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 TaleThe Testaments, was published in 2019. Explore a character analysis of the narrator Offred, the plot summary, and important quotes.

Characters

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.

Literary Devices

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.

Essays

Get ready to ace your The Handmaid's Tale paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, and more.

Further Study

Go further in your study of The Handmaid's Tale with background information about Margaret Atwood and the novel, movie adaptations, links to resources on the web, and suggested further reading.