Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are Handmaids?
What are Handmaids?
What do Wives accept concerning Handmaids?
What do Wives accept concerning Handmaids?
Their husbands' sexual relationships with Handmaids.
Aunts are responsible for training Handmaids.
Aunts are responsible for training Handmaids.
True
Marthas are older women who serve as ______.
Marthas are older women who serve as ______.
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Which of the following wear green?
Which of the following wear green?
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What color do Daughters wear until they marry?
What color do Daughters wear until they marry?
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Econowives wear a combination of red, blue, and brown.
Econowives wear a combination of red, blue, and brown.
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Who are Jezebels?
Who are Jezebels?
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What is the fate of Unwomen?
What is the fate of Unwomen?
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Who are the Commanders of the Faithful?
Who are the Commanders of the Faithful?
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Match the roles with their definitions:
Match the roles with their definitions:
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What happens during The Ceremony?
What happens during The Ceremony?
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What is the role of Angel Makers?
What is the role of Angel Makers?
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Gender Treachery refers to heterosexual relationships.
Gender Treachery refers to heterosexual relationships.
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The Wall is a place where executed people are left ______.
The Wall is a place where executed people are left ______.
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What is Prayvaganaza?
What is Prayvaganaza?
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What does Salvaging entail?
What does Salvaging entail?
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What is involved in testifying?
What is involved in testifying?
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What is the Underground Femaleroad?
What is the Underground Femaleroad?
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Who are the Children of Ham?
Who are the Children of Ham?
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What leads to the establishment of the regime?
What leads to the establishment of the regime?
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Study Notes
Caste System Overview
- Society defined by strict roles, particularly for women, under Gilead's theocratic regime.
- Hierarchy influences power dynamics and daily activities, with color-coded clothing indicating each role.
Handmaids
- Fertile women tasked with reproduction for Wives; wear red.
- Failure to conceive results in classification as Unwomen, leading to exile in the Colonies.
Wives
- The highest caste of women; married to Commanders who cannot have children.
- Acceptable for Commanders to engage with Handmaids to fulfill reproductive duties; wear blue.
Daughters
- Biological or adopted offspring of Wives; wear white until marriage.
- Represent a future generation within the regime's family structures.
Aunts
- Older, infertile women responsible for Handmaid training; wear brown.
- Only women granted permission to read and write; aim to prevent their own exile.
Marthas
- Housekeepers who no longer bear children; wear green.
- Manage domestic duties while reinforcing the regime’s household structures.
Econowives
- Wives of lower-ranking men, managing households and children; wear a mix of red, blue, and brown.
- Reflects a more equal role in childbearing compared to Wives.
Jezebels
- State-sanctioned prostitutes serving Commanders; wear illicit theatrical costumes.
- Participate in the black market of sexuality, often facing dire consequences.
Unwomen
- Lowest caste; sent to the toxic Colonies due to infertility or noncompliance.
- Represent societal failure, relegated to hazardous labor environments.
Commanders of the Faithful
- Male leaders with ultimate authority; entitled to father children with Handmaids.
- Represent the pinnacle of power within Gilead's established order.
Guardians
- Men providing security for Commanders and their households.
- Fulfill various roles within the social structure while maintaining surveillance.
The Angels
- Military members tasked with enforcing state power.
- Symbolize Gilead's militarism and control mechanisms.
The Eyes
- Government agency focusing on espionage and surveillance.
- Maintain societal control through fear and monitoring.
Red Center (Rachel and Leah Center)
- Facility where Handmaids undergo rigorous training and indoctrination.
- Central to maintaining Gilead's draconian reproductive policies.
The Colonies
- Contaminated zones designated for Unwomen and societal outcasts; participants wear gray.
- Serve as labor areas, emphasizing Gilead's disregard for human life.
The Ceremony
- A ritualized act of conception performed with the Commander and Handmaid; incorporates the Wife.
- Underlines the regime's control over female bodies and reproductive rights.
Angel Makers
- Physicians who previously performed abortions; executed by hanging.
- Symbolize the regime’s violent suppression of reproductive choice.
Gender Treachery
- Refers to homosexual individuals, punishable by execution; highlights Gilead's intolerance.
The Wall
- Display area for executed individuals, serving as a grim reminder of state power.
- Reflects Gilead’s judicial cruelty and intimidation tactics.
Prayvaganaza
- Ceremonial gatherings for men and women, often linked to group weddings.
- Reinforces church-like regulations governing personal life.
Salvaging
- Public executions showcasing the regime's authority and control.
- Used as a warning to deter dissent and maintain obedience.
Testifying
- Ceremony where Handmaids confess past sins; reinforces a culture of guilt.
- Acts as a mechanism for control and compliance among the Handmaids.
Particicution
- A communal execution event where multiple participants carry out the execution.
- Designed to foster unity and collective punishment within the group.
Underground Femaleroad
- An escape network, akin to the Underground Railroad, helping women flee Gilead.
- Aiding in clandestine journeys, often toward Canada.
Children of Ham
- A derogatory term for African American individuals within Gilead.
- Reflects the regime's racial biases and segregationist policies.
Children of Jacob
- A term used for Jewish people, indicating the regime's anti-Semitic stance.
Elements of the Regime
- Aims to overthrow the existing government and establish a theocracy.
- Enforces strict religious doctrines, banning all non-Christian practices and maintaining a rigid social hierarchy.
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Description
Explore the intricacies of the caste system in Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale'. This quiz features key terms and definitions that highlight the roles of Handmaids and Wives within the dystopian society. Enhance your understanding of the text through engaging flashcards.
