Handmaid's Tale Season 2

[Anonymous]

How large is Gilead? Is it just the Boston area, or the whole northeastern US? I don't understand how they expect to survive if they keep killing off members of their own population. They are having trouble with childbirth rates and fertility; rebels or dissenters are hanged or shot or sent to the Colonies and thus rendered infertile (right?) . . .so how can they expect to survive? Some very short-sighted people in charge of this new state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Eden would be grateful for any crumb of affection from Nick. Just a CRUMB.

It's not in anyone's best interest for him not to at least be nice to her ... least of all his. I truly don't understand how someone intelligent enough to be a freaking EYE can't pull it off.

Husbands in Gilead aren't meant to be loving, affectionate, and kind - he's Eden's boss, not her partner. That's how all good Gilead husbands are - warmth and affection aren't shown.

I think he's also disgusted by the whole of it - forced marriage, child marriage, and still being in love with June. None of it adds up as a reason to be "nice" to her. If he's "nice" it'll almost signal that something's awry.

She's 15. He was clear he was not ok with sex with a 15 year old child as an adult. He's a decent guy just trying to survive.

But saying, "Oh, yellow would be nice on the walls. I like that idea" is hardly the same as ravishing her.

She's expecting a child, which is expected of her.

Huh? Eden is not pregnant.

No, not yet, but she is expected have a child and they had some weird sex to create one at her request.

[Anonymous]

Ah. That comment about weird sex reminded me — what was that creepy sheet thing that nick had to drape over over. Is that because they aren’t allowed to enjoy sex? It’s only for procreation?

Which reminds me, I’m sure this was addressed but I can’t remember, are the wives (wives of the commanders) not allowed to enjoy sex either? So they even have sex? Given it won’t produce babies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah. That comment about weird sex reminded me — what was that creepy sheet thing that nick had to drape over over. Is that because they aren’t allowed to enjoy sex? It’s only for procreation?

Which reminds me, I’m sure this was addressed but I can’t remember, are the wives (wives of the commanders) not allowed to enjoy sex either? So they even have sex? Given it won’t produce babies?

Yes the sheet is for procreation. Some Mormon sects use the sheet. This way you are lusting after her body.

The wives and commanders can have sex, Serena tried in Season 1. I just think by the time you see your husband f*ck the handmaid every month, most wives aren't feeling the desire. It's probably frowned upon, but I don't think it's banned. Men go to Jezebel's for recreational sex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah. That comment about weird sex reminded me — what was that creepy sheet thing that nick had to drape over over. Is that because they aren’t allowed to enjoy sex? It’s only for procreation?

Which reminds me, I’m sure this was addressed but I can’t remember, are the wives (wives of the commanders) not allowed to enjoy sex either? So they even have sex? Given it won’t produce babies?

Yes the sheet is for procreation. Some Mormon sects use the sheet. This way you are lusting after her body.

The wives and commanders can have sex, Serena tried in Season 1. I just think by the time you see your husband f*ck the handmaid every month, most wives aren't feeling the desire. It's probably frowned upon, but I don't think it's banned. Men go to Jezebel's for recreational sex.

I thought Serena tried to have sex with the commander and he told her it was not allowed.

[Anonymous]

How do they decide who will be wives and who will be handmaids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do they decide who will be wives and who will be handmaids?

Handmaids "misbehaved"/sinned in the past. For June, it was being an adulterer.

[Anonymous]

Why would they allow fertile women to be jezebels (moira)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would they allow fertile women to be jezebels (moira)

Moira was considered a bad influence so she couldn't be around other handmaids. Being a jezebel was also a punishment, an alternative to being sent to the colonies. And of course, jezebel was a convenient category for pretty women who broke the rules but well to do men wanted to keep around for sex.

[Anonymous]

I was crying during the singing of America. It just struck such a chord with me in terms of the horror that is going on in our country right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was crying during the singing of America. It just struck such a chord with me in terms of the horror that is going on in our country right now.

Just remember that was also propaganda to make us reflect in that way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was crying during the singing of America. It just struck such a chord with me in terms of the horror that is going on in our country right now.

Just remember that was also propaganda to make us reflect in that way

No, that was fiction. You need to get a better understanding of what propaganda is.

[Anonymous]

Still confused about how the women (and men) are sorted.

How much sinning is required to become a handmaiden? For example, if you’re straight woman, not religious, but slept around a lot (but didn’t produce any children) before settling down and getting married and having kids, do you become a handmaiden or econoperson?

How are Marthas chosen? And the Aunties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was crying during the singing of America. It just struck such a chord with me in terms of the horror that is going on in our country right now.

Just remember that was also propaganda to make us reflect in that way

No, that was fiction. You need to get a better understanding of what propaganda is.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still confused about how the women (and men) are sorted.

How much sinning is required to become a handmaiden? For example, if you’re straight woman, not religious, but slept around a lot (but didn’t produce any children) before settling down and getting married and having kids, do you become a handmaiden or econoperson?

How are Marthas chosen? And the Aunties?

The book doesn’t go into too much detail.

Martha’s and Rita’s (housekeepers in the book) are usually older women.

Unwomen: feminists, Gender betrayers: lesbians, and any women apart of the resistance would be sent to the colonies unless they were known to be fertile.

Econowomen would be fertile women, married without any outright crime (for them or their husbands) or resistance.