Book review
The Handmaids Tale Serena Joy Character Description
This essay is a descriptive 2 pages on Serena Joy
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Rahman 1Adikkya Rahman
Ms. Hayman
English 2
February 8, 2023
Serena Joy’s Character Sketch
Characters and their development, in most cases, are essential to a story. The Handmaid’s
Tale, by Margaret Atwood, is a dystopian novel that excels at describing and developing its
characters, especially during the introduction of Serena Joy. In Chapter 2, she is known as the
“Commander’s Wife” which would be a temporary title until Chapter 3, where the reader gets a
deeper insight into Serena Joy’s character. In this chapter, Serena Joy is portrayed through the
eyes of Offred, who is the narrator and handmaid.
Serena Joy is described as a woman of refinement and elegance. Offred notes that Serena
Joy always dresses neatly, wears a diamond ring, and has a "fine, superior quality to her clothes."
The descriptions suggest that Serena Joy is a well-groomed woman who pays attention to her
appearance. She has blonde hair and her eyes are complimentary to her appearance; sharp and
elegant, “the flat hostile blue of a midsummer sky in bright sunlight” (15). This, however, is a
contrast to the rest of her physical features. Serena has thin lips, a scrunched-up face that’s
clenched like a fist, tired-looking eyelids, and plucked brows which makes her seem angry or
startled. Furthermore, Offred observes that she is arthritic, “...with her left foot on the footstool
because of her arthritis.” (13) This explains why Serena tends to limp around, as well as use a
cane. In addition to her refined appearance, Serena Joy is also portrayed as a gardener, smoker,
and skilled seamstress. She is seen smoking a cigarette, which, in their oppressive world, is
banned, indicating her rebellious streak. The presence of a pin cushion and needles in the room,
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller adikkya. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.10. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75759 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now