The action takes place in the Republic of Gilead, where the military is in power. The country has harsh rules and customs, and only officers and their wives are respected in society. However, for unknown reasons, the wives of officers are unable to have children. In order to continue their officer lineage, officers and their wives choose a young woman from among the common girls to carry their future child. These young girls, who are carriers of officer offspring, live in special guarded facilities that closely resemble prisons, and they know that they will have to part with their children immediately after giving birth.