Are the marthas fertile?

In The Handmaid's Tale, Marthas are generally perceived as infertile, unmarried, or past childbearing age, making them unsuitable for the role of Handmaid. They are domestic servants chosen for their skills rather than their reproductive capacity, whereas fertile women who have "sinned" are classified as Handmaids.
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Are the Wives in The Handmaid's Tale infertile?

It is implied that some Wives are capable of bearing children, but most are older women and thus have difficulty conceiving (or their husbands are infertile), which is also hampered by widespread infertility. As a result, Wives have to 'share' their husbands with Handmaids, in order to get a child.
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Can marthas get pregnant?

Most Marthas seem to be infertile, low-ranking, and/or unmarried women; events in season 3 ("Chicago Women") suggest Marthas to be Unwomen who still appear to be "useful" for domestic tasks due to their pre-Gileadean occupation.
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Why is Sienna a Martha and not a Handmaid?

After the Takeover. It is implied that she had to give up her plans to graduate due to the general ban on female alphabetization and she was reclassified as a Martha.
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Why do Gilead Wives wear blue?

The Wives wear blue, which is symbolic of the Virgin Mary and the immaculate conception. Their role in the Ceremony is that of a bystander. They watch as the Handmaid is penetrated by their husband. If the Handmaids gets pregnant, the Wife becomes the mother to the child.
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The Handmaid's Tale RECAP: Full Series before The Testaments

Why are the handmaid's mouths stapled?

It's symbolic and removable. The handmaid can remove the rings for eating or talking purposes. But it is symbolic to show her dedication to the cause. June couldn't talk / conspire / gossip to her because she was making it clear she will not speak.
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Can wives sleep with their husbands in The Handmaid's Tale?

In the show, there's a black Commander who got his wife pregnant. And the novel mentions that very few lucky wives of commanders get pregnant. (Albeit it is mentioned that some wives, like the handmaids, resort to other men). So, it seems to be that married couples are allowed sex.
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Who is the real villain in The Handmaid's Tale?

Commander Frederick Ronald "Fred" Waterford is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Serena Waterford) of the Hulu TV series The Handmaid's Tale, based on the 1985 novel of the same name.
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Why are marthas not econowives?

If they are fortunate enough to have children, they are likely responsible for caring for them whilst their husbands are at work. Unlike Marthas, there is no evidence for obligation to (domestic) work outside the own household, apart from some routine professions of faith.
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How many times does a handmaid get pregnant?

Handmaids have three chances to get pregnant in three different households during two year assignments.
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Is Serena's baby actually Waterfords?

Noah Waterford is a character in The Handmaid's Tale. He is the son of Serena Waterford and Fred Waterford.
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Who does Nick marry in Gilead?

Nick leaned into his role as a Gilead commander after that rejection out of a lack of any other safe path forward. He also had a son on the way with wife Rose (Carey Cox), the daughter of Commander Wharton.
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Is Eden an econowife?

Eden has a potential chance to save her own life by “renouncing her sins”, and Nick begs her to do so. However, the young Econowife chooses to die a martyr's death via drowning along with her lover, but not before reciting 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to herself and Isaac.
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Why is fertility so low in The Handmaid's Tale?

Inhabitants of Gilead give many reasons for the society's issues with creating viable offspring: the sexual revolution and birth control, pollution, sexually transmitted diseases.
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Why is June a handmaid and not a wife?

June was a handmaid because she could bare children. And because the people of Gilead believed her marriage to Luke was a sin (adultery) because Luke cheated on his first wife and left her for June. It was like her punishment for the sin. It was Luke's second marriage and second marriages are considered invalid.
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Where do handmaids go after birth?

Handmaids who successfully bear children continue to live at their Commander's house until their children are weaned, at which point they are sent to a new assignment with a new Commander. Those who produce children will never be declared "unwomen" or sent to the Colonies, even if they never have another baby.
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Why couldn't June be an econowife?

Econowives are middle/lower class women that haven't sinned. Handmaids are fertile sinners. June was an adultress because divorce is not recognised or allowed in Gilead.
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Is Noah really Serena's baby?

At the end of season 5 Serena was trapped in Canada, wishing nothing more than to return to Gilead (mirroring June's wish to free Nichole from the pair's oppressive homeland). Serena and her baby, Noah, were both unknowingly on the train with June heading to Vancouver, with June planning to take a boat to Hawaii.
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What did they do to Moira's feet?

The Aunts tortured Moira by beating her feet with steel cables, the punishment for a first offense. The punishment for a second offense was beating the hands. Aunt Lydia reminded the women that hands and feet did not matter for their purpose.
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Who actually runs Gilead?

The storyline hasn't detailed how Gilead's government and state function precisely, however a theocratic, inner party of men, more appropriately termed a junta called "Committee" appears to be in charge. They rule from Washington, D.C., which is the capital of Gilead.
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What commander is obsessed with Janine?

Commander Bell and Janine. His obsession with her is very disturbing, and I highly doubt he's just gonna be like "Oh well, that was fun while it lasted" just because Jezebel's got shut down.
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What disability does Nick's wife have?

She has a mobility disorder in real life known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Nick Johnson affect. Effect is the noun. Not trying to be grammar police, but it's one that people often confuse.
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Why do they say "under his eye"?

Sayings in Gilead

“Under His Eye”: Intended for saying hello or goodbye. Refers to the belief that God is always watching. Also believed to be a reference to the undercover Guardians or Eyes stationed all over Gilead.
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Why does Nick's wife walk with a cane?

Rose is portrayed as having congenital hip dysplasia, a condition that causes a limp and a need for a cane. In real life, you have a disability called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
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What is Rose Blaine's disability?

Introduced in Season 5 as the wife of Nick, Rose is an unusual character in Gilead due to her visible disability — congenital hip dysplasia. This mirrors Carey's real-life experience living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
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