The Quakers
The Quakers, formally the Religious Society of Friends, appear in The Testaments as a quiet but essential node in the network of resistance against Gilead. Their meeting house in Toronto functions as a covert sanctuary and transit point for women escaping the regime, embodying a principled, non-violent opposition that stands in stark contrast to Gilead's theocratic violence.
Identity and Role in the Resistance
The Quakers are introduced through their meeting house, a large, square-shaped building identified by a sign reading "MEETING HOUSE" and "RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)." This space is not merely a place of worship but a practical hub for the SanctuCare refugee organization, which aids women fleeing Gilead. Ada, a key Mayday operative, brings the newly orphaned Daisy (Nicole) to this meeting house after the car bomb that kills Neil and Melanie. Inside, the building contains a larger room with cots and armchairs where refugee women, described as "really wrecked, and also scared," are received and comforted. The SanctuCare workers offer blankets, hot sweet tea, and calm reassurance, telling the arrivals, "You're here now, it's all right." This environment of quiet care provides a stark counterpoint to the brutality Daisy has just witnessed.
Connection to Mayday and the Underground Femaleroad
The Quaker meeting house is directly linked to the Mayday resistance network. Ada parks her car at the back of the building beside a grey van, which she describes as "our next ride." Inside, she is greeted by Elijah, a Mayday contact who sits at a small desk near the side entrance. The meeting house thus serves as a discreet transfer point, where refugees are received and from which they are moved to safe houses like the Carnarvon apartment. The Quakers' historical reputation for pacifism and humanitarian work provides a plausible cover for this clandestine activity, allowing Mayday to operate within a legitimate, respected institution.
Symbolic and Thematic Significance
The Quakers' presence in the narrative underscores a key theme of the novel: the existence of principled, non-violent resistance within a world of extreme coercion. While Gilead uses state-sponsored terror and the Aunts employ manipulation and surveillance, the Quakers offer a model of quiet, practical compassion. Their meeting house is a space of refuge and healing, where the traumatized can begin to recover before continuing their journey. The contrast between the Quakers' silent, orderly aid and the violent chaos of the protest march or the clinical brutality of the stadium executions highlights the different forms that moral opposition can take. The Quakers represent a tradition of civil disobedience and sanctuary that predates Gilead and outlasts it, a small but persistent light in the darkness of the regime.
