Themes, Symbols, and Motifs in The Handmaid's Tale
Tekst Storyboardowy
EXAMPLE
COLORS
THE EYE
THE WINGS
THE CEREMONY
The women and men of Gilead are separated by job/class, and this was indicated by colors. For the Handmaids, the red made them stand out but also symbolized the life they were trying to create and carry. It symbolized their duty; for the Handmaids, it symbolized their curse.
The Eye is the symbol of the Republic of Gilead’s government. The black vans of secret agents that would pick people up for interrogations and torture bore this symbol in white. The Eyes were also a code name for spies who infiltrated different areas of society to turn people in to the government.
The wings are what Offred and her fellow Handmaids call the bonnet that goes up and around their faces. Sometimes, Offred expresses her frustration at the wings blocking her view of the world; however, at other times it offers opportunities to hide her feelings or thoughts in a veil of safety.
The Gileadean society revolves around the Ceremony. Each month, after reading Scriptures that justify this proceeding from the Bible, the Handmaid would lie in the lap of the Wife while the Commander would have intercourse with the Handmaid. After, the entire household would wait to see if the Handmaid became pregnant.