Article contributed by Holly Angus
The Handmaid’s Tale is based on the novel by Margaret Atwood and it depicts a dystopian United States where fertile women are used as a national resource. Women have slowly lost their jobs, rights to their bank accounts, right to contraceptives, and eventually the rights to their reproductive systems. Handmaidens are fertile women who have been captured by an authoritarian religious group, the Sons of Jacob, controlling the country and are used to carry the children of prominent political figures, the Commanders, for their barren wives.
The series main character Offred, previously Jude was a mother, to a young girl named Hannah, and wife before her kidnapping. Her best friend’s name is Moira, who ends up at the red centre for training the handmaids. All handmaids are trained, tortured, and renamed before their assignments to different families. Female teachers who are committed to the Sons of Jacob are addressed as ‘Aunt’. Many women are dismembered, electrocuted, burned, or have their eyes removed if they disobey the Sons of Jacob. This religious group believes that women are powerless and subject to their husbands’ decisions. Moira and Offred attempt escape while at the Red Camp, however, when things go awry, Moira escapes, leaving Offred to suffer the consequences.
Offred is assigned to the Waterford home, the Commander who was the mastermind behind the overtaking and violent spree in the United States of America and the head of the religious order. The Commander has taken a special liking to Offred and often invites her to play Scrabble alone in his office at night. Mrs. Waterford previously named Serena Joy, a successful and independent business woman who sacrificed her career and autonomy for the Commander, treats Offred horribly right upon her arrival. Offred is warned by the other handmaids that Nick, the Waterford’s driver, is an eye (a spy for the Sons of Jacob). Offred quickly learns that the previously handmaid hung herself during her time at the Waterfords. After a few ‘ceremonies’ and no pregnancy, Mrs Waterford breaks the law and has Offred sleep with Nick, assuming that the Commander is infertile.
Ofglen, or Emily, is a lesbian who is secretly aligned with a rebel group called Mayday. When her rebellion is found out, the Aunts take her and perform female genital mutilation as a means of punishing her for her treachery, as well as being lesbian. Aunt Lydia chooses this punishment because it removes the pleasure of sex while still being able to reproduce children, not hindering Ofglen’s duty as a handmaid.
Commander Watergate invites Offred to put on makeup and dress-up in clubbing clothes and accompany him to an illegal brothel house, Jezebel’s, for the night. There she encounters Moira again, and learns that she was caught shortly after her escape and would either be forced to be a slave in the colonies or a prostitute at Jezebel’s. She now works to please the rich Commanders of the Sons of Jacob. Commander Waterford then forces himself on Offred.
Janine renamed as Ofwarren is a handmaid who successfully reproduces for her assigned family but quickly tries to escape with the child. After a failed suicide attempt, Aunt Lydia captures her and attempts to have the other handmaidens stone her to death. Each of the handmaids refuse to kill their friend and disobey the Order, thus, rebelling against ‘God’s Will’, severely angering the Aunts.
In the season finale, Offred learns that her husband, Luke, was not killed when they were separated but he sought out asylum in Canada. Offred also learns that she is pregnant, but is unaware if it is the Commander’s baby or Nick’s. Also, Moira successfully escapes for a second time and is taken in as a refugee in Toronto, Canada. There she meets Luke and they plot to get Jude back.
The episode leaves off with the Handmaid’s refusing the commands of the Aunts, feeling empowered and sympathetic to Ofwarren, leaving the viewer wondering if a possible rebellion is in store for season two.
“How could they give us a uniform and not expect an army?”
Need a refresher on what happens in Season 2? Then head to our Season 2 Recap!
