The Testaments

The Testaments is a 2019 dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, serving as the long-awaited sequel to her seminal 1985 work The Handmaid's Tale. Set fifteen years after the events of the original novel, the story unfolds in the Republic of Gilead, a theocratic dictatorship that has begun to show cracks from within. The narrative is told through the first-person accounts of three women: Aunt Lydia, the elderly and formidable enforcer of Gilead's regime, who has been secretly compiling a damning record of the state's crimes; Agnes, a young woman raised in Gilead as the daughter of a high-ranking commander, who gradually becomes disillusioned with the system; and Daisy, a Canadian teenager who discovers that her true identity is Nicole, the child smuggled out of Gilead as a symbol of resistance. Their paths converge in a high-stakes operation that brings about the fall of the regime.

Atwood weaves a multilayered exploration of themes such as power, complicity, resistance, and the nature of truth. Aunt Lydia's character, in particular, offers a nuanced portrait of how individuals can be both perpetrators and victims within an oppressive system, and how the seeds of rebellion can be sown in the most unlikely places. The novel also examines the role of memory and testimony—the hidden documents that Aunt Lydia accumulates become the instrument of the regime's undoing, underscoring the importance of bearing witness to history.

For years, Atwood resisted writing a sequel, citing the need for the original to stand on its own. However, the political shifts following the September 11 attacks, and the surge of interest generated by the Hulu television adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale, convinced her that the story of Gilead's collapse needed to be told. The Testaments was published in September 2019 by McClelland & Stewart in Canada, Nan A. Talese in the United States, and Chatto & Windus in the United Kingdom. It won the Booker Prize jointly with Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other, making Atwood, at age 79, the oldest recipient of the award. The novel broke sales records in Canada, selling over 10,000 copies in its first week alone, and was an immediate international bestseller.

The Testaments has been praised for its gripping narrative, its intricate world-building, and its timely reflection on authoritarianism and women's rights. It stands as both a worthy successor to The Handmaid's Tale and a powerful work in its own right, cementing Atwood's status as a master of speculative fiction. The novel has been adapted into a television series, continuing the legacy of the original story across multiple media. Its influence extends beyond literature, sparking discussions about the fragility of democracy and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tyranny.

About the Author

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood was born on November 18, 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her father, Carl Edmund Atwood, was an entomologist, and her mother, Margaret Dorothy Killam, was a nutritionist. Due to her father's research, the family spent much of her early childhood in the wilderness of northern Ontario and Quebec, an experience that profoundly shaped her environmental consciousness and literary imagination. She was largely self-educated during those years, reading voraciously from her father's library. The family eventually settled in Toronto, where she attended high school and later enrolled at Victoria College, University of Toronto. There, she studied under the renowned literary critic Northrop Frye, who deeply influenced her understanding of myth and archetype. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1961, followed by a master's degree from Radcliffe College in 1962. She then pursued doctoral studies at Harvard University, though she did not complete the degree, leaving to focus on her writing career.

Atwood's professional writing career began with poetry; her first published collection, Double Persephone, appeared in 1961. Her first novel, The Edible Woman, was published in 1969 and established her as a distinctive voice in Canadian fiction. She continued to produce a remarkable body of work across genres. Her major novels include Surfacing (1972), The Handmaid's Tale (1985), Cat's Eye (1988), The Robber Bride (1993), Alias Grace (1996), The Blind Assassin (2000, winner of the Booker Prize), and the MaddAddam trilogy (Oryx and Crake, 2003; The Year of the Flood, 2009; MaddAddam, 2013). In 2019, she published The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which won the Booker Prize jointly, making her the oldest winner of that award at age 79. She also wrote numerous poetry collections, short story collections, children's books, and works of criticism, as well as the graphic novel series Angel Catbird.

Atwood's personal life includes a brief marriage to Jim Polk (1968–1973) and a long partnership with novelist Graeme Gibson, with whom she had a daughter, Eleanor Jess Atwood Gibson, born in 1976. Gibson died in 2019. Atwood has been a tireless advocate for Canadian literature, serving as president of the Writers' Union of Canada and as president of PEN Canada. She is also a prominent environmental activist and feminist. Her honors include the Governor General's Award, the Giller Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Kafka Prize, and the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. She was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1981. Atwood continues to write and publish, with her memoir Book of Lives released in 2024. Her work is taught worldwide, and she is widely regarded as one of the most important living authors, a master of speculative fiction whose novels have become essential reading for understanding the intersections of power, gender, and society.

StoryFlow

Aunt Lydia's Long Subversion

Aunt Lydia secretly works to undermine Gilead from within by collecting incriminating evidence and planning to smuggle it out via Baby Nicole.

Agnes Jemima's Coming of Age

Agnes grows from a privileged child in Gilead to a young woman who rejects her prescribed marriage and becomes an Aunt, then escapes.

Nicole's Journey to Gilead and Back

Nicole (Daisy) grows up in Canada as an adopted child, learns her true identity as Baby Nicole, and willingly infiltrates Gilead as a courier.

Knowledge Graph

Storylines

Nine years before the main narrative

Aunt Lydia's Statue Unveiling

Aunt Lydia's statue is unveiled at Ardua Hall, a rare honor for a living person. The statue depicts her with a young girl and a Handmaid, symbolizing her authority. She reflects on the passage of time and the offerings left at her feet, such as eggs and oranges, which she sometimes pockets. This event establishes her as a revered but aging figure within Gilead.

After the statue unveiling, during the main narrative

Aunt Lydia Begins Writing the Holograph

Aunt Lydia starts writing her secret manuscript, the Ardua Hall Holograph, in her private sanctum within the Hildegard Library. She hides it inside a hollowed-out copy of Cardinal Newman's Apologia Pro Vita Sua. She reflects on her past, her power, and the risks of writing, knowing that discovery could mean death. This act sets the stage for her eventual betrayal of Gilead.

Early in Agnes's life, before Tabitha's death

Agnes Jemima's Childhood with Tabitha

Agnes Jemima grows up in a privileged Commander household, loved by her adoptive mother Tabitha. Tabitha tells her a fairy tale about rescuing her from a castle, which Agnes later realizes is a cover for her true origins. They play with a dollhouse that mirrors their home, and Tabitha teaches her a bedtime prayer song. This period of security and love shapes Agnes's early worldview.

When Agnes is around eight or nine

Tabitha's Illness and Death

Tabitha's health declines, and she spends more time resting. Agnes learns from her friend Shunammite that Tabitha is dying, a truth the Marthas confirm. Tabitha dies peacefully, and Agnes feels a profound loss, anger, and a sense of being cut off. The funeral is a subdued affair, and Agnes's father quickly remarries Paula, who wears Tabitha's ring.

Several months after Tabitha's death

Paula Marries Commander Kyle

Commander Kyle marries the widow Paula, who immediately takes control of the household. Paula wears Tabitha's magic ring, enraging Agnes. The Marthas grumble but are powerless. Paula and Commander Kyle begin to ignore Agnes, treating her as a problem to be managed. This marks the beginning of Agnes's decline in status and happiness.

Shortly after Paula's wedding

The Story of the Concubine Cut into Twelve Pieces

Aunt Vidala tells the class the biblical story of the concubine cut into twelve pieces, emphasizing female obedience. Becka is deeply disturbed and bursts into tears, while Agnes comforts her. Aunt Estée later offers a softer interpretation, but the story leaves a lasting impression of horror on Becka and reinforces the girls' fear of male violence and marriage.

A few months after Paula's wedding

Arrival of Handmaid Ofkyle

Paula and Commander Kyle receive a Handmaid named Ofkyle, signaling their desire for a biological child. Agnes, now aware of her own uncertain origins, becomes fascinated by Ofkyle. She secretly enters Ofkyle's room, searching for clues about her past. The Handmaid's presence highlights the transactional nature of reproduction in Gilead and deepens Agnes's sense of displacement.

During lunch at school, after Ofkyle's arrival

Agnes Learns She Is Not Tabitha's Biological Daughter

Shunammite reveals that Agnes's real mother was a Handmaid who tried to escape with her. Agnes is devastated, realizing Tabitha's rescue story was a lie. She confronts Zilla, who confirms the truth but offers comfort. This revelation shatters Agnes's identity and social standing, as she is now seen as tainted by her mother's status.

After learning about her true mother

Agnes's Dental Appointment with Dr. Grove

During a routine dental checkup, Dr. Grove sexually assaults Agnes by touching her breast and forcing her hand onto his genitals. Agnes is shocked and ashamed, but fears reporting him due to his status and her friendship with his daughter Becka. This traumatic event reinforces her fear of men and marriage, and she suspects Paula may have orchestrated it.

Months after Ofkyle's arrival

Ofkyle's Pregnancy and Death in Childbirth

Ofkyle becomes pregnant, and the household celebrates. Agnes feels jealous and isolated. During the birth, Ofkyle hemorrhages and dies after being cut open to save the baby, a healthy boy named Mark. Agnes secretly views Ofkyle's body and promises to remember her. Aunt Lydia gives a funeral speech praising Ofkyle's sacrifice, but Agnes sees the truth: Ofkyle was killed by the system.

When Agnes is thirteen

Agnes's Engagement to Commander Judd

Paula and Commander Kyle arrange Agnes's marriage to the powerful Commander Judd. Agnes is horrified, having read files about his past wives' suspicious deaths. She is given three candidates but knows the choice is a formality. The engagement is announced, and Agnes feels trapped, contemplating suicide or murder as a way out.

During Premarital Preparatory classes

Becka's Suicide Attempt with Secateurs

Becka, also facing an unwanted marriage, slashes her wrist with secateurs during a flower-arranging class. She is taken to the hospital. Agnes is deeply shaken by Becka's desperation. This event highlights the extreme measures girls take to avoid marriage and foreshadows Becka's eventual fate.

After Becka's suicide attempt

Aunt Lydia Recruits Becka as a Supplicant

Aunt Lydia interviews Becka and accepts her as a Supplicant at Ardua Hall, offering an alternative to marriage. Becka is relieved and grateful. This act demonstrates Aunt Lydia's ability to intervene in individual lives and her strategic recruitment of vulnerable girls. It also establishes a bond between Becka and Aunt Lydia.

Three days before Agnes's wedding

Aunt Lydia Visits Agnes and Offers an Alternative

Aunt Lydia visits Agnes and hints that she could become an Aunt instead of marrying Commander Judd. She tells Agnes that Becka is safe at Ardua Hall and suggests Agnes contact Aunt Estée if she has a 'calling.' This visit gives Agnes a glimmer of hope and sets her escape plan in motion.

Three days before the wedding

Agnes Escapes to Ardua Hall

Agnes tricks her Guardian into driving her to her old school, where she confesses her desperation to Aunt Estée. Aunt Estée takes her to Ardua Hall for safety. Paula tries to retrieve her, but Aunt Lydia intervenes, revealing a secret that forces Paula to back down. Agnes is accepted as a Supplicant, escaping her forced marriage.

After arriving at Ardua Hall

Agnes Becomes Aunt Victoria

Agnes is given the name Aunt Victoria and begins her training as a Supplicant. She learns to read and write, finding empowerment in literacy. She is reunited with Becka, now Aunt Immortelle, and they become close friends. Agnes discovers the corruption within Gilead through secret files left on her desk, likely by Aunt Lydia.

Years into her time at Ardua Hall

Agnes Discovers Her Bloodline and Baby Nicole's Identity

Agnes finds a file revealing her biological mother is a Mayday operative in Canada and that she has a half-sister, Baby Nicole. She secretly keeps the pages. This discovery gives her a sense of identity and connection to the outside world. It also sets the stage for her eventual role in the escape plot.

Before her sixteenth birthday

Daisy's Childhood with Neil and Melanie

Daisy grows up in Toronto with her adoptive parents, Neil and Melanie, who run a used clothing store called The Clothes Hound. She has a normal but sheltered life, with few photos and a sense that her parents are overly protective. She is unaware of her true identity as Baby Nicole.

A week before her sixteenth birthday

Daisy Sneaks to the Protest March

Despite Neil and Melanie's strict orders, Daisy sneaks onto a school bus to attend a protest march against Gilead. The march turns violent, and she is rescued by Ada, a family friend. Her appearance on the news alarms Neil and Melanie, who fear she has been exposed. This event triggers the chain of events leading to their deaths.

Three days after the protest march

Break-in at The Clothes Hound

The Clothes Hound is burglarized, and Neil's office is ransacked. A rare microdot camera is stolen. Neil and Melanie become increasingly anxious, hinting at deeper dangers. Daisy senses something is wrong but is kept in the dark. This break-in is part of Gilead's operation to dismantle the Mayday network.

On Daisy's sixteenth birthday

Car Bomb Kills Neil and Melanie

A car bomb explodes outside The Clothes Hound, killing Neil and Melanie. Daisy is picked up from school by Ada, who reveals the news. Daisy is devastated and in shock. Ada destroys her phone and takes Daisy to a safe house, beginning her journey into the underground resistance.

The day after the bombing

Daisy Learns She Is Baby Nicole

Ada and Elijah tell Daisy that Neil and Melanie were not her real parents and that she is Baby Nicole, the iconic child smuggled out of Gilead. Daisy is shocked and angry, feeling her entire identity has been a lie. She learns that her biological mother is a Mayday operative and that Gilead has been searching for her.

After learning her true identity

Nicole Agrees to Go to Gilead

Elijah and Ada explain that a mysterious source in Gilead will only hand over a crucial document cache to Baby Nicole. Despite her fear, Nicole agrees to infiltrate Gilead as a convert. She undergoes physical training with Garth and learns to pray. She gets a scarified tattoo (GOD/LOVE) on her arm as a marker for the source.

After training, in Toronto

Nicole's Fake Conversion to Pearl Girls

Nicole, posing as a homeless girl named Jade, is 'rescued' by Pearl Girls Aunt Beatrice and Aunt Dove. They buy her from Garth, who plays the role of her abusive boyfriend. Nicole is taken to their condo, given a Pearl Girl dress, and prepared for travel to Gilead. She is issued a fake passport as Aunt Dove.

After the flight to Gilead

Arrival of Nicole at Ardua Hall and the Thanks Giving

Nicole arrives in Gilead and is taken to Ardua Hall for a Thanks Giving ceremony. She is presented as a 'Pearl of Great Price' and kneels before Aunt Lydia. The ceremony is both welcoming and intimidating. Nicole is then assigned to live with Aunt Victoria (Agnes) and Aunt Immortelle (Becka).

During her first days at Ardua Hall

Nicole's Difficult Adjustment at Ardua Hall

Nicole struggles to adapt to the strict rules and bland food of Ardua Hall. She is outspoken and critical, clashing with the pious Agnes and Becka. She continues her physical workouts, shocking them with her talk of self-defense. Her behavior draws suspicion, especially from Aunt Vidala, who believes she is a Mayday infiltrator.

A few days after Nicole's arrival

Aunt Lydia Inserts the Microdot into Nicole's Arm

Aunt Lydia summons Nicole to her office and reveals she is the source. She makes a small incision in Nicole's GOD/LOVE tattoo and inserts a microdot containing the document cache. Nicole is now a carrier pigeon. Aunt Lydia instructs her to keep the secret and prepares for her escape.

After the microdot insertion

Aunt Lydia Reveals Nicole's Identity to Agnes and Becka

Aunt Lydia tells Agnes and Becka that Nicole is Baby Nicole and Agnes's half-sister. She explains that Nicole must escape to Canada with the microdot and asks for their help. Despite the danger, both agree to assist. This revelation forges a bond between the three women and sets the escape plan in motion.

The morning of the escape

Aunt Vidala's Stroke and the Escape from Ardua Hall

Agnes and Nicole, dressed as Pearl Girls, attempt to leave Ardua Hall. Aunt Vidala confronts them, and Nicole punches her, causing a stroke. They drag her behind Aunt Lydia's statue and flee. They pass through the gate with forged passes and meet a driver who takes them toward the coast. Becka hides in the water cistern to delay discovery.

During the escape

Becka Hides in the Water Cistern

To buy time for Agnes and Nicole, Becka hides in the rooftop water cistern after draining it. She is discovered days later, having drowned. Her sacrifice is later honored. The Aunts initially suspect murder, but Aunt Lydia covers it up as an accident. Becka's death is a tragic but crucial element of the escape.

After leaving Ardua Hall

The Journey to the Coast

Agnes and Nicole travel by car, bus, and pickup truck through Gilead, using passwords and contacts arranged by Aunt Lydia. They change out of their Pearl Girl uniforms into civilian clothes. The journey is tense, with multiple checkpoints, but they manage to pass through. They reach a dock on the Penobscot River.

After reaching the dock

The Boat Journey on the Nellie J. Banks

Agnes and Nicole are taken by motorboat to the schooner Nellie J. Banks, captained by Captain Mishimengo. They hide in the fish-smelling hold. The ship has engine trouble and is forced to offload them in an inflatable boat near the Canadian shore. They row through fog and high tides, nearly dying, but eventually make landfall.

After the rowboat journey

Landing in Canada and Reunion with Their Mother

Agnes and Nicole are rescued on a beach in Nova Scotia by Ada and Garth. They are airlifted to a refugee medical center on Campobello Island. Nicole's infected arm is treated. Their mother, a Mayday operative, visits them in the hospital. The three are reunited, and the microdot is successfully delivered, leading to the collapse of Gilead.

Early in Gilead's history

Aunt Lydia's Arrest and Imprisonment

Aunt Lydia, then a family court judge, is arrested by the Sons of Jacob during the coup. She is taken to a stadium where she witnesses mass executions. She is then imprisoned in the Thank Tank, where she is tortured and isolated. This brutal experience breaks her resistance and forces her to cooperate with the regime.

After the Thank Tank

Aunt Lydia's Decision to Cooperate

Commander Judd offers Aunt Lydia a choice: cooperate or die. After being forced to participate in an execution, she agrees to help organize the women's sphere. She is given a position of power alongside Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Helena, and Aunt Vidala. This marks the beginning of her long, ambiguous collaboration with Gilead.

After Aunt Lydia's cooperation

Establishment of the Aunts' System

Aunt Lydia, along with the other Founders, creates the rules, uniforms, and hierarchy of the Aunts. She establishes Ardua Hall as the center of female power within Gilead. She begins secretly collecting incriminating files on the Commanders, building a hidden arsenal of information. This dual role as enforcer and potential saboteur defines her character.

During the main narrative

Aunt Lydia Installs Surveillance Cameras in Her Statue

Aunt Lydia installs hidden cameras in her statue to catch anyone planting false evidence against her. She discovers Aunt Vidala placing offerings and a handkerchief to frame her. This confirms Vidala's treachery and gives Lydia leverage. She decides to use this information to manipulate the other Aunts and protect her own position.

After the escape

Aunt Vidala's Stroke and Aftermath

Aunt Vidala is found in a coma behind Aunt Lydia's statue. She later wakes and accuses Aunt Lydia of orchestrating the attack. Aunt Lydia considers silencing her permanently but is interrupted. Vidala's condition and potential testimony pose a threat to Lydia's plans. Lydia manipulates the situation to maintain control.

After the escape

Commander Judd's Raid on the Ardua Hall Print Shop

Commander Judd, desperate to find the traitor, raids the Ardua Hall print shop, suspecting the Pearl Girls brochures were used for microdot communication. Aunt Wendy is arrested but released. Judd pressures Aunt Lydia to produce Baby Nicole for a public wedding to shore up his power. This accelerates the escape plan.

After the escape, before the Eyes arrive

Aunt Lydia's Final Entry and Death

Aunt Lydia writes her final entry, knowing the Eyes are coming for her. She reflects on her life, her choices, and her legacy. She plans to take her own life with morphine to avoid torture. She hides the holograph in Cardinal Newman's book, hoping it will be found. Her death marks the end of her complex role in Gilead's downfall.

In 2197

The Thirteenth Symposium on Gileadean Studies

Professor Pieixoto presents the discovery of the Ardua Hall Holograph and the witness testimonies of Agnes and Nicole. He discusses their authenticity and significance. The symposium confirms the historical reality of the events and the roles of the key figures. A statue in Boston commemorates Becka and the sisters' successful mission.