What surgery was given to Ofglen?
Immediately after the hanging, Ofglen has her clitoris surgically removed as punishment for being gay.
Why do the Handmaids say blessed be the fruit?
In Margaret Atwood's „The Handmaid's Tale“, „Blessed be the Fruit“ is a form of greeting between the people of the Republic of Gilead. This encourages fertility in a society where women with healthy reproductive system must produce children for the ruling class of men „Commanders“.
How was Emily mutilated in Handmaid's Tale?
With their mouths muzzled forcibly, they are both taken to a sham trial and immediately convicted. While the Martha is sentenced to the Common Mercy of the State via death (with Emily being forced to watch her be hanged), Emily is sentenced to a so-called "Redemption" where her genitals are surgically mutilated.
What happens to handmaids when they are no longer fertile?
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.
Why is Gilead called Gilead?
The name Gilead itself is taken from the Bible, referring to several different locations and generally translated as "hill of testimony." In particular, Gilead is a patriarchal society, where only men have access to higher education.
How do you respond to under his eye?
The traditional reply is “May the Lord open.” “Under His Eye”: The Gileadean equivalent of “Aloha” — it works as both a hello and a goodbye. The Ceremony: The term used to describe the monthly event where Commanders attempt to impregnate Handmaids (who lie between the legs of the Commander's Wife the whole time).
What is a shredder baby?
Unbaby, or shredder, is the term used in the Republic of Gilead to describe infants that are suffering from birth defects or physical deformities. These die shortly after birth due to their defects. They are usually taken away to be disposed of.
Why are handmaids mouths stapled?
The positioning of the mouth guards is because the mouth and face is one of the most emotional parts of the face. She added: “For example when you look at someone and you see they're angry, what's the thing that happens? Their nostrils flare. So that's why it's just the mouth covered.”
Why did they remove Janine's eye?
During season 1 of this season, Janine exhibited her rebellious spirit, especially when she learned what the handmaids would be doing in Gilead. As a result, she's taken out of the room and “corrected” by having her eye removed. The next time viewers see this character, she is “meek,” as Aunt Lydia encouraged.
Why do the handmaids wear wings?
In contrast to red, the handmaids also wear white bonnets and wings to symbolize purity and innocence. The white wings cover their heads and faces to separate them from the world, and to separate the world from them.
Do the commanders sleep with their Wives?
No. Sex is only performed to reproduce and thats what the Handmaids are for.
Why can't the Wives in Gilead have babies?
But what's the cause? 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.
What is the meaning of Blessed be?
The phrase “blessed be” is found in many modern magical traditions. Although it appears in some Pagan paths, it's typically more likely to be used in a NeoWiccan context. It's often used as a greeting, and to say “Blessed be” to someone indicates that you wish good and positive things upon them.
Why do they say under his eye?
“Under His Eye”: How Handmaids formally say goodbye to each other in person. By extension, the phrase suggests that someone—a guardian, a commander, a fellow handmaid, God—is always watching.
What does blessed be thy name mean?
To pray 'hallowed be Your name' means to ask God to let His name be worshipped, exalted, honored, and adored on earth as it is in heaven. It is to ask God to so move and act in the world, that people will worship and treasure Him above all else.
What are some of the sayings from The Handmaid's Tale?
Inspiring Handmaid's Tale Quotes“Now, I'm awake to the world.” — ... “There was an Offred before me. ... "Never mistake a woman's meekness for weakness." — Ambassador Castillo, quoting Serena's book (Season 1, Episode 6)"I'm sorry, Aunt Lydia." — Every Handmaid refusing to stone Janine (Season 1, Episode 10)More items...•
Why are handmaids present at birth?
Handmaids are present at birth to encourage labor through repeated breathing chants. “Blessed are the meek”: Aunt Lydia quotes from Matthew 5:5 but eliminates the subsequent “the meek…shall inherit the earth.”. Offred points out this omission while taking a bath ahead of a Ceremony with the Commander and his Wife.
Why do handmaids wear wings?
Wings: The white bonnet worn on Handmaids to hide their faces and leave them with almost no peripheral vision to “prevent us seeing but also from being seen.”
How many houses can a handmaid have?
Handmaids are assigned to a maximum of three houses and sent to the Colonies if they fail to conceive for all three. Identipasses: ID cards used in Gilead; Offred and Ofglen show their Identipasses at various checkpoints during their walks to the market.
When will the Handmaid's Tale season 4 be released on Hulu?
Hulu’s fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale is just a day away from premiering on April 28 (eek!). Now, the show may be based on Margaret Atwood’s wildly popular dystopian classic that came out way back in 1986, but the story still remains extremely relevant (almost too relevant) to today’s political climate (you know, protests, terrorism threats, ...
What is the ceremony in Hulu?
Ceremony: When a Handmaid is ovulating, she is invited to the Commander’s bedroom to have sex with him while lying between his Wife’s legs in hopes of conceiving. Colonies: Toxic areas that are cleaned by people shunned by Gilead, including Unwomen (see below).
What is the punishment for Emily in Redemption?
The punishment of "redemption" is female genital mutilation (FGM). Though nothing is explicitly stated or shown, the audience is meant to understand that Emily has unwillingly had her clitoris surgically removed. She is told that she can still bear children, but she "won't want what she can't have" (pleasurable sex).
Who played Ofglen in Handmaid's Tale?
The third episode of "The Handmaid's Tale" ended with Ofglen (played by Alexis Bledel) in an eerie hospital recovery room scene. During our interview for INSIDER's new podcast "Showrunners," Bruce Miller explained the decision-making process behind this sequence of events. "In the book, Offred is told that Ofglen kills herself," Miller told INSIDER.
What does the bell toll mean in Offred's Meditation?
Manipulative propagandists add "Blessed are the silent," which Offred recognizes as a spurious interpolation. The bell is tolling an allusion to John Donne's Meditation XVII, which includes the phrase therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.".
Where does the platitude "Forgive them for they know not what they do" come from?
Forgive them, for they know not what they do Aunt Lydia's pious platitude, drawn from Luke 23:34, repeats one of Jesus's final utterances during his crucifixion at Calvary.
Why do women serve as handmaids?
The women who serve as Handmaids often choose to do so because it’s preferable to working to clean up the Colonies (the only other option presented to them by the nation of Gilead). Unwomen: The type of woman who ends up working in the Colonies. Freedom: A relic of the past. New episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale” premiere Wednesdays on Hulu.
What is the name of the woman in Gilead's Handmaids?
They surrender their real names upon assignment, instead referred to as “Of” plus the first name of their commander, such as our heroine Offred (Elisabeth Moss). Their signature color is red.
What is the color of the Sons of Jacob?
Their signature color is red. Commanders: The men who lead the Sons of Jacob. Their uniforms are typically black. Wives: The women married to the Commanders, who (if they’ve been assigned a Handmaid) have proven incapable of bearing children. Their signature color is blue.
So, what does "nolite te bastardes carborundorum" mean on 'The Handmaid's Tale'?
In Season 1 of The Handmaid's Tale, while June is at the end of her rope and fearing for her safety and future in the Waterford home, she sees the words "nolite te bastardes carborundorum" carved into her closet wall. The words were put there by the handmaid who had been in the home before her.
Who was the handmaid who wrote "nolite te bastardes carborundorum" on the wall in Season 1?
In Season 1 of The Handmaid's Tale, June learned that the handmaid who had been placed in the Waterfords' home before her died by suicide. Before she died, though, she carved those pseudo-Latin words into the closet wall.
June could be starting her own revolution on 'The Handmaid's Tale.'
One of the last scenes of The Handmaid's Tale Season 4 shows Fred hanging from a wall, just like handmaids who are believed to have broken laws in Gilead. Their punishments are often severe, and in Season 1 especially, there were many instances of handmaids being hung from walls to show the world how they had sinned.
