The story begins with Offred, a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. After a revolution, the area changed into a religious-strict society where men reign powerful and the women have been stripped of all rights or reduced to mere property in the eyes of the Commanders. When Offred is in the gymnasium, she dreams of being free again. They are watched by two “aunts”, both armed with cattle prods. They are allowed to go out for walls only twice a day and only in pairs of two. On the other side of the fence on the football field where she has here walks, there are Angels, men who fight in the wars. She believes that the women can use their bodies as a means of escaping. Offred explains what a handmaid is, which is a young, fertile woman, who is breed to have children for the rich and wealthy of Gilead. …show more content…
Serena used to be a gospel singer and a women's activist before the formation of Gilead. Now she is old and is the Commander's wife. She is bitter and cruel towards the handmaids in her home, but Offred understands why. In chapters 2 and 3 the reader is introduced to the Martha’s which are the caretakers. The two that Offred knows, Rita and Cora, are also gossipers and that’s how Offred finds things out about other people. Rita gives tokens(their form of currency) to Offred and her and Ofglen, another handmaid go shopping. Ofglen is her spy as she is to Ofglen. Offred passes through the gate into the town and teases the guardians while she does it. In the town the signs have no words, for women are not allowed to read. When Offred and Ofglen are done shopping they stop by the wall, which is where bodies of executed political heretics are hanged and shown to the public. They were all doctors, killed for performing abortions which is now forbidden in