u/lady_beignet

In today’s episode contextualizing the orgasm cult, Robert said that Americans are anti-sex because of our Puritan moral origins.

However, the Puritans were very pro-female orgasm within marriage. We know this from their diaries, medical journals, even court records. Because they shared the common British belief from that time (oddly enough, echoed in the most recent season of Bridgerton) that a woman can’t get pregnant if she doesn’t orgasm.

Only tangentially related, but the Puritans also believed abortion was fine prior to quickening (20ish weeks). Our ideas about Puritan sexuality come more from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s religious trauma than their actual beliefs.

Now that they’ve departed from the books, there a lot of ways things could go for Becka. I’ve got theories about what the extremes look like and damn do I hope I’m wrong about the bad one.

Best possible outcome: As far as we know, there aren’t female Eyes. Maybe Garth got in contact with Mayday to get Becka out of Gilead, which is why he was saying ”It’s going to be okay.” The reason he looked so afraid is because this could blow his cover once Agnes’ dad learns Becka isn’t in Gilead’s custody.

Worst possible outcome: Becka is likely fruitful since she’s had a period. Her punishment should be execution, but it‘s exceptionally rare for Gilead to put a fruitful woman to death. Meanwhile, Agnes‘ dad says Paula is arranging a Handmaid for them. What if Becka’s penitence is service as a Handmaid… and she’s assigned to the Mackenzies?