Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian piece of literature that utilizes symbolism through a variety of colours. These colours vary from black, symbolizing the commanders, to red, symbolizing the handmaids. A more subtle colour utilized by Margaret Atwood is purple. Throughout history, the colour purple has emerged as a complex and multifaceted symbol. From being a rare and royal colour in ancient Rome to being associated with social change and women's suffrage in the 20th century, purple has a long symbolic history. Atwood uses the colour purple in The Handmaid’s Tale to represent royalty, eroticism, and resistance. Consequently, in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale, purple symbolizes royalty, eroticism, and resistance. …show more content…
This is evident when Offred talks to Moira in her room. Offred states, “Moira, sitting on the edge of my bed, legs crossed, ankle on knees, in her purple overalls” (41). The outfit Moira wears contrasts with the regular colour setup for specific women to wear in Gilead. Her actions in the book constantly challenge Gilead's regime, as seen through events such as managing to flee the Red Center. Additionally, Offred walks past the wall and notices there are three new bodies on it. “The two others have purple placards hung around their necks: Gender Treachery,” (47) describes Offred. The placards display that these people rejected the laws and values of New Gilead. Punished for fighting against Gilead’s regime and refusing to support their system. Furthermore, Offred notices Moira and sees that she has a bruise: “There was a bruise on her left cheek, turning purple” (81). Despite the physical abuse Moira has endured, she remains stoic and continues to battle against New Gilead's systems. The bruise exhibits her will to survive and her will to continue fighting. She refuses to give up and has no plans of doing so. Therefore, the colour purple symbolizes resistance in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s