(Handmaids, for example, could never be Wives, due to their controversial nature). Many Wives in the early days of Gilead were supporters of Gilead’s creation or married to the men who became Gilead’s founders and leaders. … As a result, Wives have to ‘share’ their husbands with Handmaids, in order to get a child.
Similarly, What happens to handmaids when they get old?
Handmaids are forgiven for being fallen women if they bear children for Gilead’s elite. But if they don’t bear any children, they’re labeled “unwomen” and sent to the colonies. In Gilead’s eyes, fallen women who become Handmaids are seen as forgiven by God if they become pregnant and give birth.
Additionally, Can a handmaid become an aunt? To become an Aunt, a young woman must receive a calling to higher service. They then go through an interview process at Ardua Hall with the four Founding Aunts (Elizabeth, Helena, Vidala and Lydia in that order) to see if they have the right temperament to formally join.
What happens if a handmaid can’t get pregnant?
If, after the third time, they are not able to produce a living, healthy baby, they will be sent off to the Colonies to face certain death. Handmaids that become infertile or reach a certain age without having ever conceived are also sent to the Colonies, as are women who refuse to become Handmaids.
What happens to the handmaids in the colonies?
Designed for troublesome Handmaids who refuse to subject to the existing process, Magdalene Colonies are camps where Handmaids will be forced into performing agricultural labour, like the “unwomen” condemned to clear nuclear waste in The Colonies.
Why can’t the commanders wives have babies?
In The Handmaid’s Tale, infertility is linked to another one of Gilead’s prominent problems: pollution. As revealed in the season 1 episode “A Woman’s Place,” inorganic farming and radioactivity are to blame for declining fertility.
Why are Econowives not handmaids?
They are married women whose husbands rank lower than Commander or Professional, such as Guardians or Economen. Their husbands cannot be allocated a Handmaid if they prove infertile, nor can a Martha help around the house; thus Econowives must bear children and do domestic work.
Who becomes an aunt in Gilead?
Following the bombing in Chicago, viewers wondered if Janine was alive or became another casualty of June’s war against the totalitarian regime. Janine resurfaced during episode 8, “Testimony,” after nearly starving to death before being captured. Commander Lawrence then handed Janine over to Aunt Lydia.
How did Lydia become an aunt?
In the Season 3 episode “Unfit,” we’re introduced to a pre-Gilead Lydia Clements. As it turns out, Aunt Lydia was once an elementary school teacher with a background in family law. This Lydia wore her hair down, and was once married to a man. … Still, she seems to revel in being called “Aunt Lydia” by the fourth grader.
Why can’t they have babies in Handmaid’s Tale?
Excessive pollution causing climate change is also indicated as an underlying factor for the drastic change in fertility. … Gilead uses a different method to procreate in the most natural way at the cost of the fertile women’s freedom by forcing them to become Handmaids if they are sinful in the eye of Gileads laws.
What causes infertility in Handmaid’s Tale?
In the story, an environmental disaster has led to most women becoming infertile, and the small number who are still able to become pregnant are forced to become handmaids, women who are owned by the ruling elite and systematically raped in order to provide them with children.
Is Serena Joy infertile?
Serena assumed Fred was infertile and orchestrated a sexual encounter between June and Nick. This resulted in June’s pregnancy with Nichole. (This act is what ultimately got her arrested.) It was also previously implied Serena couldn’t get pregnant because of a gunshot wound she suffered before the Gilead coup.
How is Gilead overthrown?
In the novel
Eventually, the military conducts a coup (in an attempt to restore basic order) concurrent with a popular revolt due to the Ba’al Purge, throwing Gilead into civil strife and chaos.
How did Ofglen get out of the colonies?
Offred tells Ofglen about her family and failed escape attempt, whilst Ofglen in turn reveals she had a wife and son, Oliver, who fled to Canada. … She tells Offred that her wife and son had Canadian passports and thus were able to escape while she herself did not.
What are the handmaids digging in the colonies?
Emily and her fellow “unwomen” are supposedly removing the Colonies’ radioactive soil so that Gilead can plant crops in the area — the idea is that removing pollution will help solve the fertility crisis — but their labor is just as much a solution as it is a political tool.
Why do the commanders wives pretend to give birth?
No, the woman on the floor is the very NOT pregnant wife of the husband Janine was forced to have sex with. But her best gal pals don’t want her to feel like she’s missing out or that Janine might be superior for physically birthing the child, so they pretend she is due for labor any moment.
Why are the wives of Gilead infertile?
In the story, an environmental disaster has led to most women becoming infertile, and the small number who are still able to become pregnant are forced to become handmaids, women who are owned by the ruling elite and systematically raped in order to provide them with children.
Why is Waterford infertile?
Serena assumed Fred was infertile and orchestrated a sexual encounter between June and Nick. This resulted in June’s pregnancy with Nichole. (This act is what ultimately got her arrested.) It was also previously implied Serena couldn’t get pregnant because of a gunshot wound she suffered before the Gilead coup.
Who are Econowives and why don’t they like handmaids?
“They are not handmaids because they committed no crimes and were in legitimate heterosexual marriages pre-Gilead.” In the book, there are seemingly hints in the epilogue to econowives being pressured into a handmaid’s role, but the show has yet to hint that this might be the case down the line.
Why is Heather not a handmaid?
Her relationship with her husband Luke began before he was technically divorced, which seems to be a pretty big deal in Gilead. … “They are not handmaids because they committed no crimes and were in legitimate heterosexual marriages pre-Gilead.”
Why do the Marthas hate June?
One hates June because, as she says, everyone who helps June gets killed, but the other Martha says two handmaids entered Chicago a week ago.
Does Jeanine become an aunt?
After June and Janine managed to escape to Chicago, a bombing left Janine’s fate unknown for several episodes. However, it was later revealed that she was captured and returned to Aunt Lydia’s (Ann Dowd) care.
What happened aunt Irene?
Irene wants Emily to forgive her and winds up on her knees, begging, but June points out that Irene passed herself off as another refugee to find sanctuary in Canada. Emily ultimately tells Irene that there’s nothing she can do to fix what’s happened, and the former aunt sobs.
Who was aunt Sara and aunt?
Likewise, the aunts, Sara and Elizabeth, bear Old Testament names reflecting motherhood — Sarah, Hebrew for princess, the elderly woman who became the mother of the Hebrew nation; and Elizabeth, the aged parent of John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ.