Like this, our protagonist try a female trapped ranging from this type of certain businesses. It puts Offred during the an impasse throughout most of the narrative, too frightened to help you going herself completely to help you rebellion, also horrified in the Gilead’s barbarism to submit so you’re able to complacency. Swept up, in other words. Offred’s state of mind contrasts sharply toward “rallying cry” carved inside the Offred’s closet from the Waterford’s earlier Handmaid: Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, which is a sort-out of Latin terms meaning, “Don’t allow the fresh new bastards work you off.” This might be construed because an enthusiastic ironic content on girl to go out of, while the she at some point hanged by herself-put simply, this lady rebellious soul try rooted out, and you will she don’t met with the have a tendency to in order to survive, to combat, kept within her. But the woman committing suicide is also understand once the proof she never quit on good battle, provided Ofglen also hangs by herself towards the the end of the fresh new book, immediately following her connections to the resistance was open, and the Eyes are on their way on her behalf. Did Offred’s pree need? If that’s the case, they implies that she, including Ofglen, fought into really prevent and you may finished this lady lifetime on her behalf very own terms and conditions.
Whether or not the earlier in the day Handmaid heeded her very own information or otherwise not, Offred does not, referring to essential to Atwood’s overarching statements into characteristics of patriarchal oppression of females, exactly how guys in electricity work women down. Since it is not only Offred one to comes after a downward trajectory out-of impossible, defacto invited of one’s program. Moira, the woman dated pal you to definitely fled the new Purple Center, reappears given that a gender personnel within the Jezebels, a resort turned into brothel set-up by the Commanders off Gilead you to legally lets them to behave as in the event that there have been perhaps not an evangelical theocracy operating outside the “gentleman’s bar” (a place Offred’s Commander requires the girl to advance his domme habits into purportedly sacred Handmaid). When Moira fills Offred in the about what took place following the their eliminate (she are recaptured and you can pushed to your prostitution from the techniques), she insists into numerous times so it “isn’t really so incredibly bad,” due to the fact she reaches drink, cig, get highest, and have fun with one other lady from the Jezebels normally due to the fact she wishes. That it entry off complacency away from Moira sends Offred on the an excellent spiral regarding hopelessness, because the she checked up to the lady old friend while the a type regarding group champion, the one that got out, which defied the device. Without this person to look up to, Offred feels only anxiety, as well as in this emotional state, she also begins to yield, to feel as if fighting might be useless-so much in fact that if she understands the new black colored van is future on her behalf, she takes into account suicide, it is thus despondent she cannot most determine what cure for regarding herself.
Due to the fact this woman is escorted out of our home, Nick says to her to think him and would whatever the people say
The fresh van waits on the driveway, their double doors sit unlock. Each of them, one with the either side now, bring me personally of the elbows to help me personally into the. Whether or not that is my personal avoid or a separate beginning I’ve not a way of understanding: We have offered me personally more into the hand away from visitors, because cannot be helped. [importance exploit]
He may become exhibiting the fresh black colored-clad soldiers was loved ones right here so you can save your self the girl; otherwise, they might in fact be there to help you companion their so you can her demise
I sooner or later know, into the a keen epilogue composed given that a beneficial transcript out of an excellent lecture considering centuries afterwards, your men performed in fact save Offred, and therefore their tale try culled out of a series of cassette tape recordings produced during the fresh lam. However the fact she endured-at least, until she achieved Maine, as there isn’t any technique for knowing what occurred to help you the lady next-try inconsequential, as the woman resignation to help you possibly demise otherwise salvation is key aspect of Atwood’s ending. Once more, check out the words “it cannot be assisted,” showcased more than. Contained in this immediate, Offred recognizes this lady has zero energy contained in this people, that if she lives otherwise dies-outside committing suicide, needless to 
say-is very away from the woman give. Their destiny is set by other people (guys, especially). Offred can make this resignation even more blatant from inside the a passage an effective few profiles ahead of their narrative’s conclusion: