Guardians of the Faith: Typically young men who are low-ranking in the Republic of Gilead. Gilead: What the United States has become after a sweeping formation of a theocratic military dictatorship. Gender Traitor: Someone who engages in same-sex activity gays and lesbians who are discovered by the Republic of Gilead are sent to the Colonies (where they will eventually die of radioactive poison) or hanged. Eyes drive in black vans and also have the power to make arrests in public.

The Committee: What the Sons of Jacob call the inner circle of their government.Įconowives: Working-class women who are married to men who do not become Commanders during Gilead rule these households are not assigned Marthas (see below), and Econowives do everything.Įyes: Secret police officers who work for the Republic of Gilead they are responsible for detecting traitors and monitoring all suspicious activity in Gilead. The Ceremony: When a Handmaid is ovulating, she is invited to the Commander’s bedroom to have sex with him while lying between his wife’s legs in hopes of conceiving.Ĭolonies: Toxic areas that are cleaned by people shunned by Gilead, including Unwomen (see below).Ĭommanders: The highest-ranking men in the Gilead army the only men assigned Handmaids to conceive.

It is a place where Handmaids work the fields between Ceremonies instead of serving a household-a punishment for those Gilead still wants to forcibly impregnate but deems too troublesome to keep in the dystopian society. “Blessed be the fruit”: How the Handmaids greet each other this is said to encourage fertility.īreeding colony: Also called a Magdalene colony, this is a newer invention of Gilead introduced in season 4. “Blessed are the silent”: As Offred notes, this phrase was added by an Aunt or someone more powerful to teach the Handmaids that silence and submission are valued. “Blessed are the meek”: Aunt Lydia quotes from Matthew 5:5 but eliminates the subsequent “the meek…shall inherit the earth.” Offred points out this omission while taking a bath ahead of a Ceremony with the Commander and his wife. Handmaids are present at birth to encourage labor through repeated breathing chants. One passage from her opus: “Do not mistake a woman’s meekness for weakness.”īirthmobile: A small van that transports Handmaids to a fellow Handmaid’s birthing at her Commander’s house. They are responsible for teaching the Handmaids and grooming them for their duties under the respective houses of the Commanders.Ī Woman’s Place : The book written by Serena Joy prior to Gilead detailing her conservative beliefs.

Angels: Considered heroes in Gilead, the high-ranking army of soldiers fights against various enemies and keeps guard of significant locations.Īunts: A class of typically older women who are “true believers” of the totalitarian ways of Gilead.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood