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In a world where the old government had fallen apart, a new country called Gilead was created. It was ruled by men who followed strict religious laws. They believed that women should not have rights, should not read or work, and must only serve men. The land had become poisoned and people could not easily have children anymore. So the rulers made a cruel rule — women who were still able to have babies were taken away from their homes and turned into “handmaids.” These women were given to powerful men to bear their children.
One of these women was named Offred. That wasn’t her real name, but she was forced to take it because she belonged to a man called the Commander. The name “Offred” meant “Of-Fred,” showing that she was his property. Before all of this, she had a family — a husband named Luke and a little daughter. They tried to escape to another country when the new rulers took over, but they were caught. Luke was separated from her, and she never knew if he was alive. Her daughter was taken away and given to another family.
Offred was trained in a place called the Red Center before becoming a handmaid. There, strict women called Aunts taught the handmaids how to behave. They were beaten, punished, and made to repeat phrases from the Bible. They were told their only purpose was to give birth to children for the Commanders and their Wives. Offred remembered the Red Center often, especially one woman named Moira, her best friend from before everything changed. Moira was brave and rebellious. She tried to escape, but was caught and made to work in a secret club later.
At the Commander’s house, Offred lived with the Commander and his Wife, Serena Joy. Serena was once a famous woman who spoke on TV about family values. Now she was bitter and angry because she could not have children. Offred had to wear a red dress and a white bonnet that covered her face so men wouldn’t look at her. She had to walk to the market only with another handmaid, named Ofglen. They were not allowed to talk about anything except simple things like weather or shopping lists, but they secretly shared thoughts about freedom and hope.
Each month, a strange and painful ceremony took place. The Commander would try to make Offred pregnant while Serena held her hands, pretending it was a holy act. Offred hated it, but she had no choice. If she disobeyed, she could be sent to the Colonies — deadly lands where people worked until they died. She lived every day quietly, pretending to obey, but inside she dreamed of running away and seeing her daughter again.
One night, the Commander secretly sent for Offred. She was terrified, thinking he would punish her. But instead, he only wanted to talk and play Scrabble, a word game that was forbidden for women. It was strange, but he seemed lonely. He even gave her small gifts like lotion and magazines, things that were banned. Offred didn’t trust him, but she played along, knowing she had to stay safe. She couldn’t tell anyone, not even Ofglen, about these secret meetings.
The Commander later took Offred to a secret club called Jezebel’s, where powerful men went to meet women who dressed in fancy clothes. There, she saw Moira again. Moira told her she had escaped the Red Center but was caught and now worked there, entertaining men. Offred was heartbroken to see how her brave friend had been broken by the cruel system.
Meanwhile, Serena Joy, desperate for a child, came up with her own plan. She asked Offred to secretly meet a young man named Nick, the family’s driver, and try to get pregnant by him. Offred agreed because she wanted to survive. Soon, she and Nick began to care for each other. Their secret meetings became more about love than duty. With Nick, Offred felt like a real person again, not just a tool. She found comfort and hope in his arms, even though they were taking a huge risk.
Outside, whispers of rebellion were growing. There was a secret group called Mayday that helped people escape from Gilead. Ofglen told Offred that she was part of it, and that the resistance was real. But one day, Ofglen disappeared, and a new handmaid took her place. Offred didn’t know if her friend had been caught or escaped. Fear filled her heart again.
Serena soon discovered that Offred had been secretly seeing the Commander. She became furious and threatened her. Offred was terrified because punishment in Gilead was always brutal. Just when she thought her life was over, black vans from the Eyes — Gilead’s secret police — came to take her away. Serena screamed at her, thinking she was being arrested. But Nick whispered to her that it was safe, that the men were actually part of Mayday and would help her escape.
Offred didn’t know if he was telling the truth, but she decided to go with them. She climbed into the van, her heart pounding, not knowing where she was being taken — to freedom or to death. As the van door closed, she thought of her daughter, her husband, and everyone who had suffered. She chose to believe that she was being saved.
In another time, long after Gilead had fallen, people found recordings of her story. They listened and tried to understand what had really happened to her. No one knew her true name or where she ended up, but her words became a symbol of courage. She was just one woman, but through her memories, the world remembered how dangerous it was when freedom was taken away.
Offred’s journey was one of fear, loss, and quiet strength. Though trapped in a cruel system, she kept a spark of hope alive — hope that one day, people would live free again, that love would return, and that no woman would ever be owned by anyone. Even in the darkest place, she dared to remember who she was. And that small act of remembering made her free inside, even before the walls of Gilead fell.