Symbolism and Outcasts in Nazi Europe

Like the red uniforms of the handmaids in Gilead, the Nazi German government forced minority groups to identify themselves. The German government’s policy of forcing Jews to wear identifying badges—the yellow Star of David—was one of many psychological tactics aimed at isolating and dehumanizing the Jews of Europe, directly marking them as being different and inferior to everyone else. It also made their separation from society and subsequent ghettoization easier, which ultimately led to the deportation and murder of six million Jews. Those who failed or refused to wear the badge risked severe punishment, including death.

Watch the video, then answer the question below:

In The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood takes the idea behind the Nazi practice of identifying Jews with a colored symbol and creates the red habits the Handmaids must wear. How is this similar to the Nazi practice of identifying Jews?