Under His Eye

Under His Eye is the ubiquitous greeting and watchword of the Republic of Gilead, a phrase that condenses the regime's core ideology of total surveillance and divine mandate into a single, constantly repeated formula. It is the verbal equivalent of the all-seeing Eye that appears on Gilead's official insignia, and its use is mandatory in all formal interactions, from the highest councils of the Commanders to the daily exchanges of Aunts, Wives, and Handmaids. The phrase serves a dual purpose: it is a pious acknowledgment that God observes every human action, and it is a chilling reminder that the state, acting as God's agent, is always watching as well. To say "Under His Eye" is to affirm one's submission to this order and to signal that one is a compliant member of the theocracy.

Usage and Function

The phrase is employed as a standard greeting and farewell, replacing secular expressions like "hello" or "goodbye." When Aunt Vidala reports a successful raid on Mayday operatives, she concludes with "Under His Eye" , using the formula to frame a violent act of state repression as a pious duty. Similarly, when Commander Judd praises Aunt Lydia's work, he responds with "Under His Eye" , cementing their alliance within the sanctioned language of the regime. The phrase is also woven into official hymns and prayers, such as the one sung at Ardua Hall: "Under His Eye our beams of truth shine out, / We see all sin; / We shall observe you at your goings-out, / Your comings-in" (E00326–E00329). This hymn makes explicit the connection between divine surveillance and the Aunts' own policing of women's behavior, transforming the greeting into a threat.

Thematic Significance

"Under His Eye" is a key instrument of what the novel calls the "reign of terror" that paralyzes Gileadean society. It creates a panopticon effect: citizens internalize the feeling of being watched and regulate their own behavior accordingly, even when no actual observer is present. The phrase is so pervasive that it becomes a reflex, a verbal tic that betrays the depth of the regime's control over language and thought. For the reader, the constant repetition of "Under His Eye" serves as a grim leitmotif, a reminder that in Gilead, there is no private space, no unobserved moment, and no escape from the judgment of the state and its God. The phrase thus encapsulates the novel's critique of theocratic totalitarianism, showing how a seemingly pious expression can become a tool of oppression.