Offred:
Offred is the protagonist and narrator of the story. She was married to Luke and had one daughter before the government was overthrown. Offred now lives in Gilead, a now totalitarian United States, as a handmaid to Commander and Serena. Though she is against the government, she does nothing to change her life. Instead, she is content with life, accepting her duty as a handmaid and forgetting her resistance to the government after she begins a relationship with Nick.
Serena:
Serena is the Commander's wife. She is an advocate for women's domesticity in Gilead; in reality, she does not enjoy being confined at home. Though they both feel the same way about society, Serena does not sympathize with Offred but instead takes advantage of her. She tells Offred to sleep with Nick in hopes of her getting pregnant; in exchange, Offred gets to an old picture of her daughter. She exploits Offred in hopes of getting her own child. Like the Commander, Serena is selfish and only does things for her benefit.
Commander:
Commander is one of the founders of Gilead and is responsible for the totalitarian state of the country. In reality, he is somewhat gentle and friendly in real life. He even invites Offred to his study where they play scrabble, which is forbidden because women are not allowed to read. Their evenings together become a solace in the desolate society they live in. However, the real reason for his kindness is due to his selfish need for companionship.
Nick:
Nick is Commander's chauffeur and messenger. He becomes a go-between between the relationship between the Commander and Offred, by delivering messages the Commander gives him. He is not allowed to associate with Offred but they do so otherwise. At the end, Nick arranges a black van to help Offred escape Gilead.
