The Symbolism of Clothing in The Handmaid’s Tale: How Uniforms and Attire Reflect Identity and Power
The Symbolism of Clothing in The Handmaid’s Tale: How Uniforms and Attire Reflect Identity and Power
In The Handmaid’s Tale, clothing becomes a key symbol of identity, power, and control, with Atwood using uniforms and attire to represent the roles and subjugation of individuals within Gilead’s rigid societal structure. Through the distinctive clothing worn by various groups, Atwood highlights the ways in which appearance and attire are used to enforce power dynamics and reinforce social divisions.
The handmaids’ uniforms, consisting of red dresses and white bonnets, are perhaps the most recognizable symbol of oppression in Gilead. These uniforms strip the handmaids of their individuality, making them visually indistinguishable from one another and reducing them to their function as reproductive vessels. The red of the handmaids’ dresses symbolizes both fertility and sin, a complex association that reflects the regime’s use of religious ideology to justify the control of women’s bodies. The white bonnets, which obscure their faces, further reinforce the handmaids’ invisibility and lack of agency, as they are denied the ability to express themselves or be seen as individuals.
In contrast, the Wives’ attire is more dignified and less restrictive, signaling their higher social status. They wear blue dresses, symbolizing both their fertility and their connection to the higher echelons of Gilead’s hierarchy. However, even their clothing is a form of control—restrictive, ceremonial, and designed to reinforce the Wives’ roles within the patriarchal system. The Marthas, who are tasked with domestic duties, wear green, signaling their lower status and their functional role within Gilead’s social order.
In conclusion, clothing in The Handmaid’s Tale serves as a powerful symbol of control, identity, and power. Atwood uses attire to reflect the societal roles and hierarchies within Gilead, showing how clothing becomes a means of social control, stripping individuals of their humanity and reinforcing oppressive power structures. The novel’s use of clothing emphasizes the profound impact of societal expectations and how visual markers of identity can be used to subjugate and dehumanize.
