5.2.2
Colour Symbolism
Colour Symbolism
Colour Symbolism
Atwood uses colours symbolically in the novel to connote the different roles and statuses of women in Gilead:
Handmaids - red
Handmaids - red
- Handmaids wear red as it is “the colour of blood, which defines us”.
- It is the colour of menstrual blood which reminds them of their reproductive role.
- It is also the colour of sin and passion, which sets them apart from the other women and makes them "other" in Gilead.
- They are both praised and resented for their fertility. They are spat at in the street by Econowives and treated cruelly by the Wives.
Wives - blue
Wives - blue
- The Wives wear blue, which is symbolic of the Virgin Mary and the immaculate conception.
- Their role in the Ceremony is that of a bystander. They watch as the Handmaid is penetrated by their husband. If the Handmaids gets pregnant, the Wife becomes the mother to the child.
Daughters - white
Daughters - white
- Daughters wear white to denote their innocence and chastity before they are married.
- Interestingly, the wings of the Handmaids' bonnets are also made of white material. The bonnets block their view of the world and also stop others from viewing their faces - perhaps from modesty, perhaps from shame?
Marthas - green
Marthas - green
- Marthas wear green and are the domestic servants of the house.
- Green is often associated with health and cleanliness.
- So green may represent their domestic duties in looking after the wellbeing of the handmaid in their charge.
Econowives - red/blue/green
Econowives - red/blue/green
- Econowives wear cheaply-made striped dresses of red/blue and green. These colours show that they are meant to fulfil all of the duties of a Handmaid, Wife and Martha to their husbands, who are working-class members of Gilead.
Unwomen - grey
Unwomen - grey
- Unwomen wear grey in the Colonies.
- This lack of colour denotes their lack of status and use in Gilead.
- If a Handmaid fails to conceive three times in a row, she is sent to the colonies to become an Unwoman, manually working with toxic waste until she dies.
1Author Background
1.1Margaret Atwood
2Chapter Summaries
2.1Chapter 1: Night I
2.2Chapters 2-6: Shopping II
2.3Chapter 7: Night II
2.4Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV
2.5Chapter 13: Nap V
2.6Chapters 14-17: Household VI
2.7Chapter 18: Night VII
2.8Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII
2.9Chapter 24: Night IX
2.10Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X
2.11Chapter 30: Night XI
2.12Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII
2.13Chapter 40: Night XIII
2.14Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV
2.15Chapter 46: Night XV
2.16Historical Notes
3Dedications & Epigraph
3.1Dedications & Epigraph
4Context
4.1Setting
4.2Literary Context & Genre
4.3Political Context
4.4Historical Context
4.5Parallels: Read World & Gilead
4.6Religious Context
5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques
5.1Narrative Structure
5.2Literary Techniques
6Themes & Imagery
6.2Imagery
7Characters
7.1Female Characters
7.2Male Characters
8Readings
8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale
Jump to other topics
1Author Background
1.1Margaret Atwood
2Chapter Summaries
2.1Chapter 1: Night I
2.2Chapters 2-6: Shopping II
2.3Chapter 7: Night II
2.4Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV
2.5Chapter 13: Nap V
2.6Chapters 14-17: Household VI
2.7Chapter 18: Night VII
2.8Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII
2.9Chapter 24: Night IX
2.10Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X
2.11Chapter 30: Night XI
2.12Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII
2.13Chapter 40: Night XIII
2.14Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV
2.15Chapter 46: Night XV
2.16Historical Notes
3Dedications & Epigraph
3.1Dedications & Epigraph
4Context
4.1Setting
4.2Literary Context & Genre
4.3Political Context
4.4Historical Context
4.5Parallels: Read World & Gilead
4.6Religious Context
5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques
5.1Narrative Structure
5.2Literary Techniques
6Themes & Imagery
6.2Imagery
7Characters
7.1Female Characters
7.2Male Characters
8Readings
8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered