Keyword Guide · theme-analysis

Exploring Key Symbols in The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale uses powerful symbolism to explore themes of control, identity, and resistance. Understanding these recurring images is essential for writing compelling essays and participating in classroom discussions about the world of Gilead.

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The Color Red

In the society of Gilead, colors are used to categorize individuals by their social function. The Handmaids are required to wear red, a color that carries multiple layers of meaning. On one level, red symbolizes fertility and the biological cycle of birth, which is the Handmaids' primary purpose. On another level, it represents blood—both the potential for life and the violence used to maintain order. The bright color also makes the Handmaids easily visible to the authorities, acting as a tool for constant public surveillance.

The Eye

The 'Eye' is a recurring symbol of the state's secret police and its pervasive surveillance system. It represents the loss of privacy and the psychological weight of being watched at all times. This symbol extends to the physical architecture of the regime and the greetings used by citizens, reinforcing the idea that God—and by extension, the government—is always observing their actions. For students, analyzing the Eye is key to understanding how Gilead maintains power through fear rather than just physical force.

Flowers and Gardens

Flowers appear throughout the novel, often associated with Serena Joy and the domestic spaces of the Wives. They serve as symbols of natural beauty and fertility that the regime attempts to regulate. While the Handmaids represent biological fertility, the gardens represent a more aesthetic, controlled version of growth. The act of gardening is one of the few ways the Wives can exercise a sense of agency, yet even this is confined within the strict boundaries of the state's social hierarchy.

The Wings (White Bonnets)

The white 'wings' or bonnets worn by the Handmaids are designed to restrict their vision and prevent others from seeing their faces. Symbolically, these garments represent the erasure of individual identity and the forced modesty imposed by the regime. By limiting what the Handmaids can see, the state limits their ability to connect with others or observe the world around them clearly. This symbol is frequently used in literary analysis to discuss the theme of isolation and the stripping of personhood.

What does the red uniform symbolize?

The red uniform symbolizes fertility, the biological role of the Handmaids, and the blood of both birth and state-sanctioned violence. It also serves as a marker for easy surveillance.

Why are flowers a common symbol in the book?

Flowers represent fertility and the natural world. In the context of the Wives' gardens, they symbolize the attempt to control and prune nature into a submissive, orderly form.

What is the significance of 'The Eye'?

The Eye represents the totalitarian surveillance of Gilead. It signifies that the state is always watching, which creates a culture of paranoia and prevents rebellion.

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