2.10.1

Chapter 25

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Chapter 25 - Summary

After falling asleep on the floor, Offred is woken by Cora walking in, screaming and dropping her tray of breakfast.

Cora hopes for pregnancy

Cora hopes for pregnancy

  • Cora immediately thinks that Offred is dead. Then she mistakenly thinks she has fainted. Then she gets hopeful that Offred is pregnant and tells her she will not tell anyone about the wasted breakfast.
  • Offred says her secret relationship with the Commander is continuing. She plays games of scrabble in return for some special treats like copies of Vogue or access to hand lotion.
A __"whim"__ for the Commander

A "whim" for the Commander

  • The Commander admits to Offred that his relationship with Serena Joy is not working as they have grown apart over the years.
  • Offred has to remind herself, as she is moisturising her hands in front of him, that she is just a "whim" for the Commander.

Chapter 25 - Key Quotations

Here are six key quotations from Chapter 25:

Key quotations

Key quotations

  • "...Egg, which could not be salvaged"
    • The verb 'salvaged' foreshadows the Salvaging later on in the novel.
  • "Snipping off the seed pods ... the swelling genitalia of the flowers"
    • Serena Joy seems dangerous. She destroys the fertile flowers - ironic given she is infertile.
  • "There is something subversive about this garden of Serena's”
    • The garden symbolises an unrestrained environment.
Key quotations (cont.)

Key quotations (cont.)

  • "Saint Serena, on her knees, doing penance"
  • "My tongue felt thick"
    • Atwood implies that words can be sensual and conjure up images which Offred no longer experiences.
  • "For him, I am only a whim"
    • Offred is aware that the Commander doesn't respect her as an individual.
Jump to other topics
1

Author Background

1.1

Margaret Atwood

1.1.1Margaret Atwood
2

Chapter Summaries

2.1

Chapter 1: Night I

2.1.1Chapter 1
2.2

Chapters 2-6: Shopping II

2.2.1Chapter 22.2.2Chapter 32.2.3Chapter 42.2.4Chapter 52.2.5Chapter 6
2.3

Chapter 7: Night II

2.3.1Chapter 7
2.4

Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV

2.4.1Chapter 82.4.2Chapter 92.4.3Chapter 102.4.4Chapter 112.4.5Chapter 12
2.5

Chapter 13: Nap V

2.5.1Chapter 13
2.6

Chapters 14-17: Household VI

2.6.1Chapter 142.6.2Chapter 152.6.3Chapter 162.6.4Chapter 17
2.7

Chapter 18: Night VII

2.7.1Chapter 18
2.8

Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII

2.8.1Chapter 192.8.2Chapter 202.8.3Chapter 212.8.4Chapter 222.8.5Chapter 23
2.9

Chapter 24: Night IX

2.9.1Chapter 24
2.10

Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X

2.10.1Chapter 252.10.2Chapter 262.10.3Chapter 272.10.4Chapter 282.10.5Chapter 29
2.11

Chapter 30: Night XI

2.11.1Chapter 30
2.12

Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII

2.12.1Chapter 312.12.2Chapter 322.12.3Chapter 332.12.4Chapter 342.12.5Chapter 352.12.6Chapter 362.12.7Chapter 372.12.8Chapter 382.12.9Chapter 39
2.13

Chapter 40: Night XIII

2.13.1Chapter 40
2.14

Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV

2.14.1Chapter 412.14.2Chapter 422.14.3Chapter 432.14.4Chapter 442.14.5Chapter 45
2.15

Chapter 46: Night XV

2.15.1Chapter 46
2.16

Historical Notes

2.16.1Historical Notes
3

Dedications & Epigraph

3.1

Dedications & Epigraph

3.1.1Dedications3.1.2Epigraph
4

Context

4.1

Setting

4.1.1Setting
4.2

Literary Context & Genre

4.2.1The Canterbury Tales & The Scarlet Letter4.2.2Links to Dystopian Fiction
4.3

Political Context

4.3.1Berlin & Iran4.3.2The New Right in America
4.4

Historical Context

4.4.1Puritan New England
4.5

Parallels: Read World & Gilead

4.5.1The Underground Femaleroad4.5.2Children of Ham & Soul Scrolls4.5.3Offred's Tattoo, Salvaging & Illegal Abortions4.5.4Unwomen, Colonies & Giving Away Offred's Daughter
4.6

Religious Context

4.6.1Religious Context
5

Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques

5.1

Narrative Structure

5.1.1Narrative Structure
5.2

Literary Techniques

5.2.1Literary Techniques5.2.2Colour Symbolism
6

Themes & Imagery

6.1

Themes

6.1.1Survival & Language6.1.2The Female Body
6.2

Imagery

6.2.1The Garden & Doubles
7

Characters

7.1

Female Characters

7.1.1Offred & Moira7.1.2Offred's Mother, Ofglen & Ofwarren7.1.3Serena Joy & Aunt Lydia
7.2

Male Characters

7.2.1The Commander7.2.2Nick & Luke
8

Readings

8.1

Readings of The Handmaid's Tale

8.1.1Eco-Criticism8.1.2Complacency
9

Recap: Main Quotes

9.1

Quotes by Chapter

9.1.1Chapters 1 & 29.1.2Chapters 3 & 49.1.3Chapters 5 & 69.1.4Chapters 7 & 89.1.5Chapters 9 & 109.1.6Chapters 11 & 129.1.7Chapters 13 & 149.1.8Chapter 15 & 169.1.9Chapters 17 & 189.1.10Chapters 19 & 209.1.11Chapters 21 & 229.1.12Chapters 23 & 249.1.13Chapters 25 & 269.1.14Chapters 27 & 289.1.15Chapters 29 & 309.1.16Chapters 31 & 329.1.17Chapters 33 & 349.1.18Chapters 35 & 369.1.19Chapters 37 & 389.1.20Chapters 39 & 409.1.21Chapters 41 & 429.1.22Chapters 43 & 449.1.23Chapters 45 & 469.1.24Historical Notes & Epigraphs
9.2

Text Structure - Quotes

9.2.1Literary Techniques - Quotes9.2.2Survival & Language -Quotes9.2.3The Female Body - Quotes9.2.4The Garden & Doubles - Quotes9.2.5Eco-Criticism & Complacency - Quotes

Practice questions on Chapter 25

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is Cora hopeful of after encountering Offred on the floor?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does Offred remind herself that she is for the Commander in Chapter 25?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What's significant about Serena Joy <b>"snipping off the seed pods"</b> in Chapter 25?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What does this quotation suggest the Commander does NOT value?<br><br>__"For him, I am only a whim"__ Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Chapter 25

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Chapter 24

Chapter 26