In the dystopian society of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale, women are divided into different castes based on their perceived usefulness to the state. The two main female castes featured are the Handmaids, who are assigned to bear children for the ruling classes, and the Marthas, who serve as domestic servants in the homes of Commanders and their families.
What are Handmaids?
Handmaids are fertile women who have been forced into sexual servitude to bear children for the powerful and elite members of society known as Commanders. Their role is considered prestigious and essential for preserving the future of Gilead, but they have little agency or power within the societal hierarchy. Once women become Handmaids, they lose their previous identities – even their names – and are renamed “Of[Commander’s name]”, after the men they serve.
Handmaids wear long red dresses and white bonnets to signify their caste and fertility status. Their lives are strictly regimented, with little freedom. They undergo monthly fertility rituals and attend re-education at the Rachel and Leah Center. Any resistance or disobedience is harshly punished. Handmaids are not allowed to read, write, or socialize freely. Overall, they lead extremely controlled and restricted lives, valued only for their reproductive capabilities.
Key Points About Handmaids
- Fertile women assigned to bear children for elite Commanders
- Stripped of previous identities and renamed “Of[Commander’s name]”
- Wear red dresses and white bonnets as status symbols
- Live highly controlled, restricted lives with little freedom
- Undergo harsh punishments for disobedience or resistance
- Not allowed to read, write, socialize freely
- Valued only for reproductive capabilities
What are Marthas?
Marthas are infertile women who serve as domestic servants and caretakers in the households of Commanders. They are responsible for cooking, cleaning, shopping, and generally maintaining the household. Marthas wear drab green dresses to signify their status. While they have more freedom than Handmaids to move about, read, write, and socialize, their lives are also strictly controlled.
Marthas must be obedient and loyal to the state and are forbidden from marrying or having romantic relationships. They are often recruited from working class backgrounds. Although they have a relatively safe domestic role, Marthas can also face harsh punishment or banishment to the Colonies if they break rules or fail to perform their duties adequately.
Key Points About Marthas
- Infertile women who serve as domestic servants/caretakers
- Responsible for household chores like cooking, cleaning, shopping
- Wear green dresses to denote status
- Have more freedom than Handmaids but lives still restricted
- Recruited from working class backgrounds
- Forbidden to marry or have relationships
- Must be obedient to the state or face punishment
Comparison of Roles and Status
While Marthas technically have greater freedom of movement and privileges than Handmaids, Handmaids are considered more prestigious and vital to society due to their ability to reproduce. Handmaids are essentially treated as “public property” and ceremonial figures, whereas Marthas are more confined to the private sphere.
| Attribute | Handmaids | Marthas |
|---|---|---|
| Main Role | Bearing children for Commanders | Domestic service in Commander’s household |
| Uniform | Long red dress and white bonnet | Green dress |
| Freedom of Movement | Very restricted | More freedom, but still limited |
| Punishments | Harsh, for any disobedience | Harsh, but less severe than for Handmaids |
| Recruitment | Fertile women | Infertile women from working class |
| Prestige & Status | Highly prestigious and valued | Lower status domestic servants |
| Perceived Importance | Critical for reproduction | Useful servants but seen as expendable |
As this comparison shows, while Marthas have slightly more latitude in their daily lives, Handmaids are ultimately afforded higher status and value in Gilead’s society due to their reproductive role. Their ability to bear children for the elite grants them a protected, prestigious position, even as their agency is severely constrained. Marthas are relegated to manual domestic labor and seen as more expendable and interchangeable.
Evidence Handmaids Are Higher Status
Several key pieces of evidence from The Handmaid’s Tale demonstrate that Handmaids are placed higher than Marthas within Gilead’s caste system:
Ceremonial vs. Domestic Roles
Handmaids serve public, ceremonial functions like breeding, birthing, and appearing at social gatherings. Marthas have purely domestic roles confined to households.
Strict Rules and Isolation
The many strict rules and extreme isolation imposed on Handmaids show how valuable they are considered. Marthas have more freedom of association and movement.
Prestigious Home Postings
Handmaids are assigned to elite Commanders’ homes as status symbols. Marthas merely work in those households, unrecognized.
Punishments for Non-Compliance
Punishments like beatings, maiming, and death are given to Handmaids who resist or fail to bear children. Marthas face less severe consequences.
Use of “Of” Names
Handmaids losing their names and identities to be called “Of[Commander]” indicates their high value. Marthas keep original names.
Conclusion
Although Marthas have marginally more autonomy than Handmaids, Handmaids are clearly afforded higher social status and value in Gilead for their critical reproductive role. Their restriction, isolation, prestige postings, severe punishments, and erasure of identity all point to their importance and high ranking within the caste system, above the more expendable domestic labors of Marthas. Handmaids’ ability to bear children grants them protection, ceremonies, and identity – even as it severely constraints their freedom and agency as individuals.