"Their heads are uncovered and their hair too is exposed, in all its darkness and sexuality." I believe this quote is very prudent towards the overall mood and theme of the story. The Red Handmaids are subject to purity and "sanctification," ironically, in this society they currently lived in. Handmaids are fully covered, including all of their skin except for very little around their faces. They have been set aside for a special purpose by the authorities in charge over them. What seemed ironic, though, was the face that these same Handmaids used to be in like position as that of the Japanese tourists in revealing clothing; short shirts and skirts and sexual attractions and appearances. The society was trying to "protect" the women from the sinful nature of the natural world, unlike its anti-Utopian society. Yet, the Handmaids were being raped all the time by the commanders or whoever took power over them. So really, the Handmaids purpose of being covered is vain and defeated since their virginity is loss and purity of taken from them.
This ordeal has a biblical overtone to it in how the Israelites in the Old Testament times were set apart as God's people away from the Gentiles. He had a special purpose for them in his grand scheme or plan. He designed different laws, customs, and traditions by which they had to follow. Even more so, God was so strict yet so loving of his "chosen people" that he had a special tribe out of all twelve tribes of Israel, the Levites, whom he ordained as priests for the whole nation. Only the Levites could offer up sacrifices to God and enter the tabernacle of God. This was before Jesus Christ came to earth and broke that tradition of sacrifices, closing the gap between Jews and Gentiles as everyone's mediator. Now everyone could come to Christ because of His death on the cross and resurrection.
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