The Handmaid’s Tale: Why are the Marthas treated differently? Their role, explained

Everyone in Gilead is confined by color-coded clothing, and there are rules upon rules in The Handmaid's Tale. The Handmaids are parading around in red, the Wives are decked out in blue, the Aunts rock brown (not exactly a fashion-forward society), and then you’ve got the Marthas. They’re the ones shuffling around in faded green, basically the background crew of the whole operation.

Their role is way more complicated than just “kitchen help.” The Marthas aren’t shoved into the same misery as the Handmaids, and they’re not living it up like the Wives. Still, they’re stuck under Gilead’s thumb, following all the same rules. The big difference? The Marthas are considered “useful” in a practical way; they cook, clean, and keep the whole show running. And honestly, they’ve got their own underground thing going on.

So, what’s the deal with the Marthas? Let’s dig in, because there’s way more lurking under that drab green than you’d think.

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The role of the Marthas in The Handmaid's Tale

Who are the Marthas?

In The Handmaid's Tale, the Marthas are older women who are no longer considered fertile. In Gilead, fertility is everything. Women who can’t have children are often given other jobs, and one of the most common roles is that of a Martha. So, these women become stuck running households. Cooking, cleaning, playing house manager, basically doing all the domestic chores nobody really wants to do. These women are called the Marthas, like the one from the Bible who was always waiting on people.

And though the Marthas aren’t dragged out and punished in the street as much as the Handmaids, they’re still watched like hawks. Every move is monitored. It’s all about quiet obedience and hoping nobody notices you.

Why their role is ‘safer’ but still oppressive in The Handmaid's Tale

Compared to Handmaids, Marthas might seem like they have a better deal. They aren’t forced to have sex with Commanders.

They don’t go through the monthly “Ceremony.” And honestly, it’s not like they’re off the hook just ‘cause nobody’s breathing down their necks about popping out babies. Doesn’t mean they get to stroll around carefree. Marthas still have to watch their backs, mess up, and boom, they are getting shipped off to the Colonies or worse.

They could get executed just for stepping outta line. Their work may be inside the house, but the rules of Gilead still follow them everywhere. Even though they are considered "helpful," they are still property of the state. They don’t have choices. They can’t leave. They are simply allowed to survive, as long as they serve their role well in The Handmaid's Tale.

How their age and experience matter

Many Marthas are older and have lived through the time since before Gilead. This lends them a quiet kind of wisdom. They remember freedom, even if they don’t talk about it. Their knowledge of the bygone world makes them more aware of how unjust Gilead really is.

Unlike the younger Handmaids in The Handmaid's Tale, who are often scared and new to their roles, the Marthas often seem calm and careful. They know how to survive in silence. But more importantly, some use that silence to resist in small ways. They form quiet friendships, pass messages, or help others escape. More than just housekeepers, they become more like quiet rebels.

Why are they trusted, but watched

In The Handmaid's Tale, Marthas are allowed to move more freely inside the house. They often have access to both the kitchen and the bedrooms and they know the daily routines of the families they are assigned to. This gives them a level of trust that Handmaids do not have.

If something goes sideways in the house, it is the Marthas who are blamed. People expect them to have eyes everywhere, to magically know every little detail, but God forbid they actually say what’s on their mind or call out their boss, the Commanders, and their Wives? They might treat Marthas like handy appliances, but never as actual people. Forget about being equals. That’s not even on the table.

This mix of usefulness and low profile keeps them in a strange position: needed but always controlled. They are watched closely, especially if they seem too smart or too curious.

Marthas and the resistance

The Marthas are basically the ultimate undercover personalities in Gilead. People ignore them, so they just slip under the radar, perfect for sneaky rebellion activities. And honestly, by the time you get to those later seasons, it’s like half the Marthas have a side hustle keeping them occupied in the underground movement.

They pass information, hide fugitives, and help smuggle people out of the country. Honestly, nobody ever looks twice at a Martha. Invisibility is their secret weapon. They just melt into the wallpaper, do the chores, blend into the background. People never see them coming, which is the perfect cover when you wanna stir up some trouble. Rebellion?

This secret network of Marthas in The Handmaid's Tale shows that even the most "powerless" roles in Gilead can hold strength. They may not carry weapons or shout in the streets, but their acts of kindness and courage change lives.

Relationship with other women

The Marthas often have close, complex relationships with the Handmaids and the Wives. In many homes, the Martha is the one who offers quiet support to the Handmaid. She may offer a warm meal or a soft word, something that feels human in a cold world.

With the Wives, the relationship is more strained. The Wives often order the Marthas around, expecting obedience. But some of the Marthas have worked in their homes for years. They know the secrets, the pain, and the silent rules. Sometimes, there is respect between them. Other times, there is tension.

These relationships show how women are forced into roles that push them apart. But they also show how moments of trust and care can survive even in a rigid and oppressive system such as the one in The Handmaid's Tale.

Why Gilead needs them

Gilead needs the Marthas to function. Without them, homes would fall apart. Meals wouldn’t be cooked. Clothes wouldn’t be washed. Children wouldn’t be cared for. They are engaged in the quiet, invisible labor that holds the system together.

Due to this, they are often treated as dependable background workers. Gilead sees them as low-risk but necessary. They are not celebrated, but they are not always hated either. They are simply used.

Why do they rarely try to escape

Unlike the Handmaids, who are often desperate to flee, the Marthas rarely try to run away. There are a few reasons for this. First, many are older and have fewer options. They might have families they want to protect. Or they might be too physically weak for a dangerous escape.

Honestly, the Marthas have carved out these little havens for themselves, tiny pockets of calm where they can feel like they matter, even just a smidge. They’ve figured out ways to get by. Grabbing at any scrap of control they can, 'cause let’s face it, their world isn’t exactly handing out freedom like candy.

Still, when the Marthas do fight back, it is usually through collective action. They are part of something larger. They don’t run. Rather, they help others run. That is their power in The Handmaid's Tale.

What their treatment says about Gilead

The way the Marthas are treated in The Handmaid's Tale shows how Gilead values women only by what they can offer. If a woman can have children, she becomes a Handmaid. If she can manage a house, she becomes a Martha. If she is married to a powerful man, she becomes a Wife.

No woman is allowed to choose her path. Her worth is judged only by her usefulness. The Marthas are a clear example of that. They are not loved, and neither are they are not feared.

But through this role, they find ways to stay human. They form friendships. They remember who they were. They resist in quiet ways. That is what makes them important, not just to the story, but to the message of The Handmaid's Tale.

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Still, here’s the wild thing: these women, with barely any rights and zero spotlight, manage to hang onto their courage. They prove that one needs no big speeches or fancy titles to matter. Sometimes real power is just a quiet hand, steady and strong, doing the right thing when nobody’s even watching. That’s the Marthas’ real flex.