Tabitha

Tabitha, the first Wife of Commander Kyle, is the adoptive mother of Agnes Jemima. She is a thin, beautiful woman with a cough that worsens over time, and she tells Agnes a recurring fairy tale about rescuing her from an enchanted castle full of little girls locked inside by wicked witches, using a magic ring on her third finger. This story, which Agnes loves to hear repeated, is Tabitha's way of explaining why Agnes is special and chosen, and it becomes a foundational memory for the girl. Tabitha's love is unconditional and protective, but her health declines steadily, and she eventually dies, leaving Agnes with a deep sense of loss and a need for maternal connection that shapes her later choices.

Identity and Background

Tabitha is the Wife of Commander Kyle, a high-ranking official in Gilead, and she lives in a large house with three Marthas—Vera, Rosa, and Zilla—and a Guardian. She is described as beautiful but thin, with a cough that worsens over time, and she spends increasing amounts of time resting in her room. Her most defining characteristic is her love for Agnes, whom she adopted as a baby after rescuing her from a castle of wicked witches, according to the fairy tale she tells. This story is a central part of their relationship, and Tabitha uses it to reassure Agnes of her worth and belonging. She also teaches Agnes to be honest with herself, a lesson that becomes ironic given the lies she tells to protect her.

Life and Plot Trajectory

Tabitha's life is marked by her devotion to Agnes and her declining health. She spends hours playing with Agnes, including with a dollhouse that mirrors their own home, and she tells her the rescue story repeatedly. As her condition worsens, she spends more time resting, and the Marthas refer to her condition as "resting." She dies when Agnes is about eight or nine, and her death is a profound trauma for Agnes, who feels as if a piece of her heart has been cut off. Tabitha's funeral is a small affair, with a closed coffin and a speech by Commander Kyle, and afterward, Agnes is left to navigate a world without her mother's protection.

Key Actions and Objectives

Tabitha's primary objective is to protect and love Agnes, which she does through her fairy tale and her constant reassurance. She also teaches Agnes to pray, singing a bedtime song about four angels standing around the bed, and she encourages Agnes to be honest with herself. Her lies, such as the story of the magic ring and the rescue, are told to keep Agnes safe and to give her a sense of identity and belonging. She also hides the truth about Agnes's biological mother, a Handmaid who tried to escape with her, to shield Agnes from the harsh realities of Gilead.

Relationships and Conflict

Tabitha's relationship with Agnes is the central emotional bond of Agnes's early life. She is a loving and protective mother, and Agnes adores her. However, Tabitha's relationship with her husband, Commander Kyle, is distant; he is often absent, and she is left to raise Agnes largely alone. After Tabitha's death, Commander Kyle marries Paula, who becomes a hostile stepmother. Tabitha's relationship with the Marthas is one of mutual respect, and they care for her during her illness. The conflict in Tabitha's life is her own failing health, which she endures without complaint, and her need to prepare Agnes for a life without her.

Change and Ending

Tabitha's death is a turning point in Agnes's life. She dies after a period of illness, and Agnes is initially angry with her for not telling her the truth about her condition. However, she eventually comes to terms with her loss, though she never fully recovers from it. Tabitha's death leaves Agnes vulnerable to the machinations of her stepmother, Paula, and to the pressures of Gilead's marriage system. Her memory, however, remains a source of comfort and strength for Agnes, who later seeks to honor her by becoming an Aunt and by searching for her biological mother.

Narrative Role and Evaluation

Tabitha serves as the idealized mother figure in Agnes's narrative, representing the love and security that Agnes loses and spends the rest of the story trying to reclaim. Her fairy tale about the rescue is a metaphor for the protection she provides, and her death is the catalyst for Agnes's journey toward independence and self-discovery. Tabitha's character is also a critique of Gilead's treatment of women, as she is a model Wife who suffers in silence and is ultimately replaced by a more ambitious woman. Her love for Agnes, however, is genuine and enduring, and it shapes Agnes's moral compass and her eventual decision to resist Gilead's oppressive system.