Is Aunt Lydia a gender traitor?

“Gender traitor” is the slur used for homosexuals in Gilead, but women like Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia are gender traitors in the most literal sense.

Who are the gender traitors in Handmaids Tale?

In Gilead, a 'gender traitor' is anyone who departs in any way from the strict definitions of sex and sexuality. Such people were hanged or worked to death, in this terrifying dystopia.

What does Aunt Lydia symbolize?

Aunt Lydia's relationship with Offred symbolises the oppressive control that Gilead has over women. Furthermore, by placing a woman in such a violent role, Atwood is suggesting that women can be and are complicit in perpetuating dangerous patriarchal ideas and oppressing other women.

Is Aunt Lydia a good guy?

Secondary to Fred Waterford, the following prominent villain in the series is Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), the head of the handmaid system in charge of indoctrination and discipline.

Does Aunt Lydia turn against Gilead?

Despite seeming to be a true believer at the start of the story (at least in June's eyes, indicating that she might not always be a reliable narrator), Lydia is actually a part of Mayday, working against Gilead in the long game.

The Handmaid's Tale 3x12 - "But you are the gender traitor"

Why does Aunt Lydia love Janine so much?

Lydia sees Janine as a good girl who is unfairly judged and misunderstood. This is the first inclination of a softening heart that audiences preview for Aunt Lydia.

Does Serena become a Handmaid?

Not only has she been edged out of her protected position as the Wife of a powerful Commander, but as a single pregnant woman, she soon became a Handmaid.

Is Aunt Lydia a mole for Mayday?

Revealing herself as Mayday's mole, Aunt Lydia enlists the three young women to smuggle incriminating information about Gilead's elite into Canada.

Who is the villain in Gilead?

Fred Waterford revealing his contempt for "sinners". Fred Waterford is the main antagonist of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale, its film adaptation, and its Hulu Network adaptation.

Is Aunt Lydia a part of Mayday?

Without divulging too much, The Testaments features Aunt Lydia in a pivotal role to the Mayday organization.

Why do Gilead wives wear blue?

Wives are dressed in modest dresses of varying shades of teal/blue, indicative of their supposed 'purity' as non-sinners (compared to the violent, but fertile, shade of red the handmaids wear).

How did Aunt Lydia destroy Gilead?

Lydia turns out to be the mastermind of Gilead's destruction: She's long served as a source for Mayday in Canada, readers discover, and it was she who crafted the plan to smuggle damaging information out of the country in order to ultimately weaken the Gilead regime's leadership.

Why do marthas wear green?

Crabtree said that the brownish green of the aunts' clothes is meant to convey a militaristic degree of authority, calling back to the military uniforms of World War I, while the dull, pale green of the Marthas is meant to evoke a sense that these women are "wither[ing] into their environment."

Why did Aunt Lydia turn in Noelle?

She has a lot of self-shame and doesn't have tremendous thoughts about, belief in herself on a number of levels,” said Dowd. In the end, though, Lydia can't triumph over that shame. It drives her to report Noelle to authorities for being an unfit mother—a decision that spurs Ryan to be separated from her.

Why do they say under his eye?

“Under His Eye” refers to the Christian God, as God is supposedly always watching the Handmaids and their every move, since the Republic of Gilead, the extremist religious society they live in, is “blessed.” The phrase also refers to the powers that be, the very human elements of Gilead's society.

Why do they say blessed be the fruit?

Blessed Be The Fruit: This is essentially 'hello' in Gilead speak, and it's usually met with the response “May The Lord Open” (see below). Alongside being a greeting, it's also meant to encourage fertility – aka, that a Handmaid will be 'blessed' with the 'fruit' of a child.

Why is Gilead infertility?

In the story, an environmental disaster has led to most women becoming infertile, and the small number who are still able to become pregnant are forced to become handmaids, women who are owned by the ruling elite and systematically raped in order to provide them with children.

Who is the most powerful in Gilead?

Commanders of the Faithful, or just simply Commanders, are a social class of powerful men in Gilead. They are the highest ranking members of all Gileadean society and are identified by a gold star on their suits.

Why was Fred a traitor in Gilead?

Fred was considered a traitor among the other Commanders as he agreed to reveal the inside information about the state in exchange for immunity. Therefore, it was hard for Serena to convince the Gileadean government to give him an outstanding funeral.

Why did Aunt Lydia turn evil?

She was detained, tortured, deprived of food, light, and answers, and eventually given a choice: Cooperate or face the consequences. Lydia sees herself as someone who did what she had to do in order to survive. Eventually, she becomes integral to the fall of Gilead.

Who is the father of Serena's baby?

For Serena to have been surprised by the news means she was probably around 12-16 weeks pregnant when she found out in season 4. Although Fred wasn't particularly faithful in their marriage, Serena has been, which means that there's little to no doubt that Fred is the father of Serena's baby.

Will Gilead take Serena's baby?

Serena's circumstances certainly changed. After having her son, Noah, with a major assist from June, she is sent to an immigration detention center and her child is put into the Wheelers' care.

Who is Nick Blaine's Wife?

Eden Blaine, née Spencer, is a recurring character in season 2 of The Handmaid's Tale, when she is married off to Nick Blaine.

Does Gilead ever fall?

Faced with these spiraling external and internal pressures, Gilead collapsed, and the United States was restored. A century after Gilead fell from power, it was the subject of historical studies in universities and symposiums..

Why can't Serena Waterford go back to Gilead?

Serena goes into labor.

She even later tells June she can't go back there because she feels like she's their Handmaid.