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A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with. She's also the second of three women to carry this title. At first Offred doesn't trust her and finds her to be a stickler for rules, but soon warms up to her as they share stories of their previous lives, finding out that Ofglen has quite the rebellious streak.[[spoiler:Her real name is Emily.]]
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A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with. She's also the second of three women to carry this title. At first Offred doesn't trust her and finds her to be a stickler for rules, but soon warms up to her as they share stories of their previous lives, finding out that Ofglen has quite the rebellious streak. [[spoiler:Her real name is Emily.]]
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* CripplingCastration: [[spoiler: A rare female example. She is punished for her 'gender treachery' with a clitoridectomy.]]
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* CripplingCastration: [[spoiler: A rare female example. She After it's discovered that she was married to a woman in the Before Era and caught having an affair with a Martha, Emily is spared from death, but punished for her 'gender treachery' with a clitoridectomy.]]
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** Commander Warren Putnam attempts to use her fragile sanity to his advantage, gaslighting her into believing that he'll leave his wife for her and will run away with her and then when she calls him out, saying that she's delusional.
-->'''Janine:''' You said we would be a family!
-->'''Warren:''' She's not well.
-->'''Janine:''' I was well enough to suck your cock! I did every fucked-up thing you wanted. All the freaky shit you'd never do, because you promised me we would run off and we would be a family!
-->'''Janine:''' You said we would be a family!
-->'''Warren:''' She's not well.
-->'''Janine:''' I was well enough to suck your cock! I did every fucked-up thing you wanted. All the freaky shit you'd never do, because you promised me we would run off and we would be a family!
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* Cloudcuckoolander: After having lost her eye and being subjected to torture at the Rachel and Leah center, Janine seems to become mentally frail, or as Offred would call it, "batshit insane". Whilst at the "Particicution", where the handmaids are allowed to kill a male criminal, Janine can be seen in the background, dancing by herself.
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The main protagonist.
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The main protagonist. [[spoiler:Her real name is June Osbourne.]]
* AffablyEvil: High-ranking commander happily taking part in a totalitarian, Christian fundamentalist, and in the books, racist government where, among many things, women are forced into sexual slavery. But when he's not raping Offred or allowing for women to be brutally subjugated and denied basic rights, he's quite polite and kind, going so far as to invite Offred into his office for a game of Scrabble[[note]]Women aren't allowed to work, own property, control money, or read so [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness this is a huge deal]].[[/note]]. [[spoiler:He continues these meetings with Offred/June in hopes that, unlike her predecessor, Offred won't commit suicide.]]
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* PetTheDog: His treatment of Offred during the times he isn't performing the Ceremony with her.
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* PetTheDog: His treatment of Offred during the times he isn't performing the Ceremony with her.her is quite polite and almost charming, if not unnerving.
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[[folder:Serena Joy]]
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[[folder:Serena Joy]]Joy Waterford]]
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[[folder:Ofglen]]
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A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with. She's also the second of three women to carry this title.
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A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with. She's also the second of three women to carry this title. At first Offred doesn't trust her and finds her to be a stickler for rules, but soon warms up to her as they share stories of their previous lives, finding out that Ofglen has quite the rebellious streak.[[spoiler:Her real name is Emily.]]
* RaceLift: played by Latina actress Alexis Bledel.
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[[folder:Nick]]
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* DoubleAgent: He's working for Gilead as an Eye, and LaResistance .
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* DoubleAgent: He's working for Gilead as an Eye, and LaResistance .[[LaResistance Mayday]] .
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[[folder:Janine/Ofwarren]]
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[[folder: Luke]]
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[[folder: Luke]]Luke Osbourne]]
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* AdaptationalHeroism: Not that she was ''evil'' in the book, but we get to know her a good deal better in the series, making her come off as less of a brown-noser and more of a woman who has been horribly broken, even more than other Handmaids.
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* {{Foil}}: To Moira and the first Ofglen. Like the first Ofglen, she's [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide, but she succumbs to her brokenness and Offred understands it's a completely valid emotion to have in Gilead.]]
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* [[spoiler: OffingTheOffspring]]: What she nearly does, perhaps in hopes that [[spoiler: she and her child would be TogetherInDeath. She ultimately accepts that her child should have a chance to grow.]]
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* {{Foil}}: To her predecessor, the rebellious Emily.
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* MoralityPet: After sanctioning Janine's eye-gorging, she ironically treats Janine very kindly, though it could be just because Janine gave birth to a healthy baby, which makes Janine a valued asset in Gilead.
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* MoralityPet: After sanctioning Janine's eye-gorging, she ironically treats Janine very kindly, though it could be just because Janine gave birth to a healthy baby, which makes Janine a valued asset in Gilead. She is the only one besides Offred who seems genuinely distraught by [[spoiler:Janine's attempted suicide]], suggesting that she does form some attachment to her charges.
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Composite Character is the better trope for the TV adaptation of Rita
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* AdaptationDistillation: As Cora was AdaptedOut, Rita takes on some of her characteristics and role.
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* AdaptationDistillation: CompositeCharacter: As Cora was AdaptedOut, Rita takes on some of her characteristics and role.
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* TheAtoner: He absorbs Offred's criticism of him, as he feels guilty of his complicity, thus his involvement with Mayday.
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* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler: In front of Offred's eyes, she's as good as dead after her plunge, though another scene shows that Janine is comatose with no knowing on her later status.]]
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* [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide]]
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* MoralityPet: After sanctioning Janine's eye-gorging, she ironically treats Janine very kindly, though it could be just because Janine gave birth to a healthy baby, which makes Janine a valued asset in Gilead.
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** Even though she condescendingly remarks, "stupid child," she sits by [[spoiler: a comatose Janine's bedside with an expression of grief and guilt.]]
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* PetTheDog: She feels badly that [[spoiler:Serena Joy forces the physically deformed Handmaids away from the party that they were promised, and she offers to bring Janine a tray of desserts when the latter breaks down over it.]]
to:
* PetTheDog: PetTheDog:
** She feels badly that [[spoiler:Serena Joy forces the physically deformed Handmaids away from the party that they were promised, and she offers to bring Janine a tray of desserts when the latter breaks down over it.]]]]
** While keeping a tough front, she doesn't shirk on answering Offred's question on Janine's welfare.
** She feels badly that [[spoiler:Serena Joy forces the physically deformed Handmaids away from the party that they were promised, and she offers to bring Janine a tray of desserts when the latter breaks down over it.
** While keeping a tough front, she doesn't shirk on answering Offred's question on Janine's welfare.
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* BeCareWhatYouWishFor: Like Serena Joy, there are a hints that Aunt Lydia has some disillusionment with Gilead's design. For example, [[spoiler: Offred's brief glance at Lydia's bewildered expression at the dinner party suggest that she's appalled by the notion of Handmaids being trafficked.]]
to:
* BeCareWhatYouWishFor: BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Like Serena Joy, there are a hints that Aunt Lydia has some disillusionment with Gilead's design. For example, [[spoiler: Offred's brief glance at Lydia's bewildered expression at the dinner party suggest that she's appalled by the notion of Handmaids being trafficked.]]
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* BeCareWhatYouWishFor: Like Serena Joy, there are a hints that Aunt Lydia has some disillusionment with Gilead's design. For example, [[spoiler: Offred's brief glance at Lydia's bewildered expression at the dinner party suggest that she's appalled by the notion of Handmaids being trafficked.]]
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* RaisedCatholic
to:
* RaisedCatholicRaisedCatholic: She alludes to getting her daughter baptized at her father's parish, though it's unknown to what extent she preserves to her Catholicism now in Gilead.
* HappilyMarried: What she wants to have back. Before Gilead's rise, she and her husband actually lived an egalitarian relationship and had a sincere, mutual practice of their faith-based marriage. However, it's when they both participate in Gilead's rise does it cost them their happy marriage.
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* HappinessInSlavery: Her reasons for snatching Offred away from interacting with Emily. She had a worst life in the Before and this life in Gilead seems better in comparison, so she wants to protect this life. Though it's also up to interpretation whether she really thinks this way.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Her way of pulling Offred from talking to her friend may seem harsh, but the series makes its evident she's on survival mode in Gilead. She also seems genuinely protective of Offred over the driving incident and tries to offer Offred encouragement after what they witnessed.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Her way of pulling Offred from talking to her friend may seem harsh, but the series makes its evident she's on survival mode in Gilead. She also seems genuinely protective of Offred over the driving incident and tries to offer Offred encouragement after what they witnessed.
to:
* HappinessInSlavery: Her reasons for snatching Offred away from interacting with Emily. She had a worst life in the Before and this life in Gilead seems better in comparison, so she wants to protect this life.her life, insisting she now has it good. Though it's also up to interpretation whether she really thinks this way.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Her way of pulling Offred from talking to her traumatized friend may seemharsh, harsh but the series makes its evident she has no malice in doing so, as she's on survival mode in Gilead. She also seems genuinely protective of Offred over the driving incident and tries to offer Offred encouragement after what they witnessed.in the aftermath.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Her way of pulling Offred from talking to her traumatized friend may seem
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* TheOldestProfession
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* TheOldestProfessionTheOldestProfession: In the Before era. This experience allows her to twist her current Handmaid station into something better.
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* PetTheDog: Deconstructed, as her moments of empathy and kindness offer no long-term solace for Offred's station.
** Giving Offred a cookie, even if its at the condescending urging of the other Wives. But even Serena seems to recognize the faux-kindness of the class stratification--and the whole birth ritual itself.
** Taking Offred out to visit another Wives' baby. Though its implied she did that to parade her then-possibly pregnant Handmaid around, she also asked, kindly, if Offred had visited her friend Janine, a fellow Handmaid.
** Gifting Offred a music box.
** Giving Offred a cookie, even if its at the condescending urging of the other Wives. But even Serena seems to recognize the faux-kindness of the class stratification--and the whole birth ritual itself.
** Taking Offred out to visit another Wives' baby. Though its implied she did that to parade her then-possibly pregnant Handmaid around, she also asked, kindly, if Offred had visited her friend Janine, a fellow Handmaid.
** Gifting Offred a music box.
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* HappilyMarried
* TearsOfJoy: [[spoiler: Upon receiving his long-lost wife's message.]]
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* HappinessInSlavery: Her reasons for snatching Offred away from interacting with Emily. She had a worst life in the Before and this life in Gilead seems better in comparison, so she wants to protect this life. Though it's also up to interpretation whether she's only telling herself this.
to:
* HappinessInSlavery: Her reasons for snatching Offred away from interacting with Emily. She had a worst life in the Before and this life in Gilead seems better in comparison, so she wants to protect this life. Though it's also up to interpretation whether she's only telling herself this.she really thinks this way.
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*
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* TheOldestProfession
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[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Second Ofglen]]
The ReplacementGoldfish of the last Ofglen. A former drug-addicted prostitute.
----
* HappinessInSlavery: Her reasons for snatching Offred away from interacting with Emily. She had a worst life in the Before and this life in Gilead seems better in comparison, so she wants to protect this life. Though it's also up to interpretation whether she's only telling herself this.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Her way of pulling Offred from talking to her friend may seem harsh, but the series makes its evident she's on survival mode in Gilead. She also seems genuinely protective of Offred over the driving incident and tries to offer Offred encouragement after what they witnessed.
*
[[folder:The Second Ofglen]]
The ReplacementGoldfish of the last Ofglen. A former drug-addicted prostitute.
----
* HappinessInSlavery: Her reasons for snatching Offred away from interacting with Emily. She had a worst life in the Before and this life in Gilead seems better in comparison, so she wants to protect this life. Though it's also up to interpretation whether she's only telling herself this.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Her way of pulling Offred from talking to her friend may seem harsh, but the series makes its evident she's on survival mode in Gilead. She also seems genuinely protective of Offred over the driving incident and tries to offer Offred encouragement after what they witnessed.
*
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* RaisedCatholic: While it's unknown whether she still practice Catholicism in adulthood before Gilead, she briefly alludes to being raised Catholic.
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* RaisedCatholic: While it's unknown whether she still practice Catholicism in adulthood before Gilead, she briefly alludes to being raised Catholic.RaisedCatholic
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* RaisedCatholic: While it's unknown whether she still practice Catholicism in adulthood before Gilead, she briefly alludes to being raised Catholic.
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* CripplingCastration: [[spoiler: A rare female example. She is punished for her 'gender treachery' with a clitoridectomy.]]
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* AgeLift: Was an old man in the book, here he is played by Joseph Fiennes who is in his late forties.
* AgeLift: Was an old woman who walked with a cane in the book, whereas Yvonne Strahovski is in her late thirties.
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* MadeASlave: Used to be a college professor who taught cellular biology.
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* MadeASlave: Used to be a college professor who taught cellular biology.biology, now a BreedingSlave.
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->'''Played By''': Elisabeth Moss
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->'''Played By''': Elisabeth Moss
ElisabethMoss
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->'''Played By''': Joseph Fiennes
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->'''Played By''': Joseph Fiennes
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->'''Played By''': Yvonne Strahovski
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->'''Played By''': Yvonne Strahovski
YvonneStrahovski
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->'''Played By''': Alexis Bledel
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->'''Played By''': Alexis Bledel
AlexisBledel
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* MadeASlave
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* MadeASlaveHappilyMarried: To her wife before the coup.
* MadeASlave: Used to be a college professor who taught cellular biology.
* MadeASlave: Used to be a college professor who taught cellular biology.
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* BrokenPedestal: What she becomes when Offred meets her at Jezebel's.
* BuryYourGays: While Offred is hopeful she escapes Jezebel's, it's more likely Moira doesn't make it, although her story is left open-ended.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Moira prefers her life at Jezebel's because alcohol is available and lesbian sex is rather encouraged, whereas in the rest of Gilead, it's a hanging offense.
* BuryYourGays: While Offred is hopeful she escapes Jezebel's, it's more likely Moira doesn't make it, although her story is left open-ended.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Moira prefers her life at Jezebel's because alcohol is available and lesbian sex is rather encouraged, whereas in the rest of Gilead, it's a hanging offense.
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->'''Played By''': Elisabeth Moss
->'''Played By''': Joseph Fiennes
->'''Played By''': Yvonne Strahovski
->'''Played By''': Alexis Bledel
->'''Played By''': Max Minghella
->'''Played By''': Madeline Brewer
->'''Played By''': Samira Wiley
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[[folder: Rita and Cora]]
The Marthas who work as house servants in the Commander's home.
The Marthas who work as house servants in the Commander's home.
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[[folder: Rita and Cora]]
The MarthasRita]]
->'''Played By''': Amanda Brugel
A Martha whowork works as house servants a domestic servant in the Commander's home.
The Marthas
->'''Played By''': Amanda Brugel
A Martha who
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* HappinessInSlavery: Both women seem fairly content in their role as unpaid housekeepers.
* ThoseTwoGuys: They're rarely apart, and Offred comments how ordinary the objects in their lives (like dish towels) seem, despite the strangeness of Gilead's new, forced culture.
* ThoseTwoGuys: They're rarely apart, and Offred comments how ordinary the objects in their lives (like dish towels) seem, despite the strangeness of Gilead's new, forced culture.
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* ThoseTwoGuys: They're rarely apart,
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->'''Played By''': Ann Dowd
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->'''Played By''': O-T Fagbenle
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* SparedByAdaptation: In the book, Offred does not know whether he is dead or alive. On the show, he is shown alive, [[spoiler: having successfully made it to Canada.]]
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* IronicName: Given how she handles her forced retirement as the wife of the Commander. In the academic analysis section in the book's prologue, it's noted this could be a TakeThat toward figures such as Tammy Faye Bakker and Phyllis Schlafly.
to:
* IronicName: Given how she handles her forced retirement as the wife of the Commander. In the academic analysis section in the book's prologue, it's noted this could be a TakeThat toward figures such as Tammy Faye Bakker and Phyllis Schlafly.
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* NoNameGiven: Though it's hinted to be June, Offred isn't given an
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* NoNameGiven: Though it's NamedByTheAdaptation: In the novel, her name is heavily hinted to be June, Offred isn't given anJune and in the series, it is confirmed.
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* MadeASlave
* AdaptationalSexuality: Is a lesbian in the series; her sexuality is not stated in the book.
* MadeASlave
* NamedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Emily.]]
* NamedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Emily.]]
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* SparedByAdaptation: In the series, she lives, but suffers AFateWorseThanDeath.
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* SparedByAdaptation: In the series, book she lives, hangs herself, but in the series she suffers AFateWorseThanDeath.
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* MadeASlave
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* YouthfulFreckles: While Moira is an adult, her freckles denote her place as a PluckyGirl.
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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Offred]]
The main protagonist.
----
* BabyFactory: What she is reduced to in her role as the Handmaid.
* DubNameChange: Called "Defred" in France and Spain, "Difred" in Italy and "Desfred" in Germany.
* HappilyMarried: To her husband Luke before Gilead took over and she was separated from him.
* NoNameGiven: Though it's hinted to be June, Offred isn't given an
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Commander]]
Commander Fred Waterford is the head of the household for whom Offred serves as their breeding slave.
----
* EvilIsSterile: The reason for shooting Congress, shredding the Constitution, and taking women into sexual slavery.
* MeaningfulName: "Frederick" is German for "victorious."
* PetTheDog: His treatment of Offred during the times he isn't performing the Ceremony with her.
* SexlessMarriage: Suggested between himself and his wife Serena due to their inability to have a child. It's also suggested that the Commander may be sterile, though Gileadean doctrine forbids men to be mentioned as sterile and instead puts the blame on the woman.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Serena Joy]]
A former televangelist, she becomes the wife of the Commander due to the new laws of Gilead preventing women from having self-sustaining employable work.
----
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: She wanted a society where women's place was in the home. Now that's been achieved, she's going crazy for lack of anything to do; she's not allowed to read or write and there's nothing to occupy her time besides desperately hoping and preparing for a baby that may never come.
* FemaleMisogynist: Given her treatment of Offred and her religious view of women in general.
* IronicName: Given how she handles her forced retirement as the wife of the Commander. In the academic analysis section in the book's prologue, it's noted this could be a TakeThat toward figures such as Tammy Faye Bakker and Phyllis Schlafly.
* SexlessMarriage: Suggested between herself and her husband due to their inability to have a child.
* StayInTheKitchen: What she believes women were meant to do, besides also being stay-at-home mothers.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ofglen]]
A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with. She's also the second of three women to carry this title.
----
* BabyFactory: Same situation as Offred.
* ReplacementGoldfish: The second Ofglen.
* SparedByAdaptation: In the series, she lives, but suffers AFateWorseThanDeath.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nick]]
A driver who works for The Commander and Serena Joy.
----
* BadassDriver: In addition to driving for the Commander, Nick is also a spy.
* CoolCar: Nick lovingly polishes the Behemoth, while Offred notes that "the way men caress good cars" hasn't changed.
* DoubleAgent: He's working for Gilead as an Eye, and LaResistance .
* FriendsWithBenefits: In the novel, both Offred and Nick promise each other "no strings," but it doesn't work out like that.
* RaceLift: Is played by the multiracial actor Max Minghella in the series.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Janine/Ofwarren]]
A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with.
----
* BabyFactory: Same situation as Offred.
* EyeScream: In the series, she loses an eye.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Moira]]
A lesbian and friend of Offred that she was neighbors with prior to Gilead.
----
* AgonyOfTheFeet: One of Moira's punishments for running away is to have her hands and feet whipped into pulp. In the series [[spoiler: this fate befalls Offred for helping her escape]].
* BlackBestFriend: In the series but not the book, although it's downplayed.
* BrokenPedestal: What she becomes when Offred meets her at Jezebel's.
* BuryYourGays: While Offred is hopeful she escapes Jezebel's, it's more likely Moira doesn't make it, although her story is left open-ended.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Moira prefers her life at Jezebel's because alcohol is available and lesbian sex is rather encouraged, whereas in the rest of Gilead, it's a hanging offense.
* RaceLift: Gilead is a white supremacist society in the book, but this element is left out of the television series, where she's played by Creator/SamiraWiley.
* StrawFeminist: In both the book and the series, Moira seems to think men are the problem.
* YouthfulFreckles: While Moira is an adult, her freckles denote her place as a PluckyGirl.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Rita and Cora]]
The Marthas who work as house servants in the Commander's home.
----
* HappinessInSlavery: Both women seem fairly content in their role as unpaid housekeepers.
* ThoseTwoGuys: They're rarely apart, and Offred comments how ordinary the objects in their lives (like dish towels) seem, despite the strangeness of Gilead's new, forced culture.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Aunt Lydia]]
The brown-garbed head of the Red Centre. There are several Aunts who train the Handmaids, but Aunt Lydia is one of the worst.
----
* DisproportionateRetribution: Gives Offred a black eye and tasers her for quoting the second half of the same Bible verse she just quoted. Has Janine's eye removed when Janine lips off at her. Oh yeah...and delivers the news to Ofglen [[spoiler: that she's been punished with a clitoridectomy]].
* DrillSergeantNasty: She carries a cattle prod, and seems to take delight in torturing her charges.
* PetTheDog: She feels badly that [[spoiler:Serena Joy forces the physically deformed Handmaids away from the party that they were promised, and she offers to bring Janine a tray of desserts when the latter breaks down over it.]]
* PsychoticSmirk: Responds with an absolutely ''chilling'' one to Janine, after the latter sasses her. And then she has the poor thing [[spoiler: carted off to have her eye ripped out]].
* SlutShaming: Does this to both Janine and Offred as part of their "training."
* TookALevelInBadass: The book Lydia was stern, but Ann Dowd's portrayal in the series is ''terrifying''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Luke]]
The husband of Offred.
----
* RaceLift: Is African-American in the series.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Offred]]
The main protagonist.
----
* BabyFactory: What she is reduced to in her role as the Handmaid.
* DubNameChange: Called "Defred" in France and Spain, "Difred" in Italy and "Desfred" in Germany.
* HappilyMarried: To her husband Luke before Gilead took over and she was separated from him.
* NoNameGiven: Though it's hinted to be June, Offred isn't given an
[[/folder]]
[[folder:The Commander]]
Commander Fred Waterford is the head of the household for whom Offred serves as their breeding slave.
----
* EvilIsSterile: The reason for shooting Congress, shredding the Constitution, and taking women into sexual slavery.
* MeaningfulName: "Frederick" is German for "victorious."
* PetTheDog: His treatment of Offred during the times he isn't performing the Ceremony with her.
* SexlessMarriage: Suggested between himself and his wife Serena due to their inability to have a child. It's also suggested that the Commander may be sterile, though Gileadean doctrine forbids men to be mentioned as sterile and instead puts the blame on the woman.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Serena Joy]]
A former televangelist, she becomes the wife of the Commander due to the new laws of Gilead preventing women from having self-sustaining employable work.
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* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: She wanted a society where women's place was in the home. Now that's been achieved, she's going crazy for lack of anything to do; she's not allowed to read or write and there's nothing to occupy her time besides desperately hoping and preparing for a baby that may never come.
* FemaleMisogynist: Given her treatment of Offred and her religious view of women in general.
* IronicName: Given how she handles her forced retirement as the wife of the Commander. In the academic analysis section in the book's prologue, it's noted this could be a TakeThat toward figures such as Tammy Faye Bakker and Phyllis Schlafly.
* SexlessMarriage: Suggested between herself and her husband due to their inability to have a child.
* StayInTheKitchen: What she believes women were meant to do, besides also being stay-at-home mothers.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Ofglen]]
A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with. She's also the second of three women to carry this title.
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* BabyFactory: Same situation as Offred.
* ReplacementGoldfish: The second Ofglen.
* SparedByAdaptation: In the series, she lives, but suffers AFateWorseThanDeath.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Nick]]
A driver who works for The Commander and Serena Joy.
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* BadassDriver: In addition to driving for the Commander, Nick is also a spy.
* CoolCar: Nick lovingly polishes the Behemoth, while Offred notes that "the way men caress good cars" hasn't changed.
* DoubleAgent: He's working for Gilead as an Eye, and LaResistance .
* FriendsWithBenefits: In the novel, both Offred and Nick promise each other "no strings," but it doesn't work out like that.
* RaceLift: Is played by the multiracial actor Max Minghella in the series.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Janine/Ofwarren]]
A fellow Handmaid whom Offred associates with.
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* BabyFactory: Same situation as Offred.
* EyeScream: In the series, she loses an eye.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Moira]]
A lesbian and friend of Offred that she was neighbors with prior to Gilead.
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* AgonyOfTheFeet: One of Moira's punishments for running away is to have her hands and feet whipped into pulp. In the series [[spoiler: this fate befalls Offred for helping her escape]].
* BlackBestFriend: In the series but not the book, although it's downplayed.
* BrokenPedestal: What she becomes when Offred meets her at Jezebel's.
* BuryYourGays: While Offred is hopeful she escapes Jezebel's, it's more likely Moira doesn't make it, although her story is left open-ended.
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Moira prefers her life at Jezebel's because alcohol is available and lesbian sex is rather encouraged, whereas in the rest of Gilead, it's a hanging offense.
* RaceLift: Gilead is a white supremacist society in the book, but this element is left out of the television series, where she's played by Creator/SamiraWiley.
* StrawFeminist: In both the book and the series, Moira seems to think men are the problem.
* YouthfulFreckles: While Moira is an adult, her freckles denote her place as a PluckyGirl.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Rita and Cora]]
The Marthas who work as house servants in the Commander's home.
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* HappinessInSlavery: Both women seem fairly content in their role as unpaid housekeepers.
* ThoseTwoGuys: They're rarely apart, and Offred comments how ordinary the objects in their lives (like dish towels) seem, despite the strangeness of Gilead's new, forced culture.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Aunt Lydia]]
The brown-garbed head of the Red Centre. There are several Aunts who train the Handmaids, but Aunt Lydia is one of the worst.
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* DisproportionateRetribution: Gives Offred a black eye and tasers her for quoting the second half of the same Bible verse she just quoted. Has Janine's eye removed when Janine lips off at her. Oh yeah...and delivers the news to Ofglen [[spoiler: that she's been punished with a clitoridectomy]].
* DrillSergeantNasty: She carries a cattle prod, and seems to take delight in torturing her charges.
* PetTheDog: She feels badly that [[spoiler:Serena Joy forces the physically deformed Handmaids away from the party that they were promised, and she offers to bring Janine a tray of desserts when the latter breaks down over it.]]
* PsychoticSmirk: Responds with an absolutely ''chilling'' one to Janine, after the latter sasses her. And then she has the poor thing [[spoiler: carted off to have her eye ripped out]].
* SlutShaming: Does this to both Janine and Offred as part of their "training."
* TookALevelInBadass: The book Lydia was stern, but Ann Dowd's portrayal in the series is ''terrifying''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Luke]]
The husband of Offred.
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* RaceLift: Is African-American in the series.
[[/folder]]
