Plot, Themes,
Symbols and Quotes
from the novel ‘The
Handmaid’s Tale.’
Matric 2023
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Margaret Atwood
, Table of Contents
Characters..............................................................................................................................................3
Offred.............................................................................................................................................3
Moira.............................................................................................................................................3
Luke...............................................................................................................................................3
Offred’s mother..............................................................................................................................3
The Commander............................................................................................................................3
Serena Joy......................................................................................................................................3
Aunt Lydia......................................................................................................................................3
Nick................................................................................................................................................4
Ofglen............................................................................................................................................4
Janine.............................................................................................................................................4
Rita and Cora..................................................................................................................................4
General Information..............................................................................................................................4
Terminology.......................................................................................................................................4
7 main themes:..................................................................................................................................4
Setting – Gilead..................................................................................................................................4
Legislation in Gilead...........................................................................................................................5
Genre.................................................................................................................................................5
Timeline.............................................................................................................................................5
Hierarchy............................................................................................................................................6
Themes and Quotes...............................................................................................................................7
Role of Women..................................................................................................................................7
Domestic Life and the Time Before....................................................................................................8
Alienation..........................................................................................................................................8
Defiance / Rebellion...........................................................................................................................8
Totalitarianism and Violence..............................................................................................................9
Identity............................................................................................................................................10
Dystopia...........................................................................................................................................11
Miscellaneous Quotes......................................................................................................................11
Symbols...............................................................................................................................................11
The colour red..................................................................................................................................11
The colour black...............................................................................................................................12
Makeup............................................................................................................................................12
Mirrors.............................................................................................................................................12
Symbols and Quotes
from the novel ‘The
Handmaid’s Tale.’
Matric 2023
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Margaret Atwood
, Table of Contents
Characters..............................................................................................................................................3
Offred.............................................................................................................................................3
Moira.............................................................................................................................................3
Luke...............................................................................................................................................3
Offred’s mother..............................................................................................................................3
The Commander............................................................................................................................3
Serena Joy......................................................................................................................................3
Aunt Lydia......................................................................................................................................3
Nick................................................................................................................................................4
Ofglen............................................................................................................................................4
Janine.............................................................................................................................................4
Rita and Cora..................................................................................................................................4
General Information..............................................................................................................................4
Terminology.......................................................................................................................................4
7 main themes:..................................................................................................................................4
Setting – Gilead..................................................................................................................................4
Legislation in Gilead...........................................................................................................................5
Genre.................................................................................................................................................5
Timeline.............................................................................................................................................5
Hierarchy............................................................................................................................................6
Themes and Quotes...............................................................................................................................7
Role of Women..................................................................................................................................7
Domestic Life and the Time Before....................................................................................................8
Alienation..........................................................................................................................................8
Defiance / Rebellion...........................................................................................................................8
Totalitarianism and Violence..............................................................................................................9
Identity............................................................................................................................................10
Dystopia...........................................................................................................................................11
Miscellaneous Quotes......................................................................................................................11
Symbols...............................................................................................................................................11
The colour red..................................................................................................................................11
The colour black...............................................................................................................................12
Makeup............................................................................................................................................12
Mirrors.............................................................................................................................................12
