Nutshell Summary

The Handmaid’s Tale tells the story of a Handmaid living in a dystopian world, run by a totalitarian and theocratic government that has overthrown the United States of America. In this new nation, known as the Republic of Gilead, a strict patriarchy has been established, with most women no longer having the right to freedom of speech and movement, and denied the right to read, write, own property, and handle money. Even within the women there are rigid social classes, with the different classes forced to each wear a designated colour to distinguish between them and suppress individuality. The Commanders’ wives wear blue, the Handmaids wear red, Aunts wear brown, Marthas green, and Econowives wear striped colours.