The Handmaid's Tale

Although The Handmaid’s Tale is often described as a feminist novel, Offred does not neatly fit the role of a “feminist hero.” In what ways is she a more complex and problematic protagonist, and how might this affect the reader’s response to the novel?

Apart from the white wings around her face, every item of Offred’s clothing is red. Why is this symbolically significant?

Messages, stories, and storytelling appear throughout the novel. Why are they considered important, and how is this significance highlighted in the text?

From the Aunts and Serena Joy through to Offred herself, many of the women in the novel either do not challenge or actively support the Gileadean state. To what extent can they be said to be complicit in their own oppression, and the oppression of other women?

How does Gilead use language to further its control over the population and justify its oppressive activities?

After Offred begins visiting the Commander in his study, she observes that “to him I’m no longer merely a usable body” (172). To what extent is this reflected in his behavior and attitudes toward Offred and women more generally?

In Gilead, Handmaids are valued solely for their reproductive capabilities. In what ways does this affect Offred’s perception of herself and her body?

The Handmaid’s Tale is sometimes criticized for being anti-religion. Is this a fair assessment, or is its relationship with religion more complex than this implies?