Primary narrator; observes Nick as her signal system, reflects on her estrangement from Luke, participates in Prayvaganza, is taken to Jezebel's by the Commander, and begins a reckless voluntary affair with Nick.

Signals Offred with his cap; drives her concealed to Jezebel's; receives her for repeated nocturnal visits in his garage apartment above the Commander's house.

Confronts Offred with evidence of the Jezebel's outing — lipstick on her cloak and the sequined dress — and sends her to her room in fury; reacts with shock to the arrival of the van.

Encountered at Jezebel's; recounts her escape via Quaker Underground Femaleroad contacts and her eventual capture; now resident at Jezebel's, her defiant spirit broken into indifference.

Resentful and outspoken; argues with Cora in the kitchen about the shooting of a Martha by young Guardians, calling it 'a bad death'.

Household servant who discovers Offred on the floor of the closet and quietly conspires to conceal the incident; harbors hope for a birth in the household.

Offers to impregnate Offred secretly during her examination, claiming most Commanders are sterile; presents himself as sympathetic while holding coercive power over her.

Recalled in flashbacks to the escape attempt and pre-Gilead Sunday mornings; drove the family toward the border with forged passports and explained the origin of 'Mayday'.

Recalled by Offred through her ideological pronouncements: that waiting is service, that modesty is invisibility, and that Gilead offers 'freedom from' in place of 'freedom to'.

Shopping partner who whispers resistance gossip at the Prayvaganza — reveals Janine's baby was defective and Janine is rumored to have used an outside doctor.

Identified by Pieixoto as the most likely candidate for 'the Commander'; responsible for costume design, terminology such as Particicution, and the Aunt system; later purged for liberal tendencies.

Seen at the Prayvaganza looking thin and drained; her baby Angela was a 'shredder'; she is rumored to have committed the transgression of using a doctor not her Commander.

Khaki-uniformed Aunt who taught Gyn Ed and officiates the birth, maintaining order and inspecting the newborn.

Unknown Handmaid who whispers to Offred during the birth chant, exchanges real names, and offers to watch for Moira.

Keynote speaker at the 2195 Symposium who presents the authentication and historical contextualization of Offred's tapes, speculating on the Commander's identity, Nick's role, and Offred's fate.

Co-candidate for the Commander; credited with tactical innovations including the Particicution ceremony, hit-lists, the President's Day Massacre, and the Aunt control system.