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23 Jan 2026

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2 pages

Exploring Religion in The Handmaid's Tale: Essay Plan

Laila

@lailaaa__

In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood uses powerful religious... Show more

Symbolism: And so I step up, into the
darkness within ; or else the light Last
Lines of the book, intentionally ambigu-
ores, biblical signi

Light, Darkness, and Religious Symbolism

The novel's final lines—"And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light"—pack a massive punch with their biblical significance. This intentional ambiguity reflects the constant tension between light and dark that runs throughout Christian scripture.

In biblical terms, light represents Jesus, God, and religious salvation, whilst darkness symbolises sin and temptation. The famous verse "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" echoes through Offred's final choice. She's literally stepping into an uncertain future—either escape with the Mayday resistance or continued torture under Gilead's watchful Eyes.

The "darkness within" cleverly suggests that Offred has already become a sinner by going against Gilead's religious ideals. She's no longer the compliant Handmaid they tried to create, which makes her both dangerous and free.

Remember: Atwood deliberately makes this ending ambiguous—we never know if Offred finds salvation or damnation, which mirrors the uncertainty of resistance itself.

Hope and the Black Market

When Offred discovers cigarettes and realises they "must have come from the black market," this moment becomes a turning point for her understanding of resistance. The black market represents people actively rejecting Gilead's rules, and this gives her genuine hope for the first time in ages.

What's brilliant here is that even Serena Joy, supposedly one of Gilead's most devoted supporters, breaks the rules. This hypocrisy shows Offred that resistance exists everywhere, even among those who helped create this dystopian nightmare.

The irony cuts deep: rather than finding hope in God (as Gilead demands), Offred discovers it through people who resist traditional religious values. Hope—a core Christian virtue—comes from rebellion, not from faith.

Key insight: Atwood shows how oppressive regimes often create the very resistance they fear most, as even their supporters can't fully live by their own harsh rules.

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English Language

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23 Jan 2026

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2 pages

Exploring Religion in The Handmaid's Tale: Essay Plan

Laila

@lailaaa__

In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood uses powerful religious symbolism to explore themes of hope, resistance, and rebellion against Gilead's oppressive regime. These final chapters reveal how characters navigate between darkness and light, finding unexpected sources of strength in... Show more

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Light, Darkness, and Religious Symbolism

Remember: Atwood deliberately makes this ending ambiguous—we never know if Offred finds salvation or damnation, which mirrors the uncertainty of resistance itself.

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Hope and the Black Market

Key insight: Atwood shows how oppressive regimes often create the very resistance they fear most, as even their supporters can't fully live by their own harsh rules.