MovieChat Forums > The Handmaid's Tale (2017) Discussion > The Wives? Why?

The Wives? Why?

posted 8 years ago by artsyneverfartsy (4)
8 replies | jump to latest

A thought that I have been puzzling over about the Handmaid's Society: Why would they bother with having The Wives? Women no longer have any wealth of their own, so it's not like in earlier historical times when men would marry for a woman's inheritance. So what sets this group of women apart, what makes them more valued? These barren women, at that?

I think such a totalitarian society would have just 4 classes of women: The Handmaids, The Aunts, The Marthas and The Jezebels (the secret, hidden class). The Marthas could raise the children in the same way that governesses did most of the raising of children of the wealthy.

Perhaps the wives are just part of phase 1 Gilead? A way of keeping a veneer of scripture based piety to cover the misogyny. But I can't see the wives continuing to exist in such a society over time. They would eventually be phased out.

Of course this creates a VERY BLEAK vision. I wonder if the series will ever address this or try to grapple with a plan by the patriarchy to phase out the wives?

[–] carmenjones411 (28) 8 years ago

Don't quote me but I think the men have wives because the wives were the ones who helped them put Gilead in place.

It's all about appearances with these sickos and having wives who are complicit in their quest to "restore order" and populate the earth fits their idealistic image and makes their actions seem less sordid (at least in their minds)
remember the people who visited from another country? It's unlikely they would have been so easily fooled by this "civilized" (rolls eyes) society if there weren't wives there to convince them everything was all good.

Again this is just my take on it

[–] artsyneverfartsy (4) 8 years ago

Thanks for your repsonse. Fits with the "Veneer of Piety" theory that I had.
I see the veneer coming down eventually. Not that this society is not already corrupt, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I can see a time where the men will no longer feel the need to keep up appearances and the wives will morph into powerless Marthas.
It would make for a terrible but fascinating plot development.

[–] kenburke (2377) 7 years ago

The wives would be used for sexual gratification (i.e. true love) while the handmaids would be responsible for increasing the population.

[–] MinaVladimir (4081) 7 years ago

I'm just going to preface this by saying that I think that these men are sickening hypocrites (as most people in similar positions of power are IMO). It angers me to no end.

I think it's a few things.

1) They present themselves as true christians, and I think they have to have wives just because of that. The traditional family unit is very impostant, even if the women can't have children.

2) It's a status thing. From what I gathered (I don't remember from the book), wives would be assigned in this new society. A man of lower social standing wouldn't necessarily get a wife, but a Commander's privileged position would grant him that "luxury". So, having a wife = being important.

3) Even if these women don't have any power in society, they have roles in the home, that the men maybe wouldn't want to assume. They have to run the household, tell the Marthas what to do, entertain guests, look after the Handmaids, etc. And even be companions maybe. The Jezebels are very immoral (the idea, not the women themselves), and not all men would have access to them. So giving them a wife would curb the need to go into relationships with other women (in theory).

And I agree with the previous poster's comment about having to keep up appearances as well.

Those are my thoughts on the matter.

[–] artsyneverfartsy (4) 7 years ago

Yeah, I guess it is all about just the appearance of piety. Fascinating.

[–] carmenjones411 (28) 7 years ago

As a woman I cannot tell u how this series affected me, especially considering our current political climate (sorry if I offend anyone). Just the idea of something like this happening in real life made the series extremely powerful and gripping.

[–] poppy (8) 7 years ago

Yep, I agree - they put heavy importance on the idea of a "traditional family". Especially since they are committing adultery with the handmaids.

[–] MinaVladimir (4081) 7 years ago

Yeah, but the Bible says it cool, so... Again, the hypocrisy of these people is astonishing.