dmaid at her third station (the last of her chances, as only three are granted) and has not yet conceived, the household gets more and more anxious. Maybe he cant, she says. I dont know who she means. Does she mean the Commander, or God? If its God, she should say wont. Either way its heresy. Its only women who cant, who remain stubbornly closed, damaged, defective. This exchange between Offred and the Commanders wife, Serena Joy is strictly forbidden, and could cause many problems if overheard. Serena, too is worried that Offred will not produce a child for them as Offred is the last handmaid that will be afforded to them. The story of Rachel and Leah is the basis of this exchange and is considered to not only be a law of the Gileadean society, but one of the Bibles. Handmaids were used after the population of the Gilead area steadily dropped following some sort of chemical disaster. The birth rate suffered as many men and women were left sterile from exposure. The use of artificial insemination and fertility clinics was outlawed after the implementation of the Gileadean society. They were considered to be irreligious, but the use of surrogate mothers, found in the Bible was allowed and endorsed. The story of Rachel and Leah is used a number of times throughout the novel, and the school where future handmaids are educated is call the Rachel and Leah Re-education Centre. Handmaids are endorsed, supported and needed by this society in order to maintain it. The story of Rachel and Leah, and the law found in the first verses of Genesis 30, are used, as the basis for the justification for the use of handmaids to reproduce. The fact that Rachel and Leah were able to conceive themselves after they used their handmaids is even further justification for the use of handmaids, and the idea that it is the women who are unable to reproduce, not the men. The Bible is used here once again to further the benefit of those in power...
