The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood that was first published in 1985. Atwood envisions a totalitarian and theocratic state where women’s roles are constrained and violent oppression keeps the order in place. A sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments, was published in 2019. Explore a character analysis of the narrator Offred, plot summary, and important quotes.
Read our full plot summary and analysis of The Handmaid's Tale, chapter by chapter breakdowns, and more.
See a complete list of the characters in The Handmaid’s Tale and in-depth analyses of Offred, The Commander, Serena Joy, Moira, Luke, and Aunt Lydia.
Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in The Handmaid's Tale, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.
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