Aunt Lydia
Aunt Lydia is the most powerful Aunt in Gilead, the leader of Ardua Hall, one of the Founders, and one of the novel’s three narrators. Although Lydia seems to be the archetype of power…
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Agnes Jemima / Aunt Victoria
Agnes is Nicole’s half-sister, the adopted daughter of an elite family in Gilead, and one of the three narrators. Agnes grows up as the legal daughter of Commander Kyle and his wife Tabitha…
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Nicole / Daisy / Jade
Nicole is Agnes’s half-sister, the grown version of Baby Nicole, and the third narrator. After being smuggled out of Gilead as an infant, Nicole grows up in Canada believing that her name is…
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Becka / Aunt Immortelle
Becka is Agnes’s friend and Dr. Grove’s daughter. Becka grows up with Agnes, attending the same elite schools. However, the two do not grow close until they are entering puberty, bonding over their…
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Commander Judd
Commander Judd is the leader of the Eyes and one of the Sons of Jacob, the original men who initiated the coup that gave rise to Gilead. As one of the most powerful men…
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Aunt Vidala
Aunt Vidala is the second most powerful Aunt in Gilead, one of the Founders, and Lydia’s chief rival among them. Unlike Judd, who has a complex relationship with Lydia, Vidala is purely…
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Aunt Helena
Aunt Helena is one of the Founders, and she was arrested and coerced into developing Gilead at the same time as Aunt Lydia. Although Aunt Helena holds power as a Founder and appears…
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Aunt Elizabeth
Aunt Elizabeth is one of the Founders, and she was arrested and coerced into developing Gilead at the same time as Aunt Lydia. Aunt Elizabeth is not as powerful or assertive as either…
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Paula
Paula is Agnes’s stepmother, whom Commander Kyle marries after Tabitha dies. Paula and Agnes immediately despise each other, and Paula takes this hatred out on Agnes in insidious ways, such as sending her alone…
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Commander Kyle
Commander Kyle is Agnes’s legal father, though they are of no biological relation. Commander Kyle is an important political figure in Gilead who is often busy and has no relationship with Agnes whatsoever—as she…
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Handmaid Ofkyle / Crystal
Ofkyle is Commander Kyle’s Handmaid, whom he procures after marrying Paula, who is infertile. Ofkyle is the only Handmaid actually depicted in the story. Everyone in Commander Kyle’s household ignores Ofkyle until…
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Ada
Ada is a friend of Melanie’s who becomes Nicole’s guardian after Gilead operatives murder Neil and Melanie. Throughout her childhood, Nicole sees Ada but does not know her, and finds her strange and…
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Shunammite
Shunammite is one of Agnes’s classmates in primary school. Shunammite claims to be Agnes’s friend, but appears to only cozy up to her because of the ways in which it benefits her. Shunammite is…
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Tabitha
Tabitha is Agnes’s legal mother who dies when Agnes is young, apparently due to illness, though it’s later implied that her husband Commander Kyle murdered her. Although Agnes initially believes that Tabitha is her…
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Dr. Grove
Dr. Grove is Becka’s father and a highly regarded dentist who serves various commanders. Dr. Grove is a pedophile who sexually abuses Becka from the age of four and also abuses Agnes when she…
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Aunt Estée
Aunt Estée is one of the main teachers at Agnes’s school in Gilead, often teaching alongside Aunt Vidala. Where Aunt Vidala is strict, fierce, and seems to enjoy scaring Agnes and her classmates…
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George
George is a street person whom Nicole often sees hanging around her parents’ store, The Clothes Hound. Nicole thinks he is creepy and suspects him of being some kind of pervert, but after she goes…
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Elijah
Elijah is a friend of Ada’s and a Mayday operative who helps Ada and Nicole hide while they are on the run from Gilead agents. Elijah reveals to Nicole that she is not Neil…
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Garth
Garth is a man in his mid-20s, a Mayday operative who helps shelter Ada and Nicole while they are hiding from Gilead’s operatives. While Garth is teaching Nicole how to keep fit and to fight…
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Neil
Neil is Nicole’s supposed father when she still believes her name is Daisy, though he is truly a Mayday operative tasked with raising Nicole alongside Melanie. Neil co-owns the second-hand clothing store, The…
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Melanie
Melanie is Nicole’s supposed mother when she still believes her name is Daisy, though she is truly a Mayday operative tasked with raising Nicole alongside Neil. Melanie co-owns the second-hand clothing store The…
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Anita
Anita is one of Lydia’s former colleagues from the days before Gilead was established, when they were both judges. When the Sons of Jacob overthrow the United States Congress, Lydia and Anita are taken…
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James Darcy Pieixoto
James Pieixoto is a historian and professor who speaks at a symposium on Gilead history in 2197. The transcript of Pieixoto’s speech confirms that Gilead did fall in the years after Aunt Lydia’s document…
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Minor Characters
Aunt Lise
Aunt Lise is a teacher at the premarital preparatory school that Agnes, Shunammite, and Becka attend. Aunt Lise is supervising the girls’ flower-cutting when Becka slashes her wrist with the scissors.
Captain Mishimengo
Captain Mishimengo is the captain of the smuggling vessel The Nellie J. Banks, which ferries Agnes and Nicole downriver and out to sea, sending them towards freedom in Canada.
Aunt Gabbana
Aunt Gabbana is a wedding planner and arranger of marriages who organizes Agnes’s engagement to Commander Judd.
Martha Rosa
Martha Rosa is one of the three Marthas assigned to Commander Kyle’s house.
Martha Vera
Martha Vera is one of the three Marthas assigned to Commander Kyle’s house.
Martha Zilla
Martha Zilla is one of the three Marthas assigned to Commander Kyle’s house. Zilla is the kindest of the Marthas, and Agnes likes her the best as a young girl.
Aunt Beatrice
Aunt Beatrice is one of the Pearl Girls who picks up Nicole and escorts her into Gilead as a convert.
Aunt Dove
Aunt Dove is one of the Pearl Girls who picks up Nicole. While Aunt Beatrice takes Nicole back to Gilead, Aunt Dove remains in Canada so that Nicole can pose as her to get through customs, and thus they can avoid any Canadian charges of human trafficking.
Aunt Adrianna
Aunt Adrianna is a Pearl Girl working for Aunt Lydia and Mayday. Aunt Adrianna tries to kill Aunt Sally to prevent her from reporting to the Gilead Embassy in Toronto that they’ve located Nicole, but Aunt Sally kills her instead.
Aunt Sally
Aunt Sally is a Pearl Girl who spots Nicole in Toronto. However, when she tries to report this to the Gilead Embassy, Aunt Adrianna tries to kill her. Sally overpowers Adrianna and kills her instead, to her own horror.
