Just started A Handmaid's Tale. Questions!

[Bluewavescrashing]

Beginning of episode 2,series 1.

1. Why were all the people outside the hospital praying when Offred gave birth to Hannah? Why does the midwife say Praise Be that Hannah is healthy? Why are babies dying? I saw the Aunt's chart in episode 1 about underpopulation but why?

1. If babies are now so precious because of underpopulation (what's the reason for this?) why are only 1 in 5 babies born healthy? Lack of antenatal care can't be the reason. What's happening to the babies?

1. I understand the hierarchy and organisation of society but presumably there must still be factories, farms etc to produce food and uniforms. Where are they and who works there?

You could read the original THT whilst watching season 1.

I personally, think the Testaments should be read after watching season 3.

Can’t wait for season 4 next year.

@Bluewavescrashing

I forgot, as an infertile / single woman if you were (at least outwardly a believer) then you could be an Aunt.

Who would you rather be?

I think if you're married already with 2 kids and arent a troublemaker ie obeyed the regime and said you are a believer, then you’d be safe as an econowife.

I’d keep my head down as an econowife whilst working for the resistance (you’ll find out more about that later).

As DP and I aren’t married but have a DD, it’s likely I’d be a handmaid though.

Thanks for the discussion 😁

I’m actually a bit jealous that you’ve still got it all to watch! I think it’s one of my all time favourite tv shows.

If you were infertile, married (first marriage for both man and wife) with children you could be an econowife?

So my husband would go to work and my children would go to school? Is there school in Gilead? Or would they stay at home with me? Whilst I cooked and cleaned for the 4 of us?

If women are Marthas they are not paid but get their bed and board, correct?

The more I think about it the more questions I have 😁

Was Luke killed because he remarried?

I think you’d be safe as an econowife. They go to school to be religiously indoctrinated and learn things that are suitable for their gender.

You would have to pretend to believe in their extreme version of religion though and do as you were told by the ruling classes. Both economen and econowives seem to work - you’ll learn a bit more about them in series 2.

Martha’s are definitely econopeople. We get to know one quite well throughout series 1,2 and 3. I think her husband and son died so she’s not deemed an unwoman. She gets her board and lodging in return for being a housekeeper.

@Bluewavescrashing

You’ll find out more about Luke later on in series 1. I don’t want to spoil it for you.

Did Emily have FGM??

Yes she did. For being a gender traitor.

Her partner was executed (assuming they did that because she was infertile and no use to them). Emily is fertile so she stayed alive but had fgm (to stop the gender traitor urges, as well as punishment).

Rachel and Jacob--they are quoted by Aunt Lydia in the red centre as the handmaids rehearse for the ceremony. Is this a new biblical text?

Yes, there are a lot of biblical references.

Rachel and Leah Centre - where the handmaid’s are “trained”

Sons of Jacob - the terrorists who over threw the US government and are now in charge of Gilead

Loaves and Fishes - the food shop

Eye - as in under his eye and also the Stasi like police who watch everyone

Angels and Guardians - military and police

Martha

Handmaid

Even the wives wearing blue to represent the Virgin Mary mother figure.

A lot of it based on the bible as Sons of Jacob are an extreme Christian sect.

www.aresearchguide.com/handmaids-tale-biblical-references.html

Thanks. I was disappointed for a moment as we don’t have sky but remembered I’d signed up to now tv for Christmas for the movies so should be able to watch.

I’m listenjng to the audiobook at present. Never read it previously. It’s so fascinating.

Out TV has a problem tonight 🙄 I need some time to recover and process what I've seen actually. Feeling a bit anxious and paranoid, touchy with DH too. It's definitely hit a nerve.

You can read the book in parallel - it explains many things you might not get from the series, and the storyline has not been significantly modified, so you won't get confused.

And yes, it really makes you think. M.A has said she has not made things up, they have all been based on real life events. Take Berlin wall for example - one day you are happily moving around in your city as you wish, and suddenly one morning there's a wall built, no way to cross, even if half your family stayed on the other side. And not to even mention the crazy anti-abortion laws being written all over the US at the moment..

I am definitely appreciating the freedoms and choices I have this morning.

Women are so strong.

Just finished episode 6.

I hope the women rebel as a group and chop all the Commanders' nuts off.

A small problem indeed 😠

Gilead lasts for a few decades, I’m afraid. There are some individual acts of rebellion though.

Just got to the bit where Ofglen drives the car around the market. Hearing June telling the officials from the other nation what its really like was heartbreaking.

And the children in the party room, with the handmaids silently watching, trying to work out which were theirs.

Serena watching the ideals she so wanted becoming reality and being chained to the house.

The horror or trading handmaids 😱