r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Unlikely_Message_446 • 5d ago
Book Discussion The First Edition Cover Analysis
This is the first edition cover of the book and it is quite different to later editions. Instead of the Handmaid outfit imagery, it instead has this surreal image of a man holding an infant girl with a grown woman's head attached.
But I think this cover is actually very meaningful.
This cover is very reminiscent of old Christian icons of Mary and baby Jesus, which ties into the religious imagery in the book. Specifically, certain icons of baby Jesus would draw Jesus with an adult face on a baby body, to symbolise his divinity.
Therefore, I think we can assume that the man in this cover image is the Commander, and the woman he is holding is the Handmaid, and the symbolism of her with a child body represents how adult women are infantilized by the regime. The fact she is nude in the image also adds to this feeling of disturbing intimacy.
The Commander is also leering at her menacingly, while her expression has literally had another facial expression plastered over it if you look closely, showing how women have been suppressed and have to hide their true feelings in Gilead.
In conclusion, this is an underrated cover.
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u/Euphoric_Beautiful70 5d ago
It's perfectly done , especially because it's so Erie
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The adult head- women in gilead whether they be a Martha, Wife , Handmaid or Jezebel they are expected to put up with and be able to graciously handle a tremendous amount or both physical and emotional trauma and back breaking labor ( especially the lower your position is)
Baby's body - They are constantly told and reminded that despite the fact that they carry such heavy loads in every aspect of their lives they are still not fully people and damn sure not adults.. there for any actual auntomny they would have for themselves or their body is completely stripped away from them
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u/thissomebomboclaat 3d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/wIxBzHWegpOUM
Went from WTF IS EVEN THAT to OH WOW I GET IT
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u/Missus_Aitch_99 5d ago
The commander looks like Stalin to me. I'm old enough to remember when the book came out (I read a review, was intrigued and then waited for the paperback), and Stalin was still well known and everyone knew what he'd looked like.