The Handmaid’s Tale Theme - Class
Analysis:
● In Gilead the patriarchal dystopian society where the novel takes place,
citizens are defined by their social class. There are several factors that
contribute to a person’s class including gender, age, race, sexuality, status
and power
● Regardless, each class has different societal roles, and these roles have
implications for how specific people can participate in society.
● As Gilead is a religious patriarchal society themes like race and gender often
intersect with class.
● People of colour, old women, gay people and other people who do not adhere
to Gilead’s social ideas are sent to the colonies. Wealthy educated straight
white men are able to become commanders while all other people are
assigned to lower classes.
● Through a Marxist lens Gilead’s proletariat would include the Handmaids,
Marthas, Jezebels and people who work in the Colonies.
● In The Handmaid’s Tale the class hierarchy is shaped by Gilead’s ideals. The
closer a person's ideals fit in line with Gilead’s the higher their social position.
● Men have higher positions in society than women due to Gilead's patriarchal
society.
● Old women, LGBTQIA+ people and people of colour get sent to the colonies
as having children threatens Gilead’s supremacist ideals.
● The Commanders are the most powerful people and make up the highest
class in Gilead and they had a say in the society around them.
● The Wives of the Commanders also have considerable power and influence
but not as much as their husbands as they are women, they are in charge of
household matters.
● Angels are high ranking men that serve as Gilead’s soldiers on the front lines.
They guard the red centre and neutralise rebellion groups. They may qualify
to have a wife or a handmaid after they have served Gilead. Having
wifes/handmaids serves as a status symbol
Analysis:
● In Gilead the patriarchal dystopian society where the novel takes place,
citizens are defined by their social class. There are several factors that
contribute to a person’s class including gender, age, race, sexuality, status
and power
● Regardless, each class has different societal roles, and these roles have
implications for how specific people can participate in society.
● As Gilead is a religious patriarchal society themes like race and gender often
intersect with class.
● People of colour, old women, gay people and other people who do not adhere
to Gilead’s social ideas are sent to the colonies. Wealthy educated straight
white men are able to become commanders while all other people are
assigned to lower classes.
● Through a Marxist lens Gilead’s proletariat would include the Handmaids,
Marthas, Jezebels and people who work in the Colonies.
● In The Handmaid’s Tale the class hierarchy is shaped by Gilead’s ideals. The
closer a person's ideals fit in line with Gilead’s the higher their social position.
● Men have higher positions in society than women due to Gilead's patriarchal
society.
● Old women, LGBTQIA+ people and people of colour get sent to the colonies
as having children threatens Gilead’s supremacist ideals.
● The Commanders are the most powerful people and make up the highest
class in Gilead and they had a say in the society around them.
● The Wives of the Commanders also have considerable power and influence
but not as much as their husbands as they are women, they are in charge of
household matters.
● Angels are high ranking men that serve as Gilead’s soldiers on the front lines.
They guard the red centre and neutralise rebellion groups. They may qualify
to have a wife or a handmaid after they have served Gilead. Having
wifes/handmaids serves as a status symbol
