The world of Gilead is full of all kinds of lingo, and here are five of the most commonly heard sayings inThe Handmaid’s Tale, explained. The dystopian state that has taken over the United States has used theocratic fascism to do so, and in doing this, it has come up with new phrases that Gilead’s subjects must constantly express. While these phrases are heard all throughoutThe Handmaid’s Tale, some of them haven’t been explained at all, and those that have may have only been touched on in asingle episode ofThe Handmaid’s Tale.
By the time thatThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 1 starts,Gilead has been around for a while, with it operating at full force. Gilead has only gotten more powerful as the show has gone on, withThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6proving that Gilead is strong enough to strengthen its influence within Canada and what is left of the United States. This means that the fascistic iconography and language of Gilead is spreading to even more corners of the Earth, meaning that more citizens of Earth are having to learn the meanings behind these fiveThe Handmaid’s Talephrases.
5"Under His Eye"
Of all of the phrases inThe Handmaid’s Tale, “Under His eye” may be the most commonly heard one.This phrase acts as a farewell within the world of Gilead, with Handmaid’s and some other classes saying it to each other when they depart. In the religious society of Gilead, the phrase serves as a reminder that God is watching over everyone, which is comforting to some believers.
However, “Under His eye” also serves a more sinister purpose. The phrase reminds everyone in Gilead that someone is always watching, reminding its speakers to stay away from any activities that could be deemed seditious. Even if they don’t believe that God is watching, Gileadean officials,such as the aptly-named Eyes, are always watching and attempting to quell any rebellion.
4"Blessed Be The Fruit"
While “Under His eye” is a farewell phrase,“Blessed be the fruit” is Gilead’s greeting phrase. The phrase is meant to encourage fertility, with it often being said by Handmaids to Handmaids. The fruit in question is most likely children, although it could also be a reference to the fruits of the spirit, a concept from the Bible.
The idea that the Handmaids' roles are “blessed” is horrifying, showing how Gilead uses religion to suppress its subjects.
Again, there is a sinister meaning underlying this phrase.This greeting could be interpreted as saying that the role of the Handmaids is divine, with God commanding them to be subject to their Commanders. The idea that the Handmaids' roles are “blessed” is horrifying, showing how Gilead uses religion to suppress its subjects.
3"May The Lord Open"
The Follow-Up To “Blessed Be The Fruit”
After one individual greets a second person with “Blessed be the fruit,” the proper response in Gilead is for that second person to respond with “May the Lord open.” This ends the greeting phrase, with it building off of the previous statement about fertility. After saying that children are blessed by God, this second phrase offers wishes that God will allow more children to be born.
Since infertility is what led to Gilead’s fascist takeover,this greeting phrase acts as a constant reminder of why Gilead has to exist. Using this as a greeting phrase means that this mission underlies all conversations in Gilead, reinforcing Gilead’s power in the minds of its subjects.
2"Praise Be"
An Expression Of Thankfulness
One of the simpler phrases inThe Handmaid’s Taleis “Praise be.” In the world of Gilead, “Praise be” is an exclamation of thankfulness, with nearly every character saying it at some point in the series.This exclamation is clearly a shortened version of the phrase “Praise be to God,“with the speaker expressing thankfulness to God every time it is spoken. Since many Gileadeans believe in God, this phrase reinforces their belief and acts as a reminder that God purportedly condones Gilead and is on Gilead’s side.
1"Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum”
A Phrase Of Rebellion
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” is one of the rarest phrases inThe Handmaid’s Tale, but it is also one of the most important. In both the book and the show, the phrase is explained to be made-up Latin, with it being a humorous and rebellious phrase inside Gilead. The phrase essentially translates to “Don’t let the bastards grind you down,” although it uses a mix of real Lating, made-up Latin, and English. However, this joke phrase helps motivate June throughoutThe Handmaid’s Tale, meaning that it is at least worth something.
