Setting: The Republic of Gilead in the not too distant future.

Officially the novel

takes place in what would have formerly been called Cambridge, MA. We know
this because of references to Harvard and etc.

Significance of Opening Scene: From the opening scene the reader realizes that
the story is set in an alternate version of the United States. References to old army
blankets that still say United States implies that the United States is no longer the
United States. In addition terms such as Handmaid, Angel, and Commander are
used even though at this point in the novel the author has not given the meaning of
these terms.

Descriptions of the gymnasium and how it has removed all ways of escape either
by suicide or flight gives the reader the impression that the gym is similar to a
prison

Significance of the Closing Scene: In the closing scene, like in most of the novel,
neither Offred nor the reader is fully cognizant of the events taking place. When
Offred gets into the black van she does not know whether Nick was telling the
truth when he told her that the men inside where from Mayday. She is simply
getting in the van not knowing what the outcome will be. Either way, getting in the
van is obligatory. The lack of choices for Offred reinforces that Offred’s rescue
was not of her own making, but simply a matter of luck

Symbols:
The setting of the story in Cambridge, Massachusetts is symbolic because its ties
to Puritan society. The Puritans, an epitome for religious zeal and religious
intolerance have ideals that could potentially manifest into the beliefs held by the
rulers of Gilead.

Harvard University is a symbol because it has become the headquarters for the
Eyes. The bodies of the “criminals” hang from its walls. It is ironic because
Harvard, the pinnacle for American learning has now become the center for
oppression and savagery. This reflects a total change in mentality from the U.S.A.
and the Republic of Gilead

Red worn by the Handmaids: The wearing of red by the handmaid has multiple
different interpretation. One of the more popular ones is that the red stands for the
red A that Hester Prynne wears in The Scarlet Letter. Though the acts of the
Handmaid’s are condoned and required by the government, other people in Gilead,
such as the wives see handmaids as glorified sluts. Other interpretations of the red
are the symbol for fertility and red for blood of the menstrual cycle.

Possible Topics for Discussion

Do you consider Offred’s actions in the story courageous or cowardly?

Is the republic of Gilead a plausible society?
How does The Handmaid’s Tale rank among other dystopian novels?