The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood P2 Info/Characters

1985

Feminist

The dystopian government of the Republic of Gilead

Though the Commander, Serena Joy, and Aunt Lydia seem to be Offred’s enemies, the real antagonist is the Republic of Gilead itself.

First person limited

• Major Character

• Protagonist

• First person narrator

• Handmaid for the Commander and Serena Joy

• Moira’s best friend

• Major Character

• Head of the household

• Husband of Serena Joy

• High ranking member of Gilead but breaks many laws

• Major Character

• Commanders Wife

• Unable to have children

• Was a famous singer of TV for her Christian music

• Dislikes Offred

• Major Character

• Commanders driver

• Serena Joys helper in the garden

• Low ranking guardian because he hasn’t been assigned a woman

• Major Character

• Offreds best friend

• Feminist Lesbian

• Manages to escape and joins the Jezebels

• Minor Character

• Offreds pre-Gilead husband

• Father of Offreds daughter

• Minor Character

• Aunt in charge of the red center (Rachel and Leah Center

• Minor Character

• Offreds shopping partner and member of Mayday resistance

• Minor Character

• Handmaid in Offreds class at the red center

• No one shows any sympathy for her

• Has a baby but not from her commander - From a doctor

• Minor Character

• A Martha (household servant and cook) at the household of the Commander and Serena Joy. She thinks of Offred as a slut and is generally unkind.

• Minor Character

• A Martha, along with Rita. She does less cooking and more general chores, and is friendlier to Offred. She discovered the previous Handmaid’s death.