What did Serena envision for Gilead?
We all know that she had this “rules for the and not for me” attitude and thought that she would be spared from the brutality of Gilead but what did she think Gilead would look like? Was the brutality even part of her plan? In her mind, what was the ideal life in Gilead?
When speaking to the Mexican ambassador, she mentions that she did not know that women would not be able to read, but then talks about how she was willing to make that sacrifice.
Did Serena imagine that Gilead would run as a more patriarchal society akin to a super religious stereotypical 1940s and 50s America? Did she think that salvagings and public executions would be the norm?
I asked this because even though we know Serena was a hypocrite, she also was put out of the planning early on. So her “plan” she advocated for in her book may not have been as totalitarian and brutal. We also know that she didn’t foresee the handmaids and the ceremony.
I imagine she thought it would be an idealized 1950s life (men in charge, religion being central, but otherwise women can read and such) and potentially, women would opt to serve as “vessels” for children to be born. Call me crazy, but I truly don’t think she had the ritualized rape and the ruling class owning slaves as her plan.
What do you think?