Handmaids Tale

Margaret Atwood

Plot (List 7 - 12 major events)

• Offred is sent to live with the Commander and his wife. The Commander's wife is strict, and doesn't like it when others look her in the eye. Offred feels like a prisoner who is bound to reproduce or die. And this is exactly what she is there for.
• Event 2
• Event 3

Characters (list 3 - 8 characters, with descriptive info on each)

• Offred - handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. Was once married and desperately misses her old life with her old freedoms. She lives in a home with the Commander and his wife.
• Olfred - another handmaid of the Republic of Gilead. She is a "friend" to Offred, although women aren't really allowed to speak to one another. She's quiet and tries to pretend she doesn't have an opinion on their living situation and rules.
• The Commander - head of the house where Offred works as a handmaid. Offred and the Commander become friends in secret, and she often finds herself hoping he's a kind soul. But isn't for sure.
• Moira - she is Offred's best friend from a long time ago, back in their college days. She is very outspoken and is a lesbian.
• Cora - she is a Martha who lives in the house with Offred, Serena, the Commanders' wife, and the Commander. She is a Martha because she cannot reproduce.
• Nick - the Commander's car driver. He and Offred start a sexual relationship in order to increase her chances of getting pregnant and not being sent away.
•  

Settings (list 3 - 5 settings, with descriptive info. on each)

• setting 1
• setting 2
• setting 3

Conflicts (identify 3 - 4 major conflicts and explain the importance of each)

• confict 1
• conflict 2
• conflict 3

Themes  (identify 3 - 4 major themes and explain the basis of each)

• theme 1
• theme 2
• theme 3

Symbolism (identify 3 - 4 symbols and provide an interpretation of each)

• symbol 1
• symbol 2
• symbol 3

Commentary (express your opinions about the book here)

• The book is kind of confusing when you first begin reading it because they reveal little tiny bits of Offred's old life, but it still leaves you pondering the idea that she used to be married, but now she's having other people's children.
• I think that they kind of make them trapped so they can't go anywhere. They do this because they need them to revive their population. This is why women without the ability to reproduce is useless.