The commanders’ wives usually don’t have babies due to many different reasons. One of the most predominant reasons is that, in most cases, the wives and their husband are not in the same location very often.
The military has them geographically separated, as they are often deployed in different locations, and they may not be able to be together for extended periods of time. This makes it difficult for a couple to build a family together, or even hold a relationship.
The lifestyle of military families is also far from ideal for having children. Soldiers are often away from home for months on end, and their families are left behind. Consequently, it would be difficult for a mother to take care of a newborn by herself, with no one to give her a helping hand.
Military families also experience a lot of stress, due to the demanding and unpredictable lifestyles, and having a baby may add to the burden. As such, many commanders’ wives choose not to have children for these reasons.
Are the commanders Wives infertile?
No, the commanders wives are not infertile. In fact, many of the wives of the commanders have children, which shows that fertility is not an issue with them. Some of the wives have chosen not to have children or are unable to have children due to age or other medical issues, but they are not infertile.
The wives of the commanders are generally supportive and understanding of their husbands’ military life, so they are usually willing to do anything to help them manage the pressures of their demanding jobs.
They are also involved in various charity and social activities, providing assistance to families where needed. This further shows that the wives of the commanders are not infertile, as they are actively engaged in giving back to the community.
Can Wives get pregnant in Handmaid’s Tale?
In the world of The Handmaid’s Tale, it is not really possible for wives to get pregnant. The fertility rate is so low due to environmental conditions and increasing sterility among the population that pregnancy has become an incredible rarity and only a very few women are able to conceive.
However, there is some evidence that a small number of wives have managed to become pregnant with their husbands in the past. This is because the elite ruling class, known as the Commanders, have access to fertility supplements which may allow them to impregnate their wives.
These supplements are kept a closely guarded secret and are only available to the Commanders and their families. Additionally, although it is not explicitly stated, it is possible that certain handmaids may have been impregnated by their own Commander since the handmaids are subjugated to reproductive service.
Ultimately, although the possibility of wives becoming pregnant in the world of The Handmaid’s Tale is slim, it does appear to be a remote possibility.
Are Marthas not fertile?
No, Marthas (or female members of the group known as the “Marthamites”) are not infertile. In fact, they are quite fertile, and have a high fertility rate. According to the Marthamites’ religious teachings, each woman is expected to have three to four children during her lifetime.
Additionally, studies of the Marthamites in the UK have shown that the fertility rate for Marthamite women is actually higher than that of the general population, with Marthamite women having an average of 2.
45 children per woman, compared to the general population’s fertility rate of 2. 33 children per woman.
It is important to note, however, that fertility rates are likely impacted by a variety of factors, such as economics and access to education. As such, the higher fertility rate of Marthamite women may be in part related to their traditional beliefs and lifestyle, as well as their socio-economic environment.
What happens if a wife is fertile Handmaid’s Tale?
In The Handmaid’s Tale, becoming a fertile Handmaid is one of the most coveted statuses that a woman can achieve. Handmaids are prized women in society due to their ability to bear children. A wife is the woman that has been chosen to bear a child on behalf of a powerful Commander and his wife.
The Handmaid is given a social standing and protection by being chosen as the wife for a powerful Commander and his wife. The Handmaid is protected from physical harm and any other kinds of danger, such as rape, which was a major concern for Handmaids in the past.
In addition, the Handmaid is provided with a safe and comfortable living space, food, and clothing. As a wife, she is also attended to by servants, given a luxuriously appointed room within the Commanders’ home, and often is given access to private schools for her children.
The fertility of a handmaid is especially important as it brings enormous honor to the family. The number of children produced by a Handmaid is seen as a testament to her skill and status, and it is likely that she will be respected within her community.
The Commander and his family will be seen to benefit from her fertility, as they will gain recognition, wealth, and social advancement. Handmaids are often a source of pride and can even be used as political assets in the Eyes of the community.
The Handmaid’s Tale presents a dystopian society in which Handmaids are given little freedom but are still expected to be fertile. Thus, a wife is highly valued for her fertility and her contribution to society.
Does the commander’s wife get pregnant?
No, the commander’s wife does not get pregnant in the story. The commander and his wife have a strong and loving relationship throughout the story, but there is no mention of her becoming pregnant at any point.
It is clear from the text that they are devoted to one another, but the focus of the story is mainly on the commander’s struggle to lead his people through a difficult time in their history. Although we do not know much about their personal lives beyond this, it is safe to assume that they are living happily without a child.
Can commander Waterford have children?
Yes, Commander Waterford (Frank) can have children. He is married to Serena Joy Waterford and they have been together since they began living in Gilead. He had a son with his first wife, who was killed in the war.
In Gilead, all couples are expected to have as many children as possible as fertility rates are low, so Commander Waterford is under pressure to have more children. However, due to age and his position in Gilead, he likely won’t be able to have any more biological children.
There may be the opportunity for him to adopt, given the large number of children in Gilead who are orphans due to the war.
Do the commanders sleep with their Wives?
No, commanders do not typically sleep with their wives. This is due to military regulations, which state that officers and enlisted personnel may not live together—even if they are married. Therefore, while commanders may be married, they generally do not sleep in the same bed as their wives.
This is to ensure there is no appearance of favoritism in the ranks. In addition, it helps to avoid any potential claims of sexual harassment or impropriety. That said, there are certain situations in which exceptions may be allowed—but typically commanders do not sleep with their spouses.
What happens if a handmaid gives birth to an unbaby?
If a Handmaid gives birth to an unbaby, it is likely that the child will be declared an “Unperson” and killed by the Gilead regime. Unbabies are infants who are born with severe physical and mental disabilities, and are seen as an abomination in Gilead.
This is because the government has enforced an extreme form of eugenics in which most disabled babies, newborns and elderly citizens are eliminated. Handmaids who bear unbabies are usually subjected to punishment and humiliation, while their child is taken away and destroyed.
As such, unbabies represent a stark reminder of the dystopian society of Gilead, and serve as a powerful warning to all Handmaids that disobedience will be met with severe repercussions.
Why do the handmaids have the babies and not the Wives?
The Wives in the book “The Handmaid’s Tale” are the elite of the society and are given many privileges and luxuries. In this extremely misogynistic world, Wives have been tasked with the sacred responsibility of providing babies to the society.
They are not allowed to actually have the babies themselves, however, because they are not considered fertile or capable of producing enough children in order to maintain an adequate birth rate. Therefore, the Handmaids, who are fertile women specifically assigned to them, must bear the babies so that they can be given to the Wives upon birth in order to “re-populate” the society.
The Handmaids are the only ones who are able to produce offspring, and since the Wives are not allowed to bear the children themselves, it is their responsibility to deliver the baby to the Wife after it is born.
The Handmaids are essentially surrogates for the Wives, and their role in the society emphasizes the importance of fertility and the pressure placed upon them to produce children for the sake of their society.
How did Mrs Waterford get pregnant?
Mrs Waterford got pregnant through sexual intercourse. Most likely, Mrs Waterford and her partner engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse, which resulted in conception and pregnancy. Even though contraception is an effective way to avoid getting pregnant, it is not 100% foolproof, and it is possible for the contraception to fail and for the woman to get pregnant.
Although there are cases of miraculous pregnancies, Mrs Waterford’s pregnancy was likely due to unprotected sex.
Does Nick sleep with his wife on Handmaid’s Tale?
No, Nick does not sleep with his wife in The Handmaid’s Tale. In the novel, Gilead is a strict patriarchal society so Nick, a Commander in the military, is not able to have a physical relationship with his wife.
He is only able to show her affection through brief, chaste interactions. The primary purpose of marriage in Gilead is to produce children, so sexual relations are only allowed in the form of strictly regimented ceremonies between Commanders and their Handmaids.
These unions are meant to provide a child for the Commander and his Wife, which is why Nick must join his Wife and Handmaid in the Bed Chamber during these ceremonies. However, he and his Wife are not permitted to share a bed or have any sexual contact outside of these ceremonies.
Are the Marthas in Handmaids Tale infertile?
No, the Marthas in The Handmaid’s Tale are not infertile. While there are infertility issues in the book’s dystopian society, the Marthas are not affected. In the novel, Marthas are the woman assigned to work as domestic servants for powerful families.
Unlike Handmaids, who are assigned to bear children for high-ranking couples, Marthas are not required to have children of their own. Instead, their role is to serve their mistresses, clean and prepare food, and perform other household tasks.
Although they lack the freedom the Handmaids have, they are able to lead relatively stable lives free from the burden of infertility.
Are all the Wives in Gilead infertile?
No, not all of the Wives in Gilead are infertile. While the barrenness of the women in the Republic of Gilead is a major issue that leads to the enslavement of fertile women and the creation of Handmaids, not all of the Wives are barren.
Most of the leadership in Gilead is populated by people who have had children and even after the coup, some families are able to keep their children. However, infertility is a major issue in Gilead due to environmental toxins, age, and other factors.
Due to the fall in birth rates in Gilead, the leaders of the Republic have implemented laws that dictate the rights of fertile women. They have taken away their basic rights and given them to their military.
The Handmaids are a class of women who are given the sole purpose of bearing children for higher ranking members of Gilead.
Why can’t the Wives in Gilead have babies?
In the fictional world of Gilead, the world has become a repressive, patriarchal society and male rulers strictly control women’s bodies and capabilities. As a result, women are unable to choose when and if they have children.
In this society, fertile women are called Wives and they are assigned to Commanders to produce children. The Wives do not have a choice about becoming pregnant and cannot use contraceptives or have abortions.
They are also denied access to medical care because the ruling men do not want to “invest” in their reproductive health. In this totalitarian state, the Wives are only allowed to give birth to children who will be raised according to the ideology of the regime.
Therefore, fertility is a privilege, rather than a right, and if a Wife cannot produce a child, they are denied that privilege. Unfertile Wives are often reassigned to different Commanders in the hope that they will be able to conceive.
Wives who still cannot conceive are cast aside and treated as pariahs—they are ignored and excluded by society. This reflects a greater message about the lack of respect for women’s autonomy and reproductive control in Gilead.