2.14.5
Chapter 45
Chapter 45 - Summary and Key Quotations
Chapter 45 - Summary and Key Quotations
The news of Ofglen's suicide distresses Offred. But Offred also realises that Ofglen never had a chance to be tortured for her secrets. This means that Offred might still be safe.
Serena Joy's anger
Serena Joy's anger
- Offred questions whether the suicide story is true or not.
- When Offred returns to the house, she is confronted by an angry Serena Joy. Serena says that she "trusted" Offred and claims that she "tried to help" her.
- When Serena Joy brings out the outfit she wore to Jezebel's, Offred realises which secret she has found out about.
"I may live"
"I may live"
- "She has died that I may live ... Unless this woman is lying"
- At first, Offred is relieved that Ofglen has seemingly not incriminated anyone.
- But she soon starts to worry that Ofglen is not actually dead and that there's no way of knowing if she's dead or alive.
- The idea of dying so that others can live references Jesus' sacrificial death to atone for the world's sins.
"I am abject"
"I am abject"
- “I am abject. They can do what they like with me.”
- Offred knows that a tyrannical regime like Gilead can force its people to do anything because of their desperation to live.
- "Does she love him, after all?"
- Offred realises Serena Joy is also an exploited woman and victim of the regime.
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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