Handmaid

Handmaids are not to speak with anyone who does not speak to them first. They should stay out of their Commanders' way as well as the Commanders' Wife. If they stumble upon these two important people, they are not to look at them or speak without permission. They do however speak freely with the Martha's, within reason. Offred has a lot of opinions on how the society is run and she is curious to learn, however the system will not let her learn any new knowledge. "It's the only thing they have given me to read. If I were caught doing it, would it count?" This shows they are not allowed to read, they don't need to count anything, they cannot read news papers etc. The goal is to keep them in the dark about how it really looks like in thie horrific society they live in. 

The Handmaid's role is to reproduce as well as going shopping for the Martha's. These are very limited chourse which means they end up having little to do. Offred goes on a hunt in her room to find anything which could be interesting. Another day she sits on the window seat and look out the window to see all which happens outside. As you can see, it is a role which requires little job. However if a Handmaid fails to bare a child at her third home, she will be sent to die of radiation or hanged at the Wall. 

The dress of the Handmaid is plain and simple. It is red and long down to the ankles. It covers arms, legs and neck. For the neck they use "white wings" which is to prevent her from seeing anyone else's face and others from seeing hers. Her dress looks the same all year around, however in the summer they have a fresher fabric. The image and feel the dress gives Offred is "a Sister, dipped in blood" (pg. 19)