Connotations of the Colours

The Handmaids Red, the colour of love, power, blood, aggression, violence and most importantly forbidden. The Handmaid’s are ‘dripped’ in this colour and are also symbolic of its connotations.

Violence In the novel the Handmaid’s are a subject of violence. The Handmaids are allowed to be beaten by the commanders wives. The jealousy of the commanders wives enrages them and often Handmaids are killed. The Gileadean society keeps a control on the Handmaids and Commanders Wives by causing segregation through violence. They execute criminals in the particicution by beating them to death. By allowing the Handmaids this outlet of anger and aggression the Gileadean government are able to retain control. "The crimes of others are a secret language among us. Through them we show ourselves what we might be capable of, after all. This is not a popular announcement." "That was one of the things they do. They force you to kill, within yourself."

Blood Blood in the Gilleadean society is what makes the Handmaids so valuable and defines who they are in the commune. Blood is what signifies they are still fertile and able to produce. It is what defines them so completely. Without it they belong in the colonies. Without it they are nothing. The connotation of blood also emphasis the violence in the Handmaids life. It highlights how close the Handmaid’s lives are to violence and death. “Blessed be the fruit” "I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely."

Power In the novel the Handmaids hold all the power though they are unaware of it. Fertility is what makes the Handmaids so precious and essentially powerful. Without them the whole society of Gilead would collapse. The rulers of Gilead are aware of this and they try to suppress the handmaids by using violence as suggested on previous page. "Moira had power now, she'd been set loose, she'd set herself loose. She was now a loose woman."

Forbidden The Handmaids in the tale are the apple in the garden of Eden. No man can have them apart from the Commander. They are forbidden and this makes both Men and Women desperate in the novel. As shown with the Commander and Offred who go to extreme lengths to commit a crime such as scrabble which is most defiantly forbidden. By making the Handmaids forbidden they have less power and therefor are suppressed. The Handmaid’s are constantly being punished for Eve’s mistake of eating the forbidden fruit. "And Adam was not deceived, but the women being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved by childbearing."

Effect By using the connotations of Red such as violence, blood, power and forbidden the Handmaids are segregated from all other women and even themselves as they are unaware of who they can trust. The colour red, decided by the government of Gillead, defines who they are and reinforces the violent blood that is often aimed at the Handmaid’s. It helps emphasis the hatred felt toward the Handmaids and helps isolate them.

Martha’s Green the colour of jealousy, envy, cleanliness and recycled are all connotations of the colour and each relate to the Martha’s in the novel. "They are very interested in how other households are run; such bits of petty gossip give them an opportunity for pride or discontent."

Jealousy The Martha’s in the text envy the Handmaids. Alike to Martha in the bible, who was sister of Mary Magdalene, they also envy their ‘sister’ the Handmaid’s. ‘Green eyed monster’. In the novel the Martha’s are never particularly nice to the Handmaid’s as they are jealous of their fertility and how they do not have to complete any work apart from the ceremony once a month. This jealousy is a tool the government of Gilead use to retain control over the handmaids. By isolating the handmaids from all other women the handmaids have no power and the government stay in control.

Cleanliness The Martha’s main purpose as alike to Martha in the Bible is to clean and cook while her ‘sister’ goes listens to Jesus. Similar to the Bible the Handmaid’s and Commanders Wives (the ‘sister’) do as they please and have no obligation to do house work. In the novel Martha’s do all the cooking and cleaning so the colour green defines them and their purpose in life. It segregates them from the other women in the novel.

Recycled The colour green is also associated with recycling and this is essentially what the Martha’s are. They are women that have never committed ‘crimes’ in God’s eyes. They are no longer fertile and are used up. However they cannot be punished by being sent to the colonies so, the Commanders have found a very efficient use for them which is cleaning. A traditional woman’s job. By defining them as used up, by the colour green, the Martha’s have lost respect from others and therefore have to find comfort within each other.

Effect By using the colour green it highlights how the Martha’s in the novel are jealous, used to clean and recycled. It defines and categorises them which brings along with it stereo types. This is a technique used by the government of Gillead to define who they are and segregate them from other women in the novel.

The Commander’s Wives Blue, the colour of strength, power, kindness, calmness and serenity. The connotations of the colour are ironic as the commander’s wives are hardly ever kind. However the connotations are ment to provide a powerful figure for Handmaid’s to respect.

Strength and Power In the society of Gilead the Commander’s wives are in control of the Handmaid’s. There is a sense of authority surrounding them. However there is a certain feel of irony as the Commander’s wives have no real duty or purpose in Gilead and with that comes no power. However in the household, she runs the show. This is a tool used by the government of Gilead. Provide the Commander’s wives with a purpose, which is controlling the handmaid’s, and essentially killing two birds with one stone. The Handmaid’s are controlled and the Commander’s Wives have a purpose.

Calm and Kind Both connotations of the colour are slightly ironic as the Commander’s Wives are never nice to the Handmaid’s and are even driven to kill them which is certainly not calm. This connotation is mostly for the Handmaid’s purpose as the ruler’s of Gilead want the Handmaid’s to feel close and comfortable around the Commander’s Wives so they can be controlled. This colour also highlights the Virgin Mary that is ment to be shown through the Commander’s Wives. It gives a sense of love and trust which can also manipulate the Handmaid’s. "She doesn't make speeches anymore. She has become speechless. She stays in her home, but it doesn't seem to agree with her. How furious she must be now that she has been taken at her word."

Effect The connotations of strength, power, calmness and kindness creates a subconscious brainwashing illusion. It creates a false sense of trust which is then manipulated to control. The colour blue, representing the Commander’s Wives, is a subtle technique which help’s control the Handmaid’s. However sense many of these connotations are ironic there is still segregation between Commander’s Wives and other women.

Aunts Brown warm and comforting. This colour is used purposely by the government to create a false sense of security. It’s connotations are used to brainwash and persuade. "Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison."

Effect Although an illusion is created, the Handmaid’s and other women are still segregated from the aunt’s. The Aunt’s can read and write. They are allowed weapons and are the women with authority. These things segregate the women from eachother.

Segregation By defining each group and categorising them with colours, natural things such as stereotypes and prejudices start to form toward each group. Each category dislikes the other. They have something better, or the have authority. In the society of Gilead everyone is divided and this technique used by the government is effective in retaining control and power over the citizens.