Wives Econowives
• Commander’s Wife- she is a figure to be • They are the lower class wives
seen and not heard. • Link to the proles in 1984
• Status figure
• They have power over the handmaids
and Marthas, but they are still subservient
to their husband’s and most men in
general. Wife is made to watch the
consummation ceremony (make sure that
there is no passion)
• Allowed ordinary names- because they
have more status.
• “The Commander’s wife looks down at
the baby as if it’s a bouquet of flowers;
something she’s won, a tribute”
Handmaids Marthas
• They are women who are viewed as • They take care of the household
vessels to carry children. • Carry out the typical wifely duties
• They are subservient to their Commander • Link to the Prole women in 1984
and his wife. They are only significant in
society if they are fall pregnant and birth
a child for the commander.
• ‘Offred’ and ‘Ofglen’- literally means they
are the property of their commander- loss
of identity and real name.
• Link to the Anti-Sex League- sexual
relations shouldn’t be enjoyed- there
merely for procreation- Katherine, “doing
our duty”
Aunts Guardians
• They are an authority figure to the • Police
handmaids. • Like Guardian Angels or the Eye of God.
• They have power over the handmaids,
but they are not as powerful as the
Angels and Guardians are.
• ‘Aunt’ is associated with family/kindness/
trust and their names are usually biblical-
ironic as they are enforcing a totalitarian,
patriarchal and oppressive regime-
orchestrators of some awful acts.
Commanders Jezebels
• Patriarchy figure- they are there to • Prostitutes
• Commander’s Wife- she is a figure to be • They are the lower class wives
seen and not heard. • Link to the proles in 1984
• Status figure
• They have power over the handmaids
and Marthas, but they are still subservient
to their husband’s and most men in
general. Wife is made to watch the
consummation ceremony (make sure that
there is no passion)
• Allowed ordinary names- because they
have more status.
• “The Commander’s wife looks down at
the baby as if it’s a bouquet of flowers;
something she’s won, a tribute”
Handmaids Marthas
• They are women who are viewed as • They take care of the household
vessels to carry children. • Carry out the typical wifely duties
• They are subservient to their Commander • Link to the Prole women in 1984
and his wife. They are only significant in
society if they are fall pregnant and birth
a child for the commander.
• ‘Offred’ and ‘Ofglen’- literally means they
are the property of their commander- loss
of identity and real name.
• Link to the Anti-Sex League- sexual
relations shouldn’t be enjoyed- there
merely for procreation- Katherine, “doing
our duty”
Aunts Guardians
• They are an authority figure to the • Police
handmaids. • Like Guardian Angels or the Eye of God.
• They have power over the handmaids,
but they are not as powerful as the
Angels and Guardians are.
• ‘Aunt’ is associated with family/kindness/
trust and their names are usually biblical-
ironic as they are enforcing a totalitarian,
patriarchal and oppressive regime-
orchestrators of some awful acts.
Commanders Jezebels
• Patriarchy figure- they are there to • Prostitutes
