The Regime vs. The Resistance

The ongoing conflict between Gilead's authorities and the underground resistance movement Mayday.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Underground Femaleroad

The Underground Femaleroad The Network A network of safe houses helps women escape Gilead. Moira uses it but is captured. Offred's tapes are found in Bangor, a station on the route. The Risks Those who help face execution. The Quakers and others risk their lives. The resistance is fragile but persistent. The Mayday Operatives Mayday is a quasi-military group. Ofglen and Nick are members. They infiltrate the power structure. Their goal is to undermine the regime.

The Eyes

The Eyes The Secret Police The Eyes are Gilead's intelligence agency. They monitor everyone. They drive black vans and make arrests. They are feared. The Infiltration Nick is a member of the Eyes, but also of Mayday. The double agent is a common tactic. The regime is paranoid. The Purges The regime purges its own. The Commander is arrested. The resistance exploits these internal conflicts.

The Particicution as Control

The Particicution as Control The Ritual The Particicution allows Handmaids to vent their anger on a scapegoat. It is a steam valve. The regime uses it to maintain control. The Political Prisoner Ofglen reveals that the man was a political prisoner, not a rapist. The regime uses false accusations to eliminate enemies. The Complicity The Handmaids are made complicit in murder. Offred feels sick. The resistance is forced to act within the system.

before and during the narrative

throughout the narrative

during the Salvaging