The End of the Book
The conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale leaves readers with a sense of uncertainty and dread, mirroring the constant state of fear experienced by the characters living under Gilead's regime.
Key events at the end of the book include:
- Ofglen's disappearance and probable capture
- Serena's discovery of Offred's secret outings with the Commander
- Offred's contemplation of suicide or violence
- The arrival of a van, likely to take Offred away
Highlight: The ambiguous ending leaves Offred's fate uncertain, reflecting the precarious existence of Handmaids in Gilead.
Ofglen, Offred's shopping partner and member of the resistance, is replaced by a new Handmaid. Offred later learns that Ofglen allegedly committed suicide, though the truth of this claim is questionable given Gilead's propensity for cover-ups.
Quote: "She later gets the information that Ofglen commited suicide."
Serena, the Commander's wife, confronts Offred about her secret outings with the Commander to Jezebel's, a hidden nightclub. This revelation puts Offred in extreme danger.
Vocabulary: Jezebel's - A secret nightclub in Gilead where Commanders engage in forbidden activities, named after the Biblical figure Jezebel.
As the novel reaches its climax, Offred finds herself trapped and considering desperate measures. The approach of a van, likely sent to take her away, fills her with regret for not taking action earlier.
Quote: "Offred starts to think about ways to kill herself or how she could harm Serena. She hears the van approaching and she realizes what will happen next. She regrets that she did not do something while she had the chance."
This open-ended conclusion leaves readers to speculate about Offred's fate, mirroring the uncertainty and fear that permeates life under Gilead's oppressive rule. The ambiguity serves to underscore the precarious existence of those living under totalitarian regimes and the ever-present threat of disappearance or execution.
