Section 12: Jezebel's - Chapter thirty-four

Synopsis of chapter thirty-four

A Commander comes onto the platform where the Prayvaganza is being held and speaks to the crowd about thanksgiving for Gilead's victories. Then twenty Angels (members of Gilead's army) and twenty young girls go through the ceremony of an arranged marriage. Offred remembers her Commander arguing that young women are better off under such a system in Gilead, scorning the necessity of love.

Offred thinks about another ceremony that sometimes takes place at a Prayvaganza, in which a former nun, after being tortured, might give up her vows and become a Handmaid.

As this current Prayvaganza continues, the Commander leading it reads words from the Bible about the need for modesty in women and their subservient role. In contrast, Offred remembers Moira's deliberately outrageous attitude to the Aunts and feels that only by such derision can the powers-that-be in Gilead be deflated (mentally if not actively).

As they leave the Prayvaganza, Ofglen tells Offred that it is known to the anti-Gilead rebels that Offred makes secret visits to the Commander, and tells Offred to use the occasions to glean any information.

Commentary on chapter thirty-four

hard not to be impressed, but I make an effort - Offred is determined to keep her mental freedom. Mocking the régime in one's own head is a vital way of refusing to give in to it. (Atwood herself demonstrates this by her use of satire in her writings.)

There is a Balm in Gilead - this is a traditional African-American spiritual hymn, which refers to the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit to heal. The phrase ‘balm in Gilead' refers to Jeremiah 8:22.

The hymn begins:

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work's in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

The rulers in Gilead think that they know who are sinners and who is spiritually ‘whole'.

There is a bomb in Gilead - Moira sees only too clearly the violence by which the rulers of Gilead enforce their ideas, and she mocks them by substituting the word ‘bomb' for ‘balm'.

The arrangement of the marriages. The marriages are of course arranged - Offred puns on the word ‘arranged'. The mothers do the organising e.g. of clothing, and the weddings are also ‘arranged' in the sense that the mothers decide whom the girl is to marry. The girl herself will have no choice.

Are they old enough … after that they won't - Offred knows that in a short time this way of life will seem normal to future teenagers, and the chance of girls rebelling against it will therefore be much less.

We've given them more than we've taken away - Offred's Commander makes the same point as Aunt Lydia does in chapter 5, when she says that ‘freedom from' the miseries of the previous way of life are more significant than the loss of ‘freedom to'. The Commander echoes Job 1:21, demonstrating how the ruling elite has usurped the authority attributed to God

What did we overlook? Love, I said - this is one of the most important messages of Atwood's novel - that love between humans is essential to our well-being. She is here reinforcing the comment made by Offred in chapter 18: ‘It's lack of love we die from.' See Themes and significant ideas > Human relationships.

No mooning and June-ing around her - Aunt Lydia is referring to sentimental love-songs where ‘moon' and ‘June' were stereotypically rhymed. However, may there be an additional pun here? Is ‘June' Offred's real name? (See the commentary on chapter 1.

the … welts on their feet … in Solitary - Clearly the nuns who ‘recant' do not do so from conviction, but after torture.

The Commander continues with the service - The words quoted by the Commander come from one of the epistles of Saint Paul – 1 Timothy 2:9-15, in the King James, or Authorised Version of the Bible. As often in Gilead, those in power take passages out of context or quote only partially; immediately before this extract Paul had written about the standards of behaviour expected of men, who must ‘pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.'

Just don't move - women in Gilead are not supposed to enjoy sexual intercourse.

something powerful in the whispering of obscenities – taboo language is often seen as powerful, because it is shocking. Moira was right that those in command can be undermined by language, especially deflating and mocking language. Throughout The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood makes her readers aware of the significance and power of language choices.

Find out and tell us - Ofglen's comment again suggests the presence in Gilead of resistance groups.

Investigating chapter thirty-four

‘There's nothing in the book that hasn't already happened'. Use the internet to:
- Investigate the mass weddings of the ‘Moonies'
- View online pictures of these events which Atwood's ‘prayvaganza' seems to recreate.

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs. ²And they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone after, and which they have sought and worshiped. And they shall not be gathered or buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. ³Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, declares the Lord of hosts. ⁴You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: When men fall, do they not rise again? If one turns away, does he not return? ⁵Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return. ⁶I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, What have I done? Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. ⁷Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the Lord. ⁸How can you say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. ⁹The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them? ¹⁰Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. ¹¹They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. ¹²Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord. ¹³When I would gather them, declares the Lord, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them. ¹⁴Why do we sit still? Gather together; let us go into the fortified cities and perish there, for the Lord our God has doomed us to perish and has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. ¹⁵We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror. ¹⁶The snorting of their horses is heard from Dan; at the sound of the neighing of their stallions the whole land quakes. They come and devour the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. ¹⁷For behold, I am sending among you serpents, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you, declares the Lord. ¹⁸My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick within me. ¹⁹Behold, the cry of the daughter of my people from the length and breadth of the land: Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images and with their foreign idols? ²⁰The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. ²¹For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me. ²²Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?

¹At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves: ²And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. ³And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts. ⁴Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? ⁵Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. ⁶I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. ⁷Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. ⁸How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. ⁹The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? ¹⁰Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. ¹¹For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. ¹²Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. ¹³I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them. ¹⁴Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. ¹⁵We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! ¹⁶The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. ¹⁷For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. ¹⁸When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. ¹⁹Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? ²⁰The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. ²¹For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. ²²Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. ²There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. ³He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. ⁴His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually. ⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. ⁷The Lord said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. ⁸And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? ⁹Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for no reason? ¹⁰Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. ¹²And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. ¹³Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, ¹⁴and there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. ¹⁶While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you. ¹⁷While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. ¹⁸While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, ¹⁹and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you. ²⁰Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. ²¹And he said, Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. ²²In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ²And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. ³His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. ⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. ⁷And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. ⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ⁹Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. ¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. ¹²And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. ¹³And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: ¹⁴And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: ¹⁵And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁶While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁷While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁸While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: ¹⁹And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ²⁰Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, ²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. ²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. ⁷For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ⁸I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; ⁹likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, ¹⁰but with what is proper for women who profess godliness - with good works. ¹¹Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. ¹²I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. ¹³For Adam was formed first, then Eve; ¹⁴and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. ¹⁵Yet she will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

¹I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; ²For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; ⁴Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ⁶Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. ⁷Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. ⁸I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. ⁹In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; ¹⁰But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. ¹¹Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. ¹²But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. ¹³For Adam was first formed, then Eve. ¹⁴And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. ¹⁵Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

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The Handmaid's Tale Contents

Section 12: Jezebel's - Chapter thirty-four

Synopsis of chapter thirty-four

Commentary on chapter thirty-four

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