The Handmaid’s Tale
Hulu’sThe Handmaid ’s Talepresents a dystopian , not - so - remote future , that is almost as insightful as it is terrifying . The social complex body part of the Republic of Gilead place a prize few Commanders at the very top , with everyone else significantly below them in some capacity or another .
As the show conform to June ’s life as a handmaid , the horrifying reality of the present that she is now draw to endure in becomes apparent , through the actions of those above her . From Commander Waterford to his wife Serena , and Aunt Lydia who is responsible for for disciplining the Handmaids , the stringent rules of Gilead are ever - present in the words of those in power .
Updated October 29th, 2022 by Hilary Elizabeth:
AlthoughJune Osborne finally escape Gilead , her journeying throughout Canadawith the Waterfords and voyage the world she used to be familiar with has demonstrated that Gilead stay with people long after they ’ve left it . As much as the citizens of Gilead want to be anywhere but there , it ’s obvious that the Word of zealots and true believer like Serena or Aunt Lydia ring in people ’s minds for years afterward .
“Better Never Means Better For Everyone.
It Always Means Worse For Some.”
- Fred Waterford
When talking with June , Commander Waterford - although not excusatory by any means - endeavour to rationalize his actions . As one of the Sons Of Jacob , Commander Waterford was instrumental in the establishment of Gilead , and contract this minute to inform her that they " only wanted to make the world better " .
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The absurdity of the title is decrease as Waterford admit that this has not signify good for everyone , a surprising acknowledgment considering Commander Waterford ’s attitudes . In the eyes of the leader of Gilead , the living of the Republic ’s distaff citizens are irrelevant when compared to the potential to regurgitate , and as such the Sons of Jacob ’s vehemence and injustice are forgiven .
“This May Not Be Ordinary To You Now…
…But After A Time It Will.This Will Become Ordinary.”
- Aunt Lydia
Aunt Lydia is one of the primary hatchet man of the harsh formula of Gilead , and as such , spends a fortune of prison term coaxing the girls into accepting their collective fate . Like most characters in the series , specifically those on the side of Gilead , Aunt Lydia is often found trying to apologise the actions of Gilead to herself as well as to others .
In this illustration , Aunt Lydia is paint a picture that the position in which the Handmaids now find themselves is not an extreme injustice , but only something that the women must get used to . Aunt Lydia ’s conformation says just as much about her own fictitious character as it does Gilead ’s smart set .
“We Won’t Succeed Without Their Support. You Know That.”
- Fred
Fred allege this to the other commanders when they were discuss the thought of handmaids as a public policy , and Fred suggests make the ceremony more palatable to the women because the mind ca n’t succeed without their accompaniment .
Fred is not ordinarily a very insightful someone , but his understanding of the billet here is horrifying and prescient . What spend a penny his statement so poignant is simply that it ’s true , that there are many Serena Joys in the worldly concern who will merrily quash their gender and comic strip introductory human rights from others if they still believe they ’re in a position of power or assess in some means .
“God Whipped Up A Special Plague.
The Plague Of Infertility.”
It is often reduplicate throughout the series that Gilead was formed as a direct reply to increasing infertility among women in the United States . As Gilead was allegedly founded in scripture , this phenomenon becomes referred to as a plague inflicted by God , brought about by the life choice of innovative women .
This call leave the Commanders to bury their actions in scripture , and as such , harbor themselves from criticism . Referring to the increase sterility as a pestilence allows the Commanders to create a guise of reform , to rectify the act of boob that lead them to this stage .
“God Is Truly Merciful.
He Offers Redemption Even To The Most Perverse And Degenerate Among His Flock.”
In the eyes of Gilead , and the Sons of Jacob , many aspects of the innovative way of life sentence are now punishable by death . With the formation of the Republic , however , the productive women - the handmaids - now have the luck to ransom themselves for their preceding actions .
This statement punctuate one of the many glaring contradictions in Gilead ’s police - that those who engage in outlawed behavior may be forgiven , so long as they are worthful to the Republic . Female gender traitors for example can have their previous behaviors overlooked if they happen to be able to have children and accept their roles as Handmaids .
“Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum.”
- Offred
As June points out early on on in the series , although she is now " Offred , " there was an Offred before her . And as lot or happenstance would have it , the anterior Offred ’s picayune ill-affected human activity of carve " do n’t let the bastards grind you down " into her loo wall provided inspiration to June and became sort of an unofficial motto of the serial .
But there ’s also a shade of great tragedy to this statement , because the Offred who originated the saying wound up die by suicide , and although the show has n’t offered a great deal of insight as to incisively why , it seems secure to say that the subjugation and torment of Gilead was simply too much to assume .
“Wives. Submit Yourselves To Your Own Husbands…
…As Unto The Lord.”
One of the column of sprightliness in the Republic of Gilead is the superiority of men , specifically the Commanders . The women of Gilead , even the wives of the Commanders , have become stripped of any independence and must simply follow their married man .
Even the married woman of the lead Commanders , like Serena Joy , must adjust to a life story in which they are completely segregated according to their sex , albeit not to the same extent as the handmaid . As hearing come to instruct , even Serena Waterford , who was subservient in the formation of Gilead , is now completely subjugate to her married man ’s bid .
“You’re Spoiled, You’re Privileged…
…And You’re Living In An Academic Bubble. All Of You!”
- Serena Joy Waterford
Serena is shown throughout the series in flashbacks which showcase her involvement in the formation of Gilead . Serena is presented as have warm opinion about the place of women and in the clock time before Gilead , she published a book on the study titled ' A Woman ’s Place ' .
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While promoting her book , Serena often gave speech in an attempt to enlighten audiences on the graveness of the come fertility rates . Although Serena was highly educated and choose academic circles to spread her subject matter , Serena completely disavow woman ’s involvement in the public space and preaches a variety of domestic feminism .
“Did You Behave In A Way…
…That Might Have Invited His Attention?”
Although the repulsion of Gilead seem limitless , the brutish mistreatment of Esther Keyes really drives home how bloodcurdling this country can be , even for purportedly high - status women . Esther became a wife when she was still a youngster , and since her hubby could n’t successfully impregnate her , he allow her to be ravish by multitudinous humankind .
She is once again raped when she is introduced to Commander Putnam , and that seems to be the tipping point that drives her to a suicide attempt . And , whilemost would n’t gestate Aunt Lydia to be likeable , the fact that she immediately ask Esther if she had done something to cause her own intimate assault after everything that Esther has already been through was mind - bogglingly cruel .
“It’s Not Rocket Science…
…All Remaining Fertile Women Should Be Collected And Impregnated. By Those Of Superior Status, Of Course.”
- Commander Guthrie
The Republic of Gilead is one very much founded in position , with the Commanders at the very top and everyone else below them , all the way down to the women in the Colonies . Through flashbacks , audiences are given insights into how some of the rules of Gilead came to be .
This construct of rounding up the fertile char is voiced by Commander Guthrie , in conversation with Commander Waterford and Commander Pryce , and effectively sums up the sentiment of the Republic . In this same conversation , Guthrie mentions how they will utilize the pretence of Holy Writ to make the acts more palatable to the wife of the Commanders .
“The Mouth Of A Woman Is A Deep Pit.
He That Falls Therein Will Suffer And Find The Misery Of All Men. All Of You.”
Credit where it ’s due , while Fred Waterford and Gilead itself are both living nightmares , they ’re nothing if not forever on - firebrand .
The satire of create a society where men have complete control over charwoman and then fault a woman for all the world ’s problems and miseries does appear to be completely lost on Fred . However , this special utterance aimed at June did become exceptionally ironic pass on that June in the end gave him an aim lesson inthe variety of pain in the neck and distress that she could serve to him .
“I Had Another Name But It Is Forbidden Now…
…So Many Things Are Forbidden Now.”
- June Osborne
consultation are first introduced to June by the name Offred , who is so named as she is the handmaid of Commander Fred Waterford , and goes on to become Ofjoseph when she is assigned as Commander Joseph Lawrence ’s Handmaid .
Offred ’s actual name , however , is June Osborne , something that is forbidden to even speak out aloud , alongside any and all bureau for the handmaids and charwoman at orotund within the Republic of Gilead . June , however , shows her ill-affected stripe from the offset as she asserts her own identity in an internal monologue from the first sequence .
“Remember Your Scripture; Blessed Are The Meek.”
Aunt Lydia , as is wonted in Gilead , often quotes the Bible when rebuke the handmaiden , or when remind them of their berth . In this case , " blessed are the meek " is intended to prompt the handmaids to restfully swallow their newfound destiny , that they shall be rewarded for their silence .
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June , however , instantaneously rebut this view as she riposte " And blessed are those who digest for the cause of righteousness , for theirs is the realm of Heaven " . With this , June acknowledges that the inverted comma in its totality speaks to the ultimate rising up of the meek .
“Girls, there is more than one kind of freedom.
There is freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.”
WhileAunt Lydia seems to be own a change of sum as of belated , one of the facet of her characterization that actually made her scarey than nearly everyone else is that unlike most people in positions of power in Gilead , she appear to be a lawful truster .
Few things could sum up her zealotry and belief in the system more than this argument . While Aunt Lydia is in the procedure of torment the handmaids once again , she explicate to them how their subjugation and fearsome intervention is in reality Gilead " freeing " them from all choice and power in their own lives .
“There’s No Such Thing As A Sterile Man Anymore.
There’s Only Women Who Are Fruitful And Women Who Are Barren.”
Through stick with June and her many challenge throughout the serial publication , the place of woman in Gilead is made by all odds unclouded , regardless of their status . Gilead has been founded on the construct of preserve fertility , however , the possible infertility of human race has never get along into play .
In the dystopian future society of Gilead , women have been shorten to those who are productive , and those who are not . And unfortunately for many of the women in the totalistic religious authorities , those who are sinful but rich are give the " privilege " of becoming a handmaiden .
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