The Handmaid's Uniform
Concentration
camps under the Nazi Germany regime had similar regulations about uniform as
Gilead. “On
arrival at concentration camps prisoners had their clothing taken away, often
to be replaced by a striped uniform (now known as striped pyjamas). Men would
wear a vest, trousers, hat and coat. Women would be supplied a smock type
dress.” Read more
Likewise, all people in the Handmaid’s
Tale (Handmaids, Commanders, Commanders Wives, Ecnowives, Marthas, and
Guardians) wear a uniform. Their clothes from the time before are disallowed.“Prisoners were identified by a number printed on
their clothing and also an inverted triangle with lettering to signify the
reason for imprisonment. Criminals were marked with a green triangle, political
prisoners with red, homosexuals with pink, whilst Jehovah’s
Witnesses wore a purple
triangle and asocials (including Roma) wore a black triangle.” Read moreInterestingly, these are all people who Gilead punishes - or just executes. The various reasons for executions are clearly displayed on the bodies hanging on the Wall, like the markings on the concentration camp uniforms.
Atwood also uses colour to
distinguish between the different roles in Gilead; Handmaids have red dresses,
Commanders’ Wives have blue, Marthas wear green dresses, Ecnowives wear dresses
with red, green and blue stripes. The Commanders are issued black uniforms. The characters in Gilead are all similarly trapped or imprisoned, with their uniform displaying why they are there. The Guardians and Angels in Gilead, also have to wear uniforms, like the SS men in concentration camps.
“Clothes would be changed approximately every six
weeks. As prisoners would have to work and sleep in the same clothes, they
would be very dirty.” Read more
Although Gilead encourages more
hygiene than Nazi concentration camps, the principle that clean clothes are
only issued at a set time remain the same. Atwood describes how Offred is
allowed to wear her summer dresses around July time, and her winter dresses are
put back into storage.
Additionally, nuns also cover their hair like the Handmaid's in order to de-sexualise their appearance.