The Handmaid's Tale Characters: Complete Analysis
The Handmaid's Tale features complex characters representing different aspects of society, each embodying themes of the novel.
Offred is our narrator, a Handmaid whose only value is her working ovaries. The Commander is the high-ranking official she's assigned to for procreation. Serena Joy is the Commander's bitter wife who was once a TV personality advocating for traditional values—now she's trapped in them. Moira is Offred's rebellious friend from before. Nick is the Commander's driver who becomes Offred's lover. Aunt Lydia trains Handmaids through brutal indoctrination.