The story is told by Offred, a Handmaid forced to bear children for a powerful Commander and his Wife in the society of Gilead. She used to have a normal life, with a husband and child, but was separated from them when the new regime took over. The Commander holds political power and secretly breaks Gilead’s rules, while his Wife, Serena Joy, is bitter and controlling after losing her own freedom. Nick, a household worker, becomes Offred’s secret lover, and Moira, her rebellious friend from before Gilead, represents resistance and hope. Through these characters, the novel shows how people respond differently to oppression, some submit, some resist, and some try to survive quietly.
