not women and men are meant to reproduce. From the stories read, this would appear to be the only message of the Bible. All the passages selected by the Commanders support reproduction, as do rituals and customs in Gilead. The creation story of Genesis is also used to support gender divisions in The Handmaids Tale. Select passages from the Bible are used to enforce the idea of the Gileadean fathers that women should be subservient. The idea is one that controls much of society, although women are well protected, but mostly for their reproductive value. The first sight of this that Offred has occurs before coup that establishes power as it is in Gilead. When her job and money are taken from her and her bank account handed over to Luke she says, We are not each others anymore. Instead I am his. This practice is very much a reminder of the consequences of the fall. Unto the woman he said and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Genesis 3:16) This division of genders is also seen during the mass marriage ceremony conducted by Commanders. The Bible is used selectively, to the point where it is exclusionary. The Commander conducting the service says, Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. The service seems only to take into account one telling of the creation story. The first version of the creation story in Genesis 1 states that man made male and female together. It isnt until the second version of the story that man is created before woman. The commander is able to do this, and all other acts based on the Bible because the general public is forbidden to read, and has no way of challenging the claims. The creation story is also used to support the suffering of women on the occasion of births. The Bible is quoted during Janines labour as justificatio...
