Summary A-Level Dystopia, The Handmaid's Tale Revision Document

The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Storyline
Characters
Key Themes
Key Quotes
Critics
Context
Interpretations

Storyline
The written record of a woman living in sexual slavery in a repressive Christian theocracy of the future that has seized
power in the wake of an ecological upheaval

Characters
Offred Social Groups
Moira Wives – blue
Serena Joy Aunts – brown
The other Commanders’ Wives Daughters – white
The Aunts Handmaids – red
Ofglen & Ofwarren Marthas – green
Offred’s mother Econowives – blue + green stripes
The Commander Commanders – black
Nick
Luke

Key Themes
Power politics
Gender
Identity & the Individual
Survival
Memory
Imprisonment & Imagination
Surveillance
Dehumanisation
Language & Freedom of speech

Key Quotes
Power politics + power dynamic
“It’s difficult for me to believe that I have power over him, of any sort, but I do.” – Offred
- Power dynamic between Offred and Commander
“Black, for the Commander, blue, for the Commander's Wife, and the one assigned to me, which is red.”

Gender

Identity & the Individual
“I would like to believe that this is a story I am telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it.” – Offred
“Everything except the wings around my face is red: the colour of blood, which defines us.” – Offred

Survival
“I rub the butter over my face, work it into the skin of my hands.”
“Meanwhile I must endure, keep myself safe for later.”

Memory
“It’s you here, in another body. Bullshit.”

Imprisonment & Imagination
“Outside the washroom Aunt Elizabeth is standing guard.”

Surveillance
“The truth is that she is my spy, and I am hers.”