The Testaments Terms

Aunts are an elite class of women who work primarily in administrative roles in Gilead. The Aunts are unique among Gilead in that they are the only women allowed to read and be educated and… read analysis of Aunts

Commanders are an elite class of men in Gilead who occupy national leadership roles or political positions. read analysis of Commanders

Handmaids are a special cast of fertile women whom Gilead has deemed too immoral to be married—usually because they were not virgins when they came to Gilead. Handmaids are assigned to powerful men, usually Commanders… read analysis of Handmaids

Marthas are a class of female house-servants in Gilead who serve powerful families but are not allowed to marry or have their own children. read analysis of Marthas

Angels are Gilead’s militaristic security force. They wear black uniforms and carry rifles at all times. read analysis of Angels

The Eyes are Gilead’s main intelligence force, a mysterious and feared presence throughout the nation. The Eyes are known for being ruthless and carrying out assassinations, kidnappings, and torture both in Gilead and other countries… read analysis of Eyes

Supplicants are Aunts in training, usually teenagers, who have not yet completed their Pearl Girl mission. read analysis of Supplicants

Pearls are new converts to Gilead’s faith, transported from the outside world into Gilead by an accompanying Pearl Girl. read analysis of Pearls

The Founders refer to Aunt Lydia, Aunt Vidala, Aunt Helena, and Aunt Elizabeth, the four women who developed not only the Aunts but all of Gilead’s social structures and rules as… read analysis of Founders

Mayday is an anti-Gilead resistance movement that operates in Canada. For decades, Mayday has collaborated with people in and outside of Gilead to smuggle oppressed women out of Gilead and harbor them as refugees. Mayday… read analysis of Mayday

The Sons of Jacob refer to the original men who destroyed the United States Congress and overthrew the country, erecting Gilead in its place. Commander Judd is the only Son of Jacob explicitly named in… read analysis of Sons of Jacob