Color Symbolism and Memory
Atwood masterfully employs color symbolism throughout "The Handmaid's Tale" to evoke memories and convey deeper meanings about the characters and their roles in Gilead society. The use of color serves as a powerful trigger for Offred's memories and helps to illustrate the stark divisions within the new social order.
Definition: Color symbolism - The use of colors to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
The color red, associated with the Handmaids, carries multiple layers of significance:
- Fertility and childbirth
- Passion and sexuality
- Warning and danger
- Criminality and sin
Quote: "Everything except the wings around my face is red: the colour of blood, which defines us."
This multifaceted symbolism of red reflects the complex and often contradictory role of Handmaids in Gilead society. They are simultaneously revered for their fertility and ostracized for their perceived moral failings.
In contrast, the blue worn by the Commanders' Wives carries its own symbolic weight:
Example: "Blue, for the commander's wife" symbolizes peace, purity, and a connection to the Virgin Mary, reinforcing the biblical aspects of the Gilead regime.
The stark color contrasts between the Handmaids' red and the Wives' blue serve as a constant visual reminder of the social hierarchy and the different roles assigned to women in this oppressive society. For Offred, these colors also evoke memories of a time before Gilead, when such distinctions did not exist and women had more freedom in their choice of clothing and social roles.
Highlight: The use of color symbolism in "The Handmaid's Tale" not only enhances the visual imagery of the novel but also serves as a powerful tool for triggering memories and emphasizing the themes of oppression and resistance.
