The Illusion of Order in Gilead

The facade of stability and piety masks the corruption, violence, and rot at the heart of the regime.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Public Face

A Perfect Society The Salvagings and Prayvaganzas Gilead presents itself as a godly society. Public executions and mass weddings are held to display unity. The streets are clean, the women are modest, and the men are in control. The propaganda is constant. The Hidden Truth Behind the facade, there is widespread corruption. Commanders have secret libraries of pornography. Wives scheme against each other. Handmaids are raped and die in childbirth. The system is maintained by terror. The Complacency Many citizens accept the illusion because it is easier. The Aunts enforce the rules, but they know the truth. The elite enjoy privileges. The poor are kept in line with fear. The order is a lie, but it is a comfortable lie for those in power.

The Rot Within

The Crime Files The Evidence Aunt Lydia's files reveal the extent of the corruption. Commanders murder their wives, frame innocent people, and steal from the state. The justice system is a sham. The purity laws are selectively enforced. The Unravelling As the war drags on, the shortages increase. The economy is failing. The National Homelands are a disaster. The regime is losing legitimacy. The cracks in the facade are becoming visible. The Collapse The microdot documents are the final blow. The exposure of the Ba'al Purge and other crimes destroys the remaining trust. The regime falls into chaos. The illusion of order is shattered, revealing the ruins beneath.

throughout Gilead's existence

the years leading up to the fall