Atwood has written a story that reflects a time where a certain group of people believes that the lifestyles of a large number of the population of the United States is unacceptable, and this group of people decide to establish a government that is based on certain parts of the bible. The biblical references are primarily seen in the naming of the women, the establishments located in Gilead, and in the names of the roles that people play in the society. The references to the bible show how the government has used it to fit what the people running Gilead think would make a perfect society; the effect that comes from this is a view of what the effects could be like if religion was used strictly to govern a settlement such as Gilead.
             The names of the roles that the women have to carry out are often linked to people in the bible. Offred is a Handmaid who's main role in the home that she is living in is to produce children because the wife of the Commander is not able to on her own. This role that Offred plays is one that comes directly from the bible in the story that involves Jacob being intimate with Rachel's maid, Bilhah, because Rachel was unable to bear children on her own. This use of the Handmaids reveals how the government controlled many aspects of the people's lives, including reproduction making the act, or "Ceremony", seem acceptable because of the bible. The Martha's took care of the household and the Handmaid's as well, "Cora brings [Offred's] supper, covered, on a tray" (The Handmaid's Tale p.65). They had little power. The name Martha refers to the sister of Mary, who looked after and served Jesus. Marthas being included in the social hierarchy begins to hint that the Gilead government is trying to establish a system that is completely based on certain stories found in the bible.
             The Commanders were the people in the society that were on top of the social hierarc...