Chapter summaries 1-24

Night

Chapter 1

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood opens with a flashback description of a gymnasium. The narrator, Offred, explains how they slept in camp beds there while women called “Aunts” watched over them with cattle prods. They fantasized of escaping and they learned to whisper silently, telling each other their names. 

Shopping

Chapter 2

The second chapter opens with a description of Offred’s room, which is simply furnished and contains nothing that could be used to harm herself. She gets up, gets dressed in a red outfit that completely covers her skin and hair, and goes down to the kitchen. She would like to talk to the cook Rita and the maid Cora, but they do not like her. Rita gives her tokens that can be exchanged for food in town. 

Chapter 3

Offred recalls arriving at the house five weeks previously. The Commander’s wife, whose name is Serena Joy, explained to Offred that she wants to see her as little as possible. Offred recognized her as a well-known television Gospel singer who was part of the Gilead revolution. 

Chapter 4

Offred walks out past one of the household’s Guardians, Nick, who is washing the car. He winks at her. On the corner of the street, she meets another handmaid, Ofglen. They have a short conversation and walk to the shops, passing checkpoints manned by Guardians. 

Chapter 5

Offred and Ofglen walk through a pretty neighborhood with large houses. It feels fake to Offred, who remembers walking there with Luke, her husband, before the revolution. Offred thinks about how she often used to feel u...

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