Handmaid’s Tale context

Question 1

Foreword dedications

Answer 1

Mary Webster

ancestor of Atwood’s puritan descendant, put on trial for witchcraft, found not guilty.

Perry Miller

professor of American Studies at Harvard Uni.
expert in Puritan history.

Question 2

Modesty Costumes

Answer 2

Commander’s wives in blue = symbolic of the Virgin Mary

Handmaid’s in red= symbolic of Mary Magdalene and blood.

prostitutes in Jezebels= evocative of playboy bunnies.

Question 3

Recorded stories

Answer 3

Idea of tapes of Offred’s story, hopes for future listener
“A story is like a letter. Dear you…I’ll say. Just you…without a name. You can mean thousands”

Eg. Samuel Pepys’ Great Fire of London.
Anne Franks’ Diary in Secret Annex.