The Angels

The Angels are the primary military and security force of the Republic of Gilead, a paramilitary organization that serves as the regime's armed wing. They are a ubiquitous and feared presence, tasked with guarding gates, manning checkpoints, and enforcing the laws that govern every aspect of life, especially for women. Their role is to maintain order through visible force and the ever-present threat of violence, making them a central pillar of Gilead's totalitarian control.

Identity and Appearance

The Angels are distinguished by their black uniforms, which are often adorned with cloth wings sewn onto the outfits, a symbol that reinforces their name and their role as the regime's protectors. They are typically armed with guns, and their presence is a constant reminder of the state's power. For the young girls of Gilead, the Angels are not the benevolent, feathered beings of religious imagery but rather men in black uniforms with guns, a source of fear rather than comfort. This perception is vividly illustrated in the childhood prayer of Agnes Jemima, who pictures "four Angels with guns standing around my bed as I slept," a thought that is anything but restful.

Role and Functions

The Angels perform a wide range of duties essential to Gilead's security apparatus. They stand guard at the gates of schools, such as the Vidala School, ensuring that the girls are "perfectly safe" within the enclosed grounds. They also patrol the streets, and their presence is a constant deterrent to any form of dissent. They are involved in the enforcement of the regime's most brutal punishments, including executions. During the stadium executions witnessed by Aunt Lydia, the Angels are the ones who lead the blindfolded women to the field, raise their guns, and shoot them with trained precision. They also participate in the Particicutions, where condemned individuals are torn apart by Handmaids, and they are responsible for displaying the bodies of the executed on the Wall as a public warning.

The Angels in the Lives of Women

For the women of Gilead, the Angels represent a constant, inescapable threat. The regime's ideology teaches that men, including Angels, are driven by "terrible urges" that must be curbed by women's modesty. This creates a pervasive atmosphere of fear, where even a girl's own body is seen as a potential source of danger. The Angels are the embodiment of this danger, their "searchlight eyes" always roaming, ready to be inflamed by any exposed skin or stray lock of hair. This fear is instilled from a young age, as seen in the school lessons where girls are told that their very nature can "make men drunk with lust" and cause them to "go plunging down in flames." The Angels are the human face of this terrifying male desire, making them a constant source of anxiety and a tool for social control.

Narrative Significance

The Angels function as a symbol of Gilead's oppressive power and its reliance on violence and fear. They are not individualized characters but rather a faceless, uniformed mass that represents the state's capacity for brutality. Their presence in the narrative underscores the constant danger faced by the characters, particularly the women, and serves as a stark contrast to the regime's claims of piety and order. The fear they inspire is a key element in the psychological landscape of Gilead, shaping the choices and actions of those who live under its rule.