50 Fun Facts About The Handmaid's Tale

Who wrote the dystopian novel 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

Margaret Atwood is the acclaimed Canadian author of 'The Handmaid's Tale', which was published in 1985.

In what fictional republic is 'The Handmaid's Tale' primarily set?

The story takes place in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian theocratic state that has overthrown the United States government.

What is the primary color of the uniform worn by Handmaids in Gilead?

Handmaids are distinguished by their ankle-length red dresses and white headgear, which symbolizes fertility and makes them conspicuous.

What is the pre-Gilead name of the protagonist, Offred, in the novel?

While the book only hints at Offred's original name, the protagonist is widely known as June, a name confirmed in adaptations and widely accepted in discussions of the character.

What is the main role of the 'Aunts' in Gilead society?

The Aunts are a high-ranking group of women responsible for training and indoctrinating Handmaids into their new roles within Gilead.

What activity does the Commander secretly engage in with Offred that is forbidden for women?

The Commander secretly invites Offred to his study to play Scrabble, an activity forbidden for women, highlighting his hypocrisy and Offred's longing for intellectual stimulation.

What is the term for women who are considered infertile or disobedient and sent to clean up toxic waste?

Unwomen are those deemed unuseful to Gilead, often for infertility or disobedience, and are sent to labor in the hazardous Colonies.

What is the name of the resistance network that Offred's shopping partner is secretly involved with?

Offred's shopping partner, Ofglen, reveals herself to be a member of an underground resistance network known as Mayday.

Before the formation of Gilead, what was Serena Joy's public role?

Prior to Gilead, Serena Joy was a Christian television personality and a vocal advocate for traditional values and women staying at home.

What is the meaning of the Latin phrase 'Nolite te bastardes carborundorum' found by Offred?

The phrase 'Nolite te bastardes carborundorum', which Offred finds carved in her closet, is a pseudo-Latin saying that translates to 'Don't let the bastards grind you down'.

What year was Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' first published?

The influential dystopian novel 'The Handmaid's Tale' was first published in 1985.

What term is used for the domestic servants in the households of Commanders?

Marthas are infertile women who serve as domestic helpers, responsible for cooking and cleaning in the households of Commanders and their families.

Which biblical story is often cited to justify the role of Handmaids in Gilead?

The Republic of Gilead justifies the use of Handmaids through selective interpretations of biblical stories, particularly the account of Jacob's wives, Rachel and Leah, offering their handmaids (Bilhah and Zilpah) as surrogates.

What color uniform do the 'Wives' of Commanders wear?

The Wives of Commanders are clad in sky blue, signifying their high status in Gilead society.

What is the name of Offred's best friend from before Gilead?

Moira is Offred's outspoken and rebellious best friend from before the rise of Gilead.

What is the primary reason for the strict social stratification and control over women in Gilead?

Gilead arose as a response to a global fertility crisis, making fertile women a valuable commodity to be controlled for procreation.

What is the term for the public executions in Gilead, where Handmaids are sometimes forced to participate?

Particicution is a brutal public execution where Handmaids are incited to participate in the killing of a condemned man, often an alleged 'gender traitor' or resistant figure.

What color is associated with the Marthas' uniforms?

Marthas typically wear dull green or greyish-green robes and aprons, identifying them as domestic servants.

What is the name of the place where Handmaids undergo re-education and indoctrination?

Handmaids are taken to the Red Center for training and indoctrination into their new roles, overseen by the Aunts.

What does the phrase 'Under His Eye' signify in Gilead?

'Under His Eye' is a common phrase in Gilead that serves as a constant reminder of God's (and by extension, the state's) omnipresent surveillance and control over its citizens.

What is the role of 'Econowives' in Gilead?

Econowives are fertile women married to lower-ranking men (like Guardians). They are expected to maintain their households and bear children without the help of Marthas or Handmaids.

Which character is the Commander's personal driver and a potential ally to Offred?

Nick is the Commander's chauffeur who develops a secret relationship with Offred and is implied to be part of the Eyes or a resistance movement.

What is the name of the sequel novel to 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood?

Margaret Atwood published a sequel to 'The Handmaid's Tale' titled 'The Testaments' in 2019.

What is the most prominent theme explored in 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

The novel primarily explores themes of female disempowerment in a patriarchal society, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of reproductive rights.

In the book, what is the fate of the first Ofglen encountered by Offred?

The first Ofglen commits suicide to avoid being tortured and forced to reveal information about the Mayday resistance after being discovered by the Eyes.

What is the primary function of the 'Eyes of the Lord' in Gilead?

The Eyes of the Lord, or simply the Eyes, are the secret police of Gilead, tasked with spying on citizens and identifying dissent or rebellion.

What is the name given to the illicit brothels in Gilead, where some 'Unwomen' are sent?

Jezebels are illicit brothels, unofficially sanctioned by Gilead's elite, where women deemed 'unwomen' or those who were professionals before Gilead are forced into prostitution.

In what North American city is the Republic of Gilead primarily set?

The novel is set in a near-future New England, with the primary location resembling Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Boston.

What is the term for a public display of executed individuals in Gilead?

The Wall is a prominent feature in Gilead where the bodies of executed individuals, often labeled with their 'crimes', are publicly displayed as a deterrent.

What is the name of Offred's daughter?

Offred's daughter, separated from her during the formation of Gilead, is named Hannah.

Which type of government does Gilead represent?

The Republic of Gilead is a patriarchal, totalitarian theocratic state, meaning it is governed by religious leaders.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Blessed Be the Fruit'?

'Blessed Be the Fruit' is a common greeting among Handmaids, expressing hope for fertility and the successful bearing of children, which is paramount in Gilead.

What was Margaret Atwood's inspiration for some aspects of Gilead's society?

Atwood drew inspiration from historical events and societies, notably 17th-century New England Puritanism, for the structure and customs of Gilead.

What is the primary purpose of the 'Ceremony' in Gilead?

The Ceremony is a monthly ritual in which the Commander attempts to impregnate his Handmaid, with his Wife present, for the sole purpose of procreation.

What is the official title for the male rulers in Gilead?

The ruling class in Gilead consists of high-ranking men known as Commanders of the Faithful, or simply Commanders.

What happens to Handmaids who fail to conceive a child after several assignments?

Handmaids who are unable to bear a child after a certain period are typically classified as Unwomen and sent to the dangerous Colonies.

Which character in the novel has a prosthetic hand after being punished for reading?

In the TV series (and implied in the book's context of brutal punishments for reading), Ofglen (Emily) suffers severe bodily mutilation as punishment for 'gender treason,' including the loss of an eye and implied genital mutilation, and possibly a hand for reading in other contexts (though the precise punishment for reading hands is not explicitly Ofglen's fate in the book, women are forbidden from reading with punishment of having their hand cut off).

What is the term for the soldiers and police force in Gilead?

Guardians of the Faith serve as Gilead's soldiers and uniformed police, some acting as bodyguards and drivers for Commanders.

Which historical event or movement is alluded to by the 'Underground Femaleroad'?

The 'Underground Femaleroad' is a clear allusion to the historical Underground Railroad, a network used by enslaved African-Americans to escape to freedom.

What is the primary mode of transportation for Handmaids when they go shopping?

Handmaids are forbidden from traveling alone and are always paired together for daily errands like shopping, serving as a mutual surveillance system.

What is the color of the uniform worn by the Aunts?

The Aunts, who train and indoctrinate the Handmaids, wear brown uniforms.

What is the significance of the Handmaids' white bonnets, often called 'wings'?

The Handmaids' white bonnets, or 'wings', are designed to block their peripheral vision and shield their faces from view, enforcing anonymity and limiting their perception of the world.

What is the purpose of the 'Marthas' Network'?

The Marthas' Network is an informal, self-organized network among domestic servants that allows for the exchange of news, gossip, and coordination of resistance efforts.

What was Offred's profession before the rise of Gilead?

Before Gilead, Offred (June) was a book editor, which is ironic given the regime's prohibition on women reading.

What is the approximate year that the 'Historical Notes' section of the novel is set?

The 'Historical Notes' at the end of the novel are set in 2195, long after the events of Offred's narrative, providing a scholarly perspective on Gilead's history.

What crime is Moira sent to Jezebels for?

Moira ends up at Jezebels after being caught attempting to escape, and her 'gender treachery' (implied lesbianism) is a factor in her assignment there.

What animal is often used to symbolize fertility in Gilead, particularly in relation to Handmaids?

Rabbits are often used as a symbol of fertility and breeding, reflecting the Handmaids' assigned role in Gilead society.

What is the primary message conveyed by the Japanese tourists' reaction to Offred?

The Japanese tourists represent an outside perspective, looking at the Handmaids with pity and shock, highlighting the stark contrast between Gilead's oppressive reality and the freedom of other nations.

What is the literary genre of 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

Margaret Atwood herself refers to 'The Handmaid's Tale' as 'speculative fiction' rather than science fiction, placing it firmly within the dystopian genre.

What happens to the previous Handmaid of Commander Fred's house?

Offred learns that the Commander's previous Handmaid killed herself after his wife found out about their secret meetings.