1. Discuss the role of the Aunts and of Serena Joy in the novel. How do they relate to other women, and how does this make them fit into the hierarchy of Gilead?

2. Is the Commander a sympathetic character, a monster, or both?

3. Is Atwood’s novel ultimately a feminist work of literature, or does it offer a critique of feminism?

4. What role does Moira play in the novel? How does her significance change as the story progresses?