Symbolism of Red in Margaret Atwood’s Feminist Dystopian Novel ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

Author(s)	Ms. Subashree J, Dr. Maha S
Country	India
Abstract	Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale features a dystopian society where women’s bodies, identities, and freedoms are regulated by a rigid patriarchal theocracy due to the scarcity of fertile women. Among the novel’s recurring motifs and symbolisms, the colour red emerges as a reflection of reproductive politics and the control of female autonomy. This paper examines the significance of red in the narrative, arguing that the colour functions as both a visual marker of oppression and a layered symbol associated with fertility, sexuality, blood, and sin. Through close reading of key moments in the text, the paper explores how the colour becomes a site where themes of power, discipline, and gendered control converge. The study finds that red operates as a complex narrative device that exposes the mechanisms through which patriarchal authority regulates women’s bodies while also revealing subtle traces of resistance within the dystopian system. Ultimately, the symbolism of red strengthens Atwood’s critique of institutionalized gender oppression and reproductive control.
Keywords	Feminist dystopia, colour symbolism, reproductive control, patriarchy.
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-19
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.71845

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