Margaret Atwood Explains Where the Marthas Got Their Name
The Marthas Are Much More Important in the Handmaid’s Tale Than They Initially Seem. While These Women Do All the Housework for High-Ranking Commanders, They Also Have a System for Sharing Information. Author Margaret Atwood Explained That She Got the Name for These Women from a Story in the Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marthas Share Information Throughout Gilead
In the Handmaid’s Tale, Marthas Are Essentially Domestic Workers for Commanders and Their Wives. Members of This Social Class in the Handmaid’s Tale Are Infertile and Spend Their Time Cooking, Cleaning, and Helping Raise the Wives’ Children. the Marthas Also Have Their Network to Communicate and Spread Gossip, with Some Being Active Members of the Resistance.
Margaret Atwood Explains Where the Marthas in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Got Their Name
Fans of the Handmaid’s Tale May Wonder Where the Marthas Get Their Name. According to Margaret Atwood, the Name Comes from a Story in the Bible Where Jesus Visited Two Sisters Named Martha and Mary.
The Marthas Use a Secret Code to Communicate
Later Seasons of the Handmaid’s Tale Further Explore the Marthas Secret Communication Network and Work for the Resistance. Rita and the Marthas Are Responsible for Getting Nichole Safely out of Gilead at the End of Season 2.