In "The Handmaid's Tale", what does the color red symbolize?

In "The Handmaid's Tale," the color red symbolizes a complex interplay of fertility and oppression. The Handmaids wear red as a representation of their roles as childbearers in a dystopian society where women's primary function is to reproduce. The red color echoes historical associations with fertility, often linked to the menstrual cycle and childbirth, thus highlighting the characters' biological purpose within the oppressive regime of Gilead.

Simultaneously, red also conveys a sense of oppression and violence. The vivid color starkly contrasts with the muted tones of the other classes in Gilead, marking the Handmaids as subjugated individuals stripped of their rights and autonomy. The color serves as a reminder of the societal control over their bodies and the painful reality of their existence, emphasizing the duality of their role as both vessels of life and victims of a tyrannical system.

This symbolism intricately weaves together themes of reproduction, power dynamics, and the emotional weight of being forced into a singular identity, epitomizing the central conflicts experienced by the characters in the narrative.