Bath Day Ritual

Cora prepares a bath for Offred, a required ritual before the Ceremony. Offred removes her white wings and red dress, feeling a rare moment of privacy. She reflects on her body and the tattoo on her ankle, a mark of her status as a national resource. The bath is both a luxury and a reminder of her objectification. Offred thinks about her daughter, remembering a time when a woman tried to steal her from a supermarket. The bath ends with Offred applying butter to her skin as a substitute for hand lotion, a small act of self-care.