Handmaid S Tale Commander Wife

The Commander's Wife in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale: A Study in Power and Complicity

Margaret Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, The Handmaid's Tale, presents a complex social structure where women are stripped of their rights and relegated to specific roles based on their perceived reproductive capabilities. While Handmaids are the focal point of the narrative's oppression, the Commanders' wives, seemingly powerful figures, play a crucial yet ambiguous role in upholding the Gilead regime. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of the Commander's wife, exploring their power, limitations, and complicity in the totalitarian system.

The Illusion of Power: Social Status and Restricted Agency

The Commander's wives occupy a seemingly privileged position within Gilead's hierarchy. They are the wives of the ruling class, enjoying material comforts and social standing unavailable to other women. They reside in spacious homes, wear distinctive attire, and are addressed with a certain level of respect. However, this apparent power is largely illusory. Their authority is derived solely from their husbands' positions, and their agency is severely curtailed. Their lives are defined by rigid social expectations and religious dogma, limiting their freedom of expression, movement, and even thought. For example, Serena Joy Waterford, the most prominent Commander's wife, is shown to be desperately yearning for a child, a desire that drives her manipulative actions but is ultimately constrained by the societal rules she helped establish. Her power lies in subtle manipulations and strategic use of the system, not in genuine autonomy.

The Paradox of Fertility and Powerlessness: The Desperate Pursuit of Legacy

The central paradox within the Commander's wife's existence lies in their desperate pursuit of fertility – a biological imperative that clashes sharply with their societal position. Many Commanders' wives are infertile, a condition that undermines their status and threatens their husbands' legacy. This infertility makes them reliant on the Handmaids, ironically fueling the very system that oppresses them. This dependence creates a complex dynamic of resentment, jealousy, and even a twisted form of camaraderie with the Handmaid assigned to their household. Serena Joy's obsession with bearing a child highlights this: her actions, despite their cruelty, are often motivated by a deep-seated desire for maternal fulfillment and a secure place in Gilead's patriarchal structure.

Complicity and Silent Consent: Enabling the Regime Through Inaction and Manipulation

While Commanders actively enforce Gilead's laws, their wives are complicit through their inaction and subtle manipulations. Their silence, their acceptance of the regime's brutal practices, and their strategic use of the system to maintain their position are all forms of complicity. They are not mere victims; their acquiescence allows the system to perpetuate its oppressive mechanisms. For instance, Serena Joy's initial participation in the creation of Gilead's laws and her later attempts to subtly manipulate the system to achieve her goals exemplify this complicity. She benefits from the oppression of others, even as she experiences her own forms of limitation.

The Internal Conflicts: A Glimpse of Humanity Beneath the Facade

Despite their complicity, many Commander's wives demonstrate signs of internal conflict and disillusionment. Their carefully constructed facade of piety and obedience occasionally cracks, revealing glimpses of their humanity. Their desires for connection, autonomy, and genuine love are often suppressed, but not entirely extinguished. This internal struggle adds depth to their characters, preventing them from becoming simply one-dimensional villains. Serena Joy's moments of doubt and her complex relationship with Offred exemplify this internal struggle.

The Shifting Sands of Power Dynamics: Agency within Constraint

The Commander's wives, despite their limited agency, still possess the ability to influence events within their confined spheres. They can manipulate their Handmaids, subtly undermine other wives, and even, on occasion, exert a degree of influence over their husbands. These subtle acts of power are often crucial to their survival and even provide small moments of resistance against the system. Their power lies in navigating the complex social dynamics of Gilead, using their position to achieve limited goals, however morally ambiguous those goals may be.

Summary

The Commander's wives in The Handmaid's Tale are multifaceted characters who embody the complexities of power and complicity in a totalitarian regime. Their positions offer a veneer of privilege, yet they are fundamentally constrained by the very system they help to maintain. Their internal conflicts, subtle manipulations, and complicity in the oppression of others illuminate the intricate dynamics of power and the moral ambiguities of survival within a dystopian society.

FAQs

1. Are Commander's wives truly powerful? No, their power is largely illusory and derived from their husbands' positions. Their agency is significantly restricted by Gilead's laws and social expectations.

2. How do Commander's wives contribute to Gilead's oppression? Through their silent consent, their acceptance of the regime's brutality, and their strategic manipulations within the system, they enable Gilead's oppressive structures.

3. Do Commander's wives experience any internal conflict? Yes, many exhibit signs of internal conflict and disillusionment, revealing glimpses of humanity beneath their facade of piety and obedience.

4. What motivates the actions of Commander's wives? Their actions are often driven by a desire for fertility, a need to maintain their social status, and a yearning for connection and love.

5. Do Commander's wives have any agency within the system? Yes, though limited, they can subtly influence events through manipulation and navigation of Gilead's complex social dynamics. Their power lies in using the constraints of the system to their advantage.

Search Results:

List of The Handmaid's Tale (TV series) characters - Wikipedia Eleanor Lawrence (portrayed by Julie Dretzin) is Commander Lawrence's long-suffering wife. Holly Maddox (portrayed by Cherry Jones ) is June's mother, an outspoken feminist. Jones …

The Handmaid's Tale (TV series) - Wikipedia The Handmaid's Tale is an American dystopian television series created by Bruce Miller, ... Julie Dretzin as Eleanor Lawrence (seasons 2–3), the mentally unstable wife of Commander …

The Handmaid's Tale Serena Joy Character Analysis Though the Commander's wife, Serena Joy, had been an advocate for "traditional values" and the establishment of the Gileadean state, she is bitter at the outcome. She is confined to her home …

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: What Happened to Commander Lawrence’s Wife… 6 Nov 2022 · Commander Lawrence and his wife Eleanor are an enigma throughout The Handmaid’s Tale. The pair are first introduced in season 2 when Emily gets posted in their …

Trailer und deutsches Startdatum für „The Handmaid‘s Tale“ … 12 Feb 2025 · Die finale Staffel von „The Handmaid‘s Tale“ steht kurz bevor. Ein neuer Trailer gibt Einblicke in das, was kommt und wann es soweit ist. ... Neu mit dabei ist Josh Charles („The …

The Handmaid’s Tale’s “different” finale series is arriving soon! 13 Feb 2025 · The Handmaid's Tale series 6 is coming sooner than we expected and we've got all the details. ... officer Fred Waterford and his wife Serena. ... Strahovski) tries to reform Gilead …

Eleanor Lawrence | The Handmaid's Tale Wiki | Fandom Eleanor Lawrence is a recurring character in the second and third seasons of the TV series. She is the Wife of Commander Joseph Lawrence, to whom Emily and later June are assigned as …

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: What Is Serena Joy’s Real Name? 23 Jun 2021 · One of the main characters from Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a character named Serena Joy, who often appeared alongside her husband, Fred Waterford. Before her life in …

'The Handmaid's Tale': 10 Rules Wives Follow In Gilead - Collider 30 Oct 2022 · Wives must accept any actions of their Commander, regardless of infidelity or cruelty, as well as any punishment that comes their way. With the social ranking dictating that …

Serena Waterford | The Handmaid's Tale Wiki | Fandom Serena Joy Waterford is a major character in The Handmaid's Tale. She is the Wife of Commander Fred Waterford who is using June Osborne as Offred to try and obtain a child, …

Rose Blaine | The Handmaid's Tale Wiki | Fandom Rose Blaine, nee Wharton, is a character in The Handmaid's Tale. She is the Wife of Commander Nick Blaine and a daughter of High Commander Wharton.

Mrs. Waterford On 'The Handmaid's Tale' May Look Familiar 26 Apr 2017 · Yvonne Strahovski Is The Commander's Wife. The Handmaid's Tale portrays a terrifying future in which some women are forced to be Handmaids, bearing the children of …

The Handmaid‘s Tale Staffel 6: Trailer und deutsches Startdatum … 12 Feb 2025 · Die sechste Staffel von „The Handmaid‘s Tale“ markiert das Serienfinale. Ein kürzlich veröffentlichter Trailer enthüllt, was uns erwartet und wann. Bald steht das große …

I don’t understand commander Lawrence : r/TheHandmaidsTale - Reddit He actually loved his wife, but refused to have children, and tried to refuse to have a handmaid. And he wasn’t afraid to mock or criticize other commanders in his characteristically snarky …

‘The Handmaid’s Tale' Season 6’: Everything We Know So Far 13 Feb 2025 · The first glimpse at The Handmaid's Tale season 6 came in November 2024, when a short clip from the upcoming season was included in a Hulu/Disney+ sizzle reel. Serena can …

'The Handmaid's Tale' season 6 release date revealed - Tom's … 13 Feb 2025 · These Handmaids are subjected to childbearing slavery. One of these Handmaids is June Osborne, who was renamed Offred when she was assigned to the home of …

Wondering What's Up With Commander Lawrence's Wife on The Handmaid's ... 6 Jun 2019 · In season three, Eleanor plays along during Aunt Lydia's visit, but not long before telling her husband that she wanted to go. She also aids June with hiding a bleeding Martha …

The Handmaid's Tale - Wikipedia The Handmaid's Tale is a futuristic dystopian novel [6] by Canadian author Margaret Atwood published in 1985. [7] ... Serena Joy is a former televangelist and the Commander's Wife in the …

Commander Lawrence | The Handmaid's Tale Wiki | Fandom He was married to Eleanor Lawrence until her suicide and is the head of a household in which Emily and June were nominally enslaved as Handmaids.

Ten Things About Commander Lawrence's Wife Every Handmaid's Tale … 28 Aug 2019 · One of the most fascinating new characters introduced in season two of The Handmaid’s Tale was Commander Joseph Lawrence, a man who helped build Gilead and at …

Which Handmaid's Tale Stars Are — and Aren't - Us Weekly 14 Feb 2025 · Hulu's ‘The Handmaid's Tale’ will wrap up its journey with a sixth and final season after a nearly three-year hiatus. ... She has played Commander Putnam’s wife since the show …

Book/show: How did one become the wife of a commander? In the book the daughters of commanders are married off to high ranking officials and officers. Lower status men are also assigned wives by the regime (June comments that Nick is too …

Why commanders and wives don't try for a baby for themselves ... - Reddit This is why they celebrate whenever a wife or handmaid does get pregnant. Pregnancy is not a common occurrence, and when an economan or commander is able to impregnate his wife or …

'The Handmaid's Tale': 3 theories about Commander Lawrence's wife ... 8 Jul 2019 · 'The Handmaid's Tale' season 3 features Julie Dretzin in the role of Eleanor Lawrence, wife of Commander Lawrence, a character shrouded mystery. One of the few …

Serena Joy Character Analysis in The Handmaid’s Tale - LitCharts Also known as the Commander ’s Wife, she is unable to have children and therefore requires Offred ’s services. Before Gilead, she was a singer who became famous on TV for her …

The Handmaid's Tale: Character List - SparkNotes The Commander’s Wife, Serena worked in pre-Gilead days as a gospel singer, then as an anti-feminist activist and crusader for “traditional values.” In Gilead, she sits at the top of the female …

Commander Winslow’s wife? : r/TheHandmaidsTale - Reddit 27 Nov 2022 · After hearing of her husband's alleged disappearance, Olivia visits Eleanor Lawrence, accompanied by Naomi Putnam. She expresses concern that if her husband is not …