistance, but her fate remains uncertain.
  • This ambiguous ending underscores the persistent uncertainty and danger in her life.

Key Themes

• Oppression and Control: Offred's experiences illustrate the severe restrictions placed on women in Gilead, where their autonomy is stripped away.
• Rebellion and Survival: Her subtle acts of defiance and her will to survive highlight the human spirit's resilience in the face of tyranny.
• Identity and Memory: Offred clings to her memories of the past and her true name, which she never reveals, as acts of resistance.

Key Quotes

"We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom."

• Offred reflects on the invisibility and marginalization of women in Gilead, hinting at the small freedoms found in obscurity.

"Nolite te bastardes carborundorum."

• A phrase Offred discovers scratched in her room, symbolizing resistance and offering her a sense of hope and solidarity.

"Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some."

• The Commander's words to Offred highlight the inherent inequality in Gilead's society.

"I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely."

• Offred's thoughts reveal her resentment of being reduced to her reproductive function.

"And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light."

• The final line of Offred's narrative captures the uncertainty of her fate and the enduring hope for freedom.

The Commander

Overview

The Commander is a significant character in Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." He is the head of the household where Offred serves as a Handmaid. His position grants him considerable power within the theocratic society of Gilead. Despite his high rank and the strict societal rules, the Commander often breaks the laws, indicating a complexity in his character. He participates in illicit activities such as visiting the sex club Jezebel's and having secret meetings with Offred. This duality reflects his conflicts and dissatisfaction with the rigid system he helped create. His interactions with Offred reveal a need for emotional connection and validation, making him a multifaceted character driven by both power and human frailty.

Key Plot Moments

• First Meeting with Offred
  • Offred's initial encounter with the Commander sets the tone for their complicated relationship. His reserved yet authoritative demeanour underscores the power dynamics in their interactions.
• Secret Meetings and Scrabble Games
  • The Commander breaks the rules by inviting Offred to play Scrabble, an act of rebellion against Gilead's restrictions on women. These meetings reveal his longing for intellectual companionship and normalcy.
• Visit to Jezebel's
  • Taking Offred to the illicit club Jezebel's shows the Commander's hypocrisy and his desire to escape the oppressive societal norms he enforces. It also highlights his complex relationship with power and pleasure.
• Explanation of the Previous Handmaid's Suicide
  • The Commander explains the Latin phrase left by the previous Handmaid, revealing his awareness of the emotional and psychological toll of Gilead's regime on women.
• Serena Joy's Plan and Consequence
  • The Commander's wife, Serena Joy, arranges for Offred to sleep with Nick to conceive a child. The Commander's awareness of this plan and his tacit acceptance expose his limitations and vulnerabilities within his household.

Key Themes

• Power and Control: The Commander embodies the authority of Gilead but also reveals the limits and personal costs of such power. His actions demonstrate the complexities of control in a repressive society.
• Hypocrisy and Duplicity: The Commander's participation in activities he outwardly condemns illustrates the pervasive hypocrisy within Gilead's leadership.
• Loneliness and Companionship: His need for Offred's company and intellectual engagement highlights his underlying loneliness and desire for genuine human connection.

Key Quotes

"You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."

• This quote reflects the Commander's pragmatic and ruthless approach to achieving Gilead's goals, indicating his moral flexibility.

"Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some."

• This statement underscores the inherent inequality and suffering embedded in Gilead's pursuit of its ideological vision.

"You can't cheat Nature. Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason, it's part of the procreational strategy. It's Nature's plan."

• The Commander justifies his actions by attributing them to natural law, revealing his self-serving rationalizations for his behaviour.

"We thought we could do better. Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some."

• This quote highlights the Commander's recognition of the flawed nature of Gilead's societal structure, acknowledging the inevitable oppression it entails.

"We've given them more than we've taken away, said the Commander. Think of the trouble they had before."

• This reflects his belief in the purported benefits of Gilead's system, despite its harsh restrictions and the suffering it causes.

Serena Joy

Overview

Serena Joy is the Commander's wife and a prominent figure in "The Handmaid's Tale." Before Gilead, she was a well-known singer and advocate for traditional values, promoting the very ideologies that led to Gilead's formation. However, in the new society, she finds herself confined to the domestic sphere, unable to bear children and deeply resentful of the Handmaids, especially Offred. Serena Joy's character embodies the contradictions and ironies of Gilead's regime. Her interactions with Offred oscillate between moments of bitter rivalry and desperate alliance, reflecting her complex feelings of powerlessness, jealousy, and complicity.

Key Plot Moments

• Initial Interaction with Offred
  • Serena Joy's cold reception of Offred upon her arrival at the house sets the stage for their fraught relationship, marked by tension and resentment.
• Gardening and Knitting
  • These activities symbolize Serena Joy's attempt to maintain a semblance of control and purpose within the confines of her restricted role in Gilead.
• Confrontation Over Pregnancy
  • When Offred fails to conceive, Serena Joy's frustration and desperation lead her to arrange for Offred to sleep with Nick, highlighting her determination to fulfil her societal duty despite personal pain.
• The Night at Jezebel's
  • Serena Joy's manipulation and use of Offred to achieve her ends are underscored by her bitter reaction when she discovers the Commander's infidelity.
• Discovery of Offred's Secret Relationship
  • The revelation of Offred's interactions with the Commander and Nick results in Serena Joy's harsh punishment, reflecting her deep sense of betrayal and anger.

Key Themes

• Irony and Hypocrisy: Serena Joy's past as an advocate for the very values that now oppress her highlights the irony and hypocrisy of Gilead's system.
• Power and Powerlessness: Despite her high status, Serena Joy's inability to bear children and dependence on Handmaids reveal her ultimate powerlessness within Gilead's patriarchal structure.
• Jealousy and Resentment: Her complex emotions towards Offred, ranging from jealousy to reluctant cooperation, illustrate the personal cost of Gilead's rigid hierarchies.

Key Quotes

"As for my husband, she said, he's just that. My husband. I want that to be perfectly clear. Till death do us part. It's final."

• This quote underscores Serena Joy's possessiveness and desire to assert her marital dominance over Offred.

"You can always make more. Except for me."

• Reflecting her deep sense of inadequacy and the unique pressure she faces as a childless wife in Gilead.

"Maybe I'll give you a signal."

• Serena Joy's desperation and willingness to bend the rules to achieve her goal of having a child are evident here.

"After all, she said, he did it with our kind. Won't he? Will he? Could he?"

• Her conflicted feelings towards the Commander's infidelity and the use of Handmaids are highlighted in this quote.

"He's been with her, he's been with a lot of them; one after another, on the sly. It's too dangerous."

• This quote reveals Serena Joy's bitterness and fear regarding the Commander's actions and their implications.

Nick

Overview

Nick is the Commander's chauffeur and a Guardian in "The Handmaid's Tale." His character is shrouded in mystery, and his true intentions are often unclear. He engages in a covert relationship with Offred, initiated by Serena Joy's scheme to ensure Offred conceives. Nick's rebellious nature is evident in his subtle defiance of Gilead's rules and his eventual involvement with the resistance. His actions and motivations remain ambiguous throughout the novel, making him a complex figure who navigates the dangerous political landscape of Gilead with a combination of caution and subversion.

Key Plot Moments

• First Encounter with Offred
  • Nick's initial interactions with Offred are marked by flirtation and subtle acts of rebellion, hinting at his nonconformity within Gilead's strict society.
• Serena Joy's Scheme
  • When Serena Joy arranges for Offred to sleep with Nick, it marks a significant turning point in their relationship, deepening their bond and complicating Offred's situation.
• Secret Meetings
  • Nick and Offred's secret liaisons become a source of comfort and hope for Offred, contrasting with the oppressive environment of Gilead.
• Involvement with the Resistance
  • Nick's ambiguous allegiance is further complicated when he reveals his involvement with the resistance, casting doubt on his true intentions.
• Final Rescue
  • At the novel's climax, Nick orchestrates Offred's escape, leaving her fate uncertain but demonstrating his willingness to risk everything for her.

Key Themes

• Ambiguity and Trust: Nick's character embodies the theme of ambiguity, as his true loyalties and motivations remain unclear, challenging Offred and the reader's ability to trust him fully.
• Love and Survival**:** Nick's relationship with Offred explores the theme of love as a means of survival in a harsh and dehumanizing society.
• Rebellion and Resistance: His subtle acts of defiance and eventual involvement with the resistance highlight the theme of rebellion against oppressive systems.

Key Quotes

"He winks. I drop my head, and turn so that the white wings hide my face, and keep walking."

• This early interaction establishes Nick's rebellious nature and hints at the potential for a deeper connection with Offred.

"It's all right. It's Mayday. Go with them."

• Nick's assurance to Offred during her escape underscores his role in the resistance and his commitment to her safety.

"Trust me."

• A simple yet powerful statement that encapsulates the precarious nature of Offred's relationship with Nick and the uncertainty surrounding his true intentions.

"We're going to be okay."

• This quote reflects Nick's attempt to provide comfort and hope to Offred amidst the turmoil and danger of their circumstances.

"He puts his hand on my arm, pulls me against him, his mouth on mine. It's an assignment."

• Highlighting the complexity of their relationship, this quote reveals the tension between duty and desire in their interactions.

Luke

Overview

Luke is Offred's husband from before the rise of Gilead. His character is primarily explored through Offred's memories and flashbacks. Before Gilead, Luke was a loving husband and father, though their relationship had complexities, including an affair while he was married to another woman. As the political situation deteriorated, Luke attempted to escape with Offred and their daughter, showcasing his protective and resourceful nature. However, his fate remains unknown throughout most of the novel, leaving Offred to speculate and mourn his possible demise. Luke represents the life and love Offred lost, serving as a symbol of the personal and emotional toll of Gilead's regime.

Key Plot Moments

• Marriage and Affair
  • Offred's recollections of their relationship, including their affair and subsequent marriage, highlight Luke's significance in her past and their deep emotional bond.
• Failed Escape Attempt
  • Luke's plan to flee Gilead with Offred and their daughter demonstrates his courage and desperation to protect his family, though the attempt ultimately fails.
• Separation from Family
  • The moment they are captured and separated is a pivotal and traumatic event for Offred, shaping her narrative and her enduring hope for Luke's survival.
• Offred's Speculations
  • Throughout the novel, Offred frequently imagines various fates for Luke, reflecting her enduring love and the uncertainty that haunts her.
• Final Revelation
  • The ambiguous information about Luke's possible whereabouts or fate in the Historical Notes section leaves his ultimate fate unresolved, underscoring the enduring impact of Gilead's brutality.

Key Themes

• Love and Loss: Luke embodies the theme of love lost to a repressive regime, highlighting the personal sacrifices and emotional devastation caused by Gilead.
• Hope and Despair: Offred's memories and speculations about Luke illustrate the tension between hope and despair that defines her existence.
• Resistance and Protection: Luke's actions during their escape attempt showcase the theme of resistance and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their loved ones.

Key Quotes

"We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?"

• Reflecting on their past, Offred acknowledges the relative happiness and normalcy they once took for granted.

"He doesn't mind this, I thought. He doesn't mind it at all. Maybe he even likes it. We are not each other's, anymore. Instead, I am his."

• This quote reveals Offred's doubts and the strain that Gilead's changes placed on their relationship.

"Luke wasn't a doctor. Isn't."

• Offred's correction highlights her struggle to accept Luke's possible death and her enduring hope that he might still be alive.

"We'll get there, I said. I promise."

• During their escape attempt, Luke's reassurances underscore his determination and hope despite the dire circumstances.

"Whatever it is, I'll keep you safe."

• Reflecting Luke's protective nature and his commitment to shielding Offred from the dangers of Gilead.

Moira

Overview

Moira is Offred's best friend from college and a symbol of resistance in "The Handmaid's Tale." As a bold and outspoken feminist, Moira represents the spirit of rebellion against Gilead's oppressive regime. Her character is defined by her courage and determination to fight against the system. Moira's multiple escape attempts and eventual capture highlight the harsh realities of resistance in Gilead. Despite being broken by her experiences, her friendship and past actions continue to inspire Offred. Moira's journey from a defiant rebel to a resigned worker at Jezebel's illustrates the devastating impact of Gilead's totalitarian control on even the most resilient individuals.

Key Plot Moments

• Escape from the Red Center
  • Moira's daring escape from the Red Center by disguising herself as an Aunt demonstrates her resourcefulness and bravery.
• Reunion at Jezebel's
  • Offred's encounter with Moira at Jezebel's reveals the harsh consequences of resistance and the toll Gilead has taken on her spirit.
• Flashbacks to College
  • Offred's memories of their college days provide insight into Moira's character and the strong bond they shared, emphasizing her importance in Offred's life.
• Resistance Efforts
  • Moira's involvement with the Underground Femaleroad and her attempts to fight Gilead's oppression highlight her role as a symbol of defiance.
• Final Conversations
  • Their conversations at Jezebel's reflect Moira's disillusionment and the crushing reality of life under Gilead, contrasting with Offred's continued hope.

Key Themes

• Resistance and Rebellion: Moira's character embodies the theme of rebellion against oppressive systems, highlighting both the possibilities and limits of resistance.
• Despair and Resilience: Moira's journey from a hopeful rebel to a resigned worker at Jezebel's illustrates the emotional and psychological toll of living under a repressive regime.
• Friendship and Solidarity: Her relationship with Offred underscores the theme of female solidarity and the strength found in personal connections.

Key Quotes

"Moira was always more logical than I am. Her plan was better. She knew it, we all knew it."

• This quote reflects Moira's practicality and strategic thinking, qualities that make her a formidable resistor.

"I want gallantry from her, swashbuckling, heroism, single-handed combat. Something I lack."

• Offred's admiration for Moira's bravery highlights the qualities that make Moira a symbol of resistance.

"I'd like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her."

• Offred's longing for a heroic ending for Moira underscores her deep respect and the inspiration she draws from her friend.

"I'm running a whorehouse. You think they care what I do in it?"

• This quote reveals Moira's resignation and the harsh reality of her situation, contrasting sharply with her earlier defiance.

"I don't want her to be like me. Give in, go along, save her skin. That's what it comes down to."

• Reflecting on Moira's fate, Offred acknowledges her struggles with resistance and survival, highlighting the complexities of rebellion.