The Veils

In The Handmaid’s Tale, women are bounded by the regime of Gilead. The obligatory wearing of veils is one of the obvious evidences.

First, Wives, Handmaids and Marthas are wearing veils in different colors. Wives’ veils are in blue, while Handmaids’ are red, which also shows the inequality of different women. They are all controlled by Gillead, but are assigned different responsibilities. They have no freedom to choose how their life will look like. Besides, they are isolated from outside by the veils. Under the veils, anyone can be the Eye. It also accelerates the form of a system of distrust. Because citizens do not trust each other, it is much easier for Gilead to control the society.

Second, Gilead uses the veil called protection to conceal its violence. A veil’s function is to cover and protect a face from being seen. And Gilead just covers a big veil for citizens. “A woman does not need to be worried about walking along at night any more.” It is Gilead that protects all the people from horrific potential accidental danger. However, violence just permeates into the life. The bodies hanging beside the main gateway, the punishment to people who violate their obligation, the Colonies, and the Salvaging… The violence under the veil is more horrible than potential accidental danger.