Eden Blaine, née Spencer, was a recurring character in season 2 of The Handmaid's Tale, when she is married off to Nick Blaine.
After the takeover[]
Eden was raised as a true believer on a farm near Westminster, Massachusetts. Guided by her mother, she was taught the traditional duties expected of a wife in Gilead, with marriage standing as her greatest aspiration. Born prior to the regime's takeover, Eden learned to read and write during her childhood.
Present time, season two[]
Eden is assigned to Nick as a child-bride in a Prayvaganza mass-marriage ceremony chaired by Commander Andrew Pryce. As the Waterfords return from the Prayvaganza with June and Nick, Serena leads Eden into Nick's apartment and kindly advises her to enjoy the "act" she’s now required to perform.[1]
In a moment alone with June, Nick points out he didn’t have a choice to marry Eden and still thinks about "the three of us", meaning him, her, and her unborn baby. That night, Nick and Eden have dinner at their apartment, where she tells him that her mother taught her "about everything" that would be expected of her as a wife. Nick steps outside to smoke.[2]
The next day, Eden tells June about Nick's permanent aloofness, fearing that he is a "gender traitor". June reassures her that Nick will be "a great father for her children". When Nick runs into June soon after, she insists he has to deflower his wife, because she could make trouble if he does not do something soon. That night, Nick and his new bride have sex for the first time.[2]
At one point, June discovers Eden's personal Bible. Most importantly, she discovers that Eden has written notes throughout the book. This is noteworthy because women in Gilead, apart from the Aunts, are forbidden both from reading and from writing, meaning that Eden's actions, though pious, are also against the law. Serena later takes the Bible to the Council, and while advocating for rights of women to be taught literacy, begins to read from Eden's Bible.
Eden asks Nick if she can spruce up their home and he tells her to do whatever she wants. Later, Nick comes home to Eden and finds that she's organized the apartment, refolded his clothes, and wants his advice on fabric for new curtains. On the nightstand, he sees the stack of letters June was burning and asks her if she read them. She says no and he forbids her from ever touching his things again.[3]
Eden takes out the trash and runs into Isaac, the Waterford’s new young Guardian who has been showing her attention. They share a kiss as Nick watches from the balcony. Eden realizes this and runs up to the house to apologize. He says not to worry about it and Eden asks why he doesn't care that he just caught her cheating on him. He doesn't say anything and Eden realizes that he is in love with June. Nick tells her that he'd never get involved with a Handmaid. She realizes that he just doesn't love her and starts to cry.[4]
Eden becomes infatuated with Isaac after receiving little to no affection from Nick in her loveless marriage to him. She later falls in love with Isaac and, taking June’s advice of “finding love wherever you can”, they attempt to escape Gilead together, but are caught by Gileadean forces. They are both put on a diving board above a deserted swimming pool in front of a terrified public, convicted of infidelity in violation of Exodus 20:14, and immediately sentenced to death. Eden has a potential chance to save her own life by “renouncing her sins”, and Nick begs her to do so. However, the young Econowife chooses to die a martyr’s death via drowning along with her lover, but not before reciting 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to herself and Isaac. This causes Nick to feel immense guilt for having treated her so poorly throughout their short-lived marriage.[5]
Her death has a profound effect on Serena, who watches her and Isaac's execution with horror.
It is revealed during a meeting between the Waterfords and Eden's father that her father was the one who had turned her over to the Eyes, which surprises June. By doing so, he had contributed to her execution.
This likely convinced June to smuggle Nichole into Canada shortly afterwards, fearing what happened to Eden could likely happen to Nichole as she grows up.
Appearances[]
Season Two[]
- "Seeds"
- "First Blood"
- "After"
- "Women's Work"
- "Smart Power"
- "The Last Ceremony"
- “Postpartum”
References[]
- ↑ Episode 2.5, "Seeds"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Episode 2.6, First Blood
- ↑ Episode 2.8, "Women's Work"
- ↑ Episode 2.10, "The Last Ceremony"
- ↑ Episode 2.12, “Postpartum”