Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Wife, Aunt or Martha??

29 replies

Springfern · 18/09/2019 21:27

What would you rather be? Obviously no one wants to be a handmaid!

(Ps Didn't know if this was the right place to post this but I don't think it would make much sense elsewhere)

OP posts:
slipperyeel · 19/09/2019 14:09

Aunt

FinallyHere · 19/09/2019 14:32

Good question.

I would only want to have my own choice, and thought that the whole point of the tale is that you didn't get a choice.

Really want to know why the women didn't rise up and smash the patriarchy. Oh, wait.

cheesewitheverything · 19/09/2019 14:50

Martha, possibly. I'd like being around in the background, cooking and making tea (and eavesdropping and plotting) more than I'd like to be an Aunt /enforcer. The wives have probably the least choice about how they spend their time I think. Marthas at least can chat to others in the kitchen, but wives can't trust anyone for a chat.

moonlight1705 · 19/09/2019 14:51

Aunt - they were allowed to read and write a bit.

Martha - for the community spirit

Wife - for the power!!! Nah, couldn't be a wife although technically if it happened here and now then that is what I would be.

OriginofSpecies · 19/09/2019 18:18

Martha definitely.

OriginofSpecies · 19/09/2019 18:20

I'd say that the Wives are probably the least powerful in real terms. Any power they seem to have is purely symbolic.

Original poster
Springfern · 19/09/2019 18:45

I would definitely prefer to be a Martha. I'm too much of a wimp to be an aunt and I need a gang of women around me!

If Gilead were to seize me now though I'd most likely have to be a handmaid Sad as I'm (probably) fertile and (definitely) a 'slut'

OP posts:
mamapants · 19/09/2019 18:50

A subversive Aunt

loutypips · 19/09/2019 18:52

I'd be an aunt, but not an evil one!

SchrodingersUnicorn · 19/09/2019 18:52

Econowife...

OneOfOurOwn · 19/09/2019 18:53

Probably an econowife.

JingsMahBucket · 19/09/2019 18:55

@SchrodingersUnicorn you stole my answer. I’d want out of that whole system altogether and go about my business. The sucky thing is the neighbours would still be spying on each other.

Mooey89 · 19/09/2019 18:55

I’d be a handmaid probably with my child taken away as a divorced woman with a child!

I’d want to be a Martha though - part of the Martha network bringing it down from within, generally left alone to get on with things, close group.
Couldn’t be an Aunt, not mean enough, couldn’t be a wife (too rapey)

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/09/2019 18:57

I'd probably prefer to be a Martha but I would definitely have been a Handmaid. Now I'm no longer fertile I suppose I'd be sent to the Colonies.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 19/09/2019 18:57

Definitely Martha! They are so badass and remind me of the women who kept the country going during WW2 while all the men were away.

Wouldn’t want to be a wife because, well, they’re all part of the corruption and facilitate rape for their own needs, and then pretend the kid is theirs..... sick.

Wouldn’t want to be an aunt and be complicit in the abuse.

LemonAddict · 19/09/2019 19:02

After reading The Testament I wouldn’t want to be an aunt.

On the whole I’d prefer to be a Martha.

I could only be a wife if my DH was my DH - and that just wouldn’t happen because he wouldn’t go along with the whole regime and he definitely wouldn’t go along with the rapey stuff.

LemonAddict · 19/09/2019 19:03

And I should add - neither would I.

Original poster
Springfern · 19/09/2019 19:49

What is an Ecnowife? I was a bit lost on that...

OP posts:
Original poster
Springfern · 19/09/2019 19:50

Haven't read THT for about 7 years

OP posts:
EmpressLesbianInChair · 19/09/2019 20:03

Econopeople were married couples who were considered moral enough to be allowed to stay together. If you watched the TV show, they’re the ones in grey.

Thegreymethod · 19/09/2019 20:07

@Springfern from what I can gather..... new to THT they're the women who were married with children (but not high profile or powerful) before the change happened.
Marther all the way for me could do what the other women do.

Emmapeeler · 19/09/2019 20:11

I would choose Martha, hands down. Good question Smile

Original poster
Springfern · 19/09/2019 20:28

Pearl girl wouldn't be bad

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 19/09/2019 20:38

Probably a Martha

Chienloup · 12/10/2019 03:38

Econowife. You get to choose your own husband and aren't involved in the raping of handmaids. Perhaps the closest thing to a quiet "normal" life in Gilead.