Understanding the Future of Handmaids' Daughters in 'The Handmaid's Tale'

One of the central themes of the critically acclaimed series 'The Handmaid's Tale' explores the destiny of its most vulnerable characters, particularly the daughters of Handmaids and Wives. These young girls face a grim future, as their lives are controlled and defined by the patriarchal regime of Gilead. This article delves into the different roles these girls may be assigned and the themes that underpin their fate.

The Roles of Handmaids' Daughters in Gilead

Within the dystopian world of Gilead, children from specific social classes are destined for particular fates. Girls from powerful families may be groomed to become Wives, expected to marry high-ranking men and manage households. They are indoctrinated to uphold the values of Gilead, focusing on obedience and domesticity. Others who are deemed fertile but do not come from elite backgrounds may be trained to become Handmaids, forced to bear children for the ruling class. This role is marked by subjugation and a loss of autonomy.

Are the Girls Going to Be Wives or Handmaids?

The series 'The Handmaid's Tale' leaves the future of these children ambiguous. It is an open question whether these girls will be Wives or Handmaids, with the narrative suggesting a grim outlook for girls in Gilead. Their identities and destinies are largely determined by the patriarchal structure of the regime.

Clarifying the Role of Handmaids

The purpose of Handmaids is not to produce offspring for other women but to bear children for the Commanders. This misconception arises due to the lack of clarity in the source material and ongoing discussions. In the book, the experiment to breed children for the wealthy has not been going on long enough to involve the newly bred babies. The handmaids are essentially slaves of childbearing age and come from the population that wasn't in power during the political revolution. The novel provides limited information, leaving much to the imagination.

Explanations According to the Series and Books

In both the novel and the TV show, a Handmaid in Gilead must meet the following criteria:

Their sins against Gilead's Old Testament god and/or the state, whether these are sins against earthly laws or religious beliefs. Cannot have a living husband, as Gilead does not recognize divorce and a husband will not count as a husband if either party was previously divorced. Must demonstrate fertility, specifically with a previous pregnancy. Gilead is technoregressive, so they avoid modern fertility testing to avoid undermining their patriarchal stance.

In the show, it's entirely possible that Eden Blaine, a character who was fertile but had not yet proven it, was not assigned as a Handmaid and was instead uted for treason. All babies born in Gilead households—whether to low-status "econopeople" or high-status Commanders—are presumed loyal. They are indoctrinated from birth, and girls are assigned husbands as soon as their bodies can safely bear children. In Season 3, Episode 9, this appears to be measured by the size of their pelvis once they've reached menarche. Husbands are assigned based on social status and little else.

If a new wife does not fall pregnant within a couple of years and her husband is a Commander with sufficient status, then a handmaid will be assigned to the couple. However, Gilead's long-term goal is to create a healthy, fertile new generation and to phase out the handmaid program. They do this to create an illusion of walking the walk, meaning they must at least superficially demonstrate they will protect and reward compliant citizens. The justification for the handmaids is that these presumed sinful women need to redeem themselves for salvation. If Gilead turned the loyal young daughters into low-status sex slaves, it would undermine their own religious pretext and bolster the resistance movement.

Understanding the future of Handmaids' daughters in 'The Handmaid's Tale' involves delving into the complex and often brutal societal structures of Gilead. The roles these girls face are not predetermined, but rather a result of the arbitrary and oppressive system in place. Each girl's fate is a product of the patriarchal and religious indoctrination of Gilead, leaving many questions unanswered and much to ponder about the nature of power, gender roles, and reproductive control.