This section of The Handmaid’s Tale provides greater insight into the how the Gilead assumed power. We learn that after “the catastrophe,” members of the Gilead “shot the president and machine-gunned the Congress” (174). Offred recounts that in the moment, these acts were blamed on “the Islamic fanatics” (174). After these attacks, the Gilead authority suspended the Constitution. New regulations were implemented: newspaper censorship, roadblocks, and closure of “Pornomarts,” “Feels on Wheels vans,” and “Bun-Dle Buggies” (174). These changes reflect the beginning of a shift towards a conservative society. Offred notes that Moira worked for a women’s collective at the time that the Gilead assumed power. Moira worked in the publishing division and “they put out books on birth control and rape” (178). I found this piece of information interesting; prior to the Gilead, Moira worked as an activist for women’s rights, yet we know that Moira defied authority and escaped the Center as a mechanism for survival/maintaining autonomy. I think that her occupation prior to the Gilead and her decision to the escape from the Center relate in the sense that both decisions reflect a desire to stand up for what she believes in.
I am very interested to see how Offred’s relationship with the Commander continues to develop. In this section, we learn that the previous Handmaid gathered the phrase “nolite te bastardes carborundorum” through visits she had with the Commander. Moreover, we learn that the previous Handmaid hung herself from the light fixture in her room. This helps to explain why the Commander continues to invite Offred into his office – to make sure her life is “bearable” (187). This confirms that the Commander’s own feelings serve as motivation for his actions.
I felt it was interesting how Atwood chose “Islamic fanatics” as the excuse for the attacks on Congress and the President. This book was written in the 1980s, which suffered far less fear of terrorism than the post-9/11 world we live in now. With the rise of Donald Trump and the imposed travel bans on Islamic countries stirring up fear of these “Islamic fanatics,” it further emphasizes the reason for Atwood to recreate the story in the form of the Hulu series.
Given Moira’s activist background, I wish that she had actually stayed in Gilead and tried to make a difference internally. Leaving Gilead seems to be against her activist ways because she was only helping herself and not anyone else. Of course anyone will the ability to leave Gilead would without a doubt take up that opportunity, but I just thought that for Moira her decision to leave was perhaps counter intuitive.
I thought it was interesting how we learn that the Commander is inviting Offred into his office in order to make her life “bearable” when he still has very little understanding of how dire her situation is. For instance, he was amused when he learned that the Handmaids hide butter in order to moisturize their skin and patronized Offred, making her want to slap him. It’s interesting to see him want to help her while still being relatively tone deaf.
We begin to see more and more examples of how humans are unable to prevent their feelings from guiding their actions. Although I continue to hold my ground that we should not defend the commander’s position, at least we are able to see parts of him which indicate a defiance to the incredibly oppressive regime.
I loved learning about Moira’s background this chapter. I was especially interested in her work with organizations that promoted knowledge of birth control. That combined with her status as a gay women left me wondering how she became accepted as a handmaid rather than just an “unwoman.” Would Gilead really overlook those factors just because she can bear children? It’s hard to say.