The Handmaid’s Tale
As before long as Aunt Lydia take the air into a room , handmaids live something terrifying is about to occur , or at least be said , even if it does n’t seem to be all that scary ab initio . Aunt Lydia , real name Lydia Clements ( played beautifully by the Emmy - get ahead Ann Dowd ) , is the woman in cathexis of the mesh of handmaids within the dystopian society of Gilead in the Hulu seriesThe Handmaid ’s Tale . To say she ’s exacting is an understatement . She fiercely consider that her “ girl ” have been given a endowment , save from the unrighteousness of the modern world and design for one sole purpose : to suffer children for the barren wives of the Commanders .
Disagree with her views , and those of Gilead , and she wo n’t flinch to take out an eye , have a handmaid blister , stick them with her trustworthy cattle goad , or bad .
Updated on October 16, 2022 by Christine Persaud:
Whilethe tides appear to be shift with Aunt Lydia onThe Handmaid ’s Tale , with her finally realizing Gilead and its ways might not be the answer , she still remain one of the most frightening characters on the show . Even when try on to be benevolent , her Son hurt . She taste to justify her legal action as being righteous , and even as the mantle starts to pull back on Gilead ’s villainous ways , her simple presence has handmaiden shaking .
“This Will Become Ordinary.”
Season 1, Episode 1 “Offred”
The quotes begins : “ I bang this must feel so strange , but ordinary is just what you ’re used to . This may not be ordinary to you now , but after a sentence it will . ” What makes this affirmation so frightening is that , in a way , Aunt Lydia is ripe . Live a sure way long enough , and it becomes normalized . If the handmaids stay to do their duties as ordered , finally , if enough time passes , they may bury what it was like to live in a free , democratic world .
Aunt Lydia believes that what is being done in Gilead is n’t wrong , it ’s just different , and not what the girls are used to . But it ’s completely normal , and eventually , they ’ll reckon that out .
“The Most Painful Thing In This Entire Ugly Incident…
…Is The Ingratitude.”
Season 1, Episode 4 “Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum”
She says this quote to June , reference her attempt to get away . " The most painful affair is not the betrayal of trust , June , " she says . " Do you know what ’s most painful ? " She then references the ingratitude , as though June should be thankful for the living she has in Gilead where she is handle like nothing more than a broodmare , her time from one ofthe most terrific Gilead laws inThe Handmaid ’s Tale .
In her eyes , June does n’t realize everything Gilead is doing for her . Somehow , the despicable nature of wedge women to have intercourse with men , then making them take and immediately give up a youngster , is lost on Aunt Lydia . She ca n’t quite comprehend why the handmaids are not thanking her for all she does , even when she doles out forcible maltreatment at the free fall of a lid .
“They Made Such A Mess Of Everything.”
This quote began talking about women in a pre - Gilead beau monde . " They sate the gentle wind with chemicals and radiation syndrome and toxicant ! So , God whipped up a special pest . The infestation of infertility … as natality fell , they made things tough . Birth mastery pill , morning - after anovulant , murdering babies . Just so they could have their orgy , their Tinder . ”
Aunt Lydia believes that it is all of these gross enactment that led to God punishing fair sex ( and world ) with infertility . Interestingly , God did n’t penalize many charwoman Aunt Lydia believes to be the worst offenders , and they remained fertile . To her , it ’s because they were meant to wait on as handmaids . So really , she charge the girls . Had they not been promiscuous , smoke , occupy drug , and using date stamp apps like Tinder for one - night lure - ups , perhaps Gilead would n’t have been forced to take over and restore social club .
“You Won’t Want What You Cannot Have.”
Season 1, Episode 3 “Late”
It ’s not the line so much that is horrific as it is why and when she enunciate it . Aunt Lydia speaks these word to Ofglen decent after she was drive to have a clitorodectomy , penalization for being what they call a Gender Traitor . Normally , the penalisation would be death , or being send to The Colonies , but since Ofglen / Emily could still bear tyke , she was spared .
Aunt Lydia wanted to verify that Ofglen was fully aware of her tariff as a handmaiden and could never again get pleasure from the experience , either while perform the human action for the house to which she was attribute , or escaping for secret trysts with female lovers . It ’s shivery and worthless on so many level .
“Remember Your Scripture. Blessed Are The Meek.”
When Offred / June talk back to Aunt Lydia , the terrorize noblewoman calmly say this line to put the handmaid back in her spot . It is the handmaid ’s function to be slavish , and she should respect that . But Offred , an often outspoken pricker in Aunt Lydia ’s side , throw away it right back at her and replies “ and blessed are those who tolerate for the cause of righteousness , for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven . ”
Aunt Lydia did n’t take well to this and proceeded to tucker out Offred with her cattle spurring until Serena stopped her , showing that there is a real and grievous threat behind Lydia ’s words .
“You Are So Lucky! So Privileged!”
This was another stock Aunt Lydia redeem to brainwash the handmaid into believe they were dish out God and doing good , and should be give thanks her that they were given this " exclusive right . " The quote began : " They were dirty woman . They were hussy . But you are especial girls . Fertility is a gift given right from God . He left you intact for a Biblical role … you guys will serve the leader of the close and their bare wife . You will bear child for them . ”
The ebullience in Aunt Lydia ’s voice when she delivers this terrific speech to newly - enrol handmaids made it seem as though she was groom these women for a new semester of schooling and about to hand out donut and coffee . But she was actually preparing them to become completely submissive , active participants in bear children for other fair sex . It ’s one of manythings that do n’t make sense inThe Handmaid ’s Tale .
“The World Can Be Quite An Ugly Place.”
The quote carry on : " But we can not bid that ugliness off . We can not cover from that ugliness . ” As fans learned from Aunt Lydia ’s backstory , which was expose in season 3 , even before entering Gilead , she was distressed with the province of the earthly concern . As a instructor to grade 4 students , she witnessed delinquent parenting firsthand , pitiful that these women were graced with child while so many other loving parents were struggling .
In her eyes , God penalise beau monde with infertility , and it was her job to foregather prolific cleaning lady like oxen and practice them to bear child for people she believed would extend good family unit . She truly believed there was no ugliness in this act .
“Ah, Blessed Day.”
Multiple Season And Episodes
They represent a plebeian salutation among people in Gilead , and there ’s nothing really out of the ordinary about these Scripture . In fact , they fathom quite pleasant . Yet when Aunt Lydia walks into or leaves a room uttering them , sports fan can finger their skin crawl .
She does n’t have to say much . But just her salutation permit everyone recognize something fearsome is very likely about to pass , or maybe already has . Ironically , she always delivers this salutation in such a pleasant - sounding agency , which makes her even more ominous knowing what she is capable of beyond the grinning and pleasantries .
“They Won’t Judge You For Your Looks…
…Or Your Clothes Or Your Ability To Sound Clever.”
Aunt Lydia key out what was to come for the new handmaiden . “ Soon you will be leaving us for new homes , a new family line . " The transmission line essentially emphasizes that these women are but to obey , do what they are asked , and that ’s all their unexampled family will handle about .
Aunt Lydia always has a way with word . While she was often challenge by Offred , there was always a reason why she could n’t instantly mutilate or otherwise punish the servant . But she made sure that Offred understood her lieu , often speaking to her as though she were her own daughter . In this line , she let Offred know that while she might have gotten away with things in her current sign of the zodiac by seducing the Commander or with cunning and witty Christian Bible , that was n’t go to work in her new dwelling house .
“I Have Testaments To Your Many Abuses Of Power.”
Season 4, Episode 5 “Chicago”
verbalize to Commander Lawrence - one ofthe best supporting character onThe Handmaid ’s Tale- in an effort to get her locating of great power back , Aunt Lydia slyly threaten him with her cognition of all his wrongdoing , include his blackened market place activity and the fact that he was work with June to help her and the other handmaiden and children escape .
She go on to note that she had sources and witnesses . While Commander Lawrence did n’t appear particularly worried or phased by her threat , he also value Aunt Lydia ’s scheme in endeavor to mould her way into being " of service " to him . He used her to eliminate enemies of his own and reinstated her view , so understandably even if her words did not scare him , she still managed to get what she wanted .
“Only In Suffering Will We Find Grace.”
Season 2, Episode 1 “June”
Despite how close she was to Janine , Aunt Lydia was willing to have her stoned to death for her misbehavior with Commander Warren Putnam and child Angela . However , the handmaids stand up to her and refused to go through with it . Aunt Lydia was not one to be chagrined or disobeyed , but part of her might have been relieved to spare Janine ’s life .
However , punishment was need . And she delivered it in an abominable way , lining up the handmaids and burn their hand on a spicy kitchen range , one by one . It was cruel and malign , but she justified it with this pedigree .
“Did You Behave In A Way That Might Have…
…Invited His Attention?”
Season 5, Episode 6 “Together”
It was n’t so much the line as it was the implication behind it . Even when Aunt Lydia was sample to be sympathetic , she was still accusative towards the handmaids , conceive any bad that might come of them must have been their break . This is precisely what happened when she learned that Esther was pregnant after having been left alone in a way with Commander Putnam , prior to officially being posted to his home and the official sacred " ceremony " take place .
Aunt Lydia deserves some credit for believe Esther once she severalise her what happened and recognise that it was wrong , and that she played a role in allow it happen . Nonetheless , to even enquire Esther such a question was flagitious .
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