5.2.2

Colour Symbolism

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Colour Symbolism

Atwood uses colours symbolically in the novel to connote the different roles and statuses of women in Gilead:

Illustrative background for Handmaids - redIllustrative background for Handmaids - red ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Wives - blueIllustrative background for Wives - blue ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Daughters - whiteIllustrative background for Daughters - white ?? "content

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?
Illustrative background for Marthas - greenIllustrative background for Marthas - green ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Econowives - red/blue/greenIllustrative background for Econowives - red/blue/green ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Unwomen - greyIllustrative background for Unwomen - grey ?? "content

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.

Jump to other topics

1Author Background

1.1Margaret Atwood

2Chapter Summaries

3Dedications & Epigraph

3.1Dedications & Epigraph

4Context

5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques

6Themes & Imagery

7Characters

8Readings

8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale

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