Esther Keyes

Esther Keyes
Esther Keyes
Gender	Female
Age	14
Date of birth	2005
Family /significant others	Commander Keyes (husband, deceased) Unborn baby
Class	Wife (formerly) Handmaid
Allegiance	None
Affiliation	Gilead Mayday
Occupation/role	None
Portrayer	Mckenna Grace
Status	Alive

Esther Keyes is a character in the fourth season of The Handmaid's Tale.

History

Esther had an arranged marriage to the elderly Commander Keyes, becoming his Wife. He was unable to sexually perform, but he still wanted them to have a child. As a result, Commander Keyes had Esther raped by many Guardians, Eyes, and Commanders, hoping that she would become pregnant. In particular, Johnny Pogue raped her multiple times. Esther soon started gradually poisoning her husband with nightshade, and he began to go senile.

Season 4

"Pigs"

After the liberation of eighty-six children from Gilead, Esther agrees to host June and her fellow handmaids on her estate after she is contacted through Mayday and The Marthas' Network. She welcomes June, who collapses from septic shock. June recovers with home-made penicillin in a guest room, while Janine, Alma, Brianna, Sara, and Ellie disguise themselves as Esther's Marthas on her farm.

When June recovers, she goes outside to work. Esther cautions her to keep herself safe, as drones are looking for the escaped Handmaids. June tells Esther not to worry, as Marthas working on farms is very inconspicuous in rural communities. When June questions her age and seems unconfident about the rebellion, Esther boldly tells June that she is the mistress of the house, and asks why she freed the children if she didn't want to fight.

Esther slaughters one of her pigs to feed the disguised Handmaids. At dinner, Janine refuses to eat the pork, as she had grown close to the pig, who she had named Mr. Darcy. Esther forces Janine to eat the pork, but June cautions her from being so harsh. Going to a side room, June tells Esther about everything Janine has gone through. In response, Esther reveals the horrors that her husband has put her through. June comforts her, and tells her that God will make the men who raped her pay.

Later, a captured Guardian named Pogue is caught on the Keyes farm as a drunk trespasser. The Marthas start beating him, and Esther reveals his abuse of her to the others. June tells her to stop, and instead, they take him inside the barn, where they carry out a mock Salvaging. Esther stabs him to death, and climbs into bed with June, the pair comforting one another.

"Nightshade"

When Guardians visit the Keyes household, Esther holds them off with her charisma. Later, June reveals her plan to move onto the next safehouse. Esther begs June to take her on the journey, and June eventually accepts, but says that they need to do something about the Commander. June realizes that Esther has been poisoning the Commander with nightshade, and uses it to poison the Commanders at a nearby Jezebel's.

Before Esther and June can move onto the next safehouse, the house is raided by Guardians.

"The Crossing"

Nick reveals that Esther has been arrested, while the other Handmaids managed to flee to the next safehouse located on the Murrow household.

"Progress"

Janine is shocked when she sees Esther as a handmaid, being punished for refusing to eat. Janine meekly steps in to prevent Aunt Lydia from torturing the girl, suggesting that she can maybe get her to comply. Esther is very interested in what June is up to, but Janine hardens her voice as she tells her that she needs to stay alive so she can be here when things get better. The former Commander's wife initially resists but eventually gives in and eats. Aunt Lydia is pleased with Janine’s efforts.

Season 5

“Ballet“

Janine is shown tending to Esther as the Handmaids prepare for Commander Waterford’s wake at the Putnam’s house. Janine tells Esther to behave and all will be well. Esther says she wishes Janine could go with her. Janine tells Aunt Lydia that she thinks Esther will do good as a prospective Handmaid. At the Putnams' residence, Esther complains about standing around. Janine reminds her to follow the rules and stay alive. Naomi Putnam is led in and introduced to Esther. Naomi comments on how Esther is very young and a former Wife. Aunt Lydia assures Naomi that this means Esther knows she is worthy of respect. Esther is led into Commander Putnam’s study where everyone else is kicked out leaving only Warren and Esther. Warren toys with her and feeds her chocolates. Esther is teary-eyed and clearly very uncomfortable with the situation. On the ride back to the Red Center Esther laments about having to be posted. Janine tells her that getting pregnant will make things easier because it is her only protection. Disgusted, Esther removes her hand from Janine’s but seemingly agrees. Back at the Red Center Janine says goodbye to Esther, who is supposedly soon to be posted. She tells Esther that pregnancy is a beautiful experience, to give her some hope. Esther reveals that she had smuggled some candy from  Commander Putnam’s study and shares them. As the two women eat the candies Esther’s mood turns dark as she coldly tells Janine that she hated her from the moment they met and that she is ‘one of them’, accusing Janine of using her to see Angela. Janine tells Esther she was just trying to help her stay alive like June helped her but Esther tells her she is not June, but a ‘disgrace’. As Esther says this she begins to choke violently, revealing that Esther poisoned the chocolates. Soon Janine and Esther begin to cough up blood, and are discovered by a horrified Aunt Lydia.

“Border”

Esther is still comatose from her poisoning attempt. Lydia, overcome with grief and pent-up frustration, strikes the unconscious Esther before breaking down into sobs and wandering to the neighboring hospital room of Janine, sitting at her bedside and professing to God that she had only wanted to keep the Handmaids safe.

“Together”

Esther is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy when Lydia is informed by the doctor that it has been cancelled because Esther is three weeks pregnant. Lydia goes in to see Esther to ask how this happened. Esther says she didn’t do anything but that Warren had raped her. When Lydia touches Esther she becomes extremely aggressive and begins to scream, struggling against her restraints. Lydia, unsuccessfully trying to soothe her, calls for help.

Later, Warren is detained by Nick and Commander Lawrence under apostasy and rape charges. Warren insists he did nothing wrong because Esther was ‘his’, but he violated the system by raping Esther before she had been assigned to him, as Lawrence tells him. Nick shoots Warren point-blank in the forehead.

Appearances

Season Four

• "Pigs"
• "Nightshade"
• "Progress"

Season Five

• “Ballet”
• “Border” (No Lines)
• “Together”

Trivia

• Her name mirrors the Biblical Esther, who is arranged to marry the King of Persia, similar to Esther's arranged marriage to Commander Keyes.