Blog #8 Sex in Gilead

What really stood out for me in this reading of The Handmaid's Tale was the part in which the Commander had sex with Offred. It is so routine and emotionless. It is strange that the wife, Serena, holds Offred's hand during the process and watches the entire thing. Although the Republic of Gilead is based on religious values that are supposed to protect women and keep them from being exploited, this process of impregnating the handmaids is very much like rape. It is against their will and forced even though the handmaids can not express their true feelings about it. It is also very strange that Serena spent most of her life being an anti-feminist but when her life changes and finally reflects what she had been advocating, she is unhappy, and depressed. It seems as though she secretly envies Offred for being able to carry a baby, and hates her for having sex with her husband, even though she allows it.