2.12.3
Chapter 33
Chapter 33 - Summary and Key Quotations
Chapter 33 - Summary and Key Quotations
The reader is introduced to the concept of a Prayvaganza, where young women have their marriages arranged. As they walk to the ceremony, Offred remembers picking flowers with her daughter.
Ofwarren's baby - "shredder"
Ofwarren's baby - "shredder"
- Once Offred and Ofglen arrive at the ceremony, along with other women in Gilead, they are separated off into their different roles: Handmaids, Wives, Econo-Wives and Marthas.
- Whilst lining up for the Prayvaganza, Ofglen tells Offred that Ofwarren's baby has been discovered to have serious disabilities and is classed as a "shredder", which we also find out is not her first child to be classed as unsuitable for Gilead.
Ofwarren's breakdown
Ofwarren's breakdown
- Offred remembers that Ofwarren had a temporary mental breakdown at the Red Centre when she started to stare into space and talk to herself.
- Moira slapped Ofwarren to get her to be quiet so she didn't draw attention to herself. She would be classed an "unwoman" if she seemed mentally unfit to fulfil her role as a Handmaid.
- Offred remembers that Moira told her to keep an eye on Ofwarren. She thinks that this might have been when Moira was planning to escape the centre.
Key quotations
Key quotations
- "The Prayvaganza"
- Prayer + ‘extravaganza' → this implies that prayer is an important part of this ceremony. In the next chapter, we learn that this ceremony is actually a mass wedding, similar to those organised in the 20th century by ‘Moonie' leader Sun Myung Moon. Thousands of people would be married in these ceremonies.
- "God is a National Resource"
- Implies God is on Gilead's side and Gilead practically controls him.
Key quotations (cont.)
Key quotations (cont.)
- "Kneeling … on the cement floor"
- Reflects their Handmaid's subservient position in Gilead.
1Author Background
1.1Margaret Atwood
2Chapter Summaries
2.1Chapter 1: Night I
2.2Chapters 2-6: Shopping II
2.3Chapter 7: Night II
2.4Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV
2.5Chapter 13: Nap V
2.6Chapters 14-17: Household VI
2.7Chapter 18: Night VII
2.8Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII
2.9Chapter 24: Night IX
2.10Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X
2.11Chapter 30: Night XI
2.12Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII
2.13Chapter 40: Night XIII
2.14Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV
2.15Chapter 46: Night XV
2.16Historical Notes
3Dedications & Epigraph
3.1Dedications & Epigraph
4Context
4.1Setting
4.2Literary Context & Genre
4.3Political Context
4.4Historical Context
4.5Parallels: Read World & Gilead
4.6Religious Context
5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques
5.1Narrative Structure
5.2Literary Techniques
6Themes & Imagery
6.2Imagery
7Characters
7.1Female Characters
7.2Male Characters
8Readings
8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale
Jump to other topics
1Author Background
1.1Margaret Atwood
2Chapter Summaries
2.1Chapter 1: Night I
2.2Chapters 2-6: Shopping II
2.3Chapter 7: Night II
2.4Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV
2.5Chapter 13: Nap V
2.6Chapters 14-17: Household VI
2.7Chapter 18: Night VII
2.8Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII
2.9Chapter 24: Night IX
2.10Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X
2.11Chapter 30: Night XI
2.12Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII
2.13Chapter 40: Night XIII
2.14Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV
2.15Chapter 46: Night XV
2.16Historical Notes
3Dedications & Epigraph
3.1Dedications & Epigraph
4Context
4.1Setting
4.2Literary Context & Genre
4.3Political Context
4.4Historical Context
4.5Parallels: Read World & Gilead
4.6Religious Context
5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques
5.1Narrative Structure
5.2Literary Techniques
6Themes & Imagery
6.2Imagery
7Characters
7.1Female Characters
7.2Male Characters
8Readings
8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale
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