Rita

Lore & Background

Rita's tenure is marked by the typical tension and fear that permeate every Handmaid's life. She navigates the dangerous social dynamics between her Commander, his Wife, the Aunts, and other Handmaids. Her story often intersects with June's journey, providing a grim mirror to what could happen to any woman in Gilead who fails to produce an heir or falls out of favor. The regime ensures that failure is met with severe consequences, often leading to exile or execution.

Reader's Guide

Rita's real name remains unknown, a testament to Gilead's erasure of individual identity before rebirth. She holds the title of Handmaid and is assigned to an unnamed Commander, likely one who is politically connected but struggling with lineage issues. Her key relationship is defined by her subjugation to both her Commander and his Wife, though she shares a silent camaraderie with other Handmaids like June. Her major plot arc involves the high-stakes pressure of the Ceremony and the terrifying uncertainty of pregnancy within Gilead. Ultimately, Rita's fate is tragic and abrupt. In the television series, she is revealed to have been executed, likely due to infertility or a perceived transgression, serving as a stark warning to other Handmaids about the consequences of failure in this brutal society.

Did You Know?

• The novel The Handmaid's Tale was published in 1985 by Canadian author Margaret Atwood.
• The protagonist is named Offred, a patronymic constructed of 'of' and the first name of the head of her household.
• The novel won the 1985 Governor General's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987.
• Atwood has said the novel is a work of speculative fiction, not science fiction, and that she did not put in anything that has not already happened in real life.
• The epilogue is set in 2195 at an international historical association conference, where Offred's narrative is discussed as a transcript from audio cassettes.