THE HANDMAID'S TALE

In the Handmaid's Tale, the marthas primarily serve in the kitchen and assist in taking care of everyone in the house which they work in.  Although, the marthas seem to heavily resent the handmaids, most likely due to jealousy since they are infertle.  This resentment could also be due to a lack of misunderstanding between the two groups, as seen in a coversation between Rita and Cora.  "Once, though, I heard Rita say to Cora that she wouldn't debase herself like that.  Nobody asking you, Cora said.  Anyways, what could you do, supposing?  Go to the colonies, Rita said.  They have the choice.  With the Unwoman, and starve to death and Lord knows what all? said Cora.  Catch you" (10).  The marthas relay perhaps the largest example of women stereotypes in the entire book.  They are forced to work in the kitchen and serve the family; which is typically the job of the stereotypical "housewife".  The marthas also assist in taking care of the baby born from the handmaids.  The marthas seem to just disapprove of the handmaids' choices, even though they have no choice.  "But the frown isn't personal: it's the red dress she disapproves of, and what it stands for.  She thinks I may be catching, like a disease or any form of bad luck" (10).  The main importance if the marthas is to allow Margaret Atwood to get her theme of feminism across to the reader.  Each group of women in this book represent a different stereotype in order to raise a feministic argument.