Serena Joy is a character in The Handmaid's Tale.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Thin lips, hair blonde; her eyebrows are "plucked into thin arched lines", blue eyes ("a blue that shuts you out"), with eyelids tired-looking.
She has a large face and knuckled, diamond-studded hands. [2]
Personality[]
Offred states that Serena Joy's real name is Pam, and that Serena Joy is a stage name. Offred wonders if Serena is angry that she can no longer be a public figure, now that what she advocated has come to pass and all women, including her, are confined to the home. She hears Serena humming and listening to a recording of herself from the time when she was a famous gospel singer. [3]. Serena Joy is apparently aware that the Commander breaks rules in regards to keeping contraband items, but turns a blind eye out of love for him. She herself smokes cigarettes, a banned item.
In the Past[]
Before Gilead[]
Serena makes a speech.
Serena Joy is the lead soprano from a Sunday-morning religious program called "Growing Souls Gospel Hour"[4]. Offred recalls a time when she was a little girl she got up early whilst her parents were still sleeping, in order to watch animated cartoons. She had turned on her TV too early and instead was tuned into this program. While she did not think about it much, being a little girl waiting for the cartoons to come on, this memory would come back vividly when she was a full-grown woman meeting one of those female singers face-to-face. When Serena’s singing career ends, she becomes a spokesperson for respecting the “sanctity of the home” and for women staying at home instead of working. Serena herself never stays at home, because she is always out giving speeches, where she advocates for women to return to 'traditional' family values and roles. This had made her some enemies to the point she was the subject of a shooting. The shooter was never identified, but likely believed to be a militant feminist or a member of a far-left terrorist organization. However, the assassination failed, having missed Serena and hitting her secretary instead.[5]. At some point after this, likely during the rise of the Republic of Gilead, Serena married the Commander.
Before the main storyline[]
On Offred's first day in the household, Serena tells her to stay out of her sight as much as possible, and to avoid making trouble. As she talks, she smokes a cigarette, a black-market item. Then she reminds Offred that the Commander is her husband, permanently and forever. “It’s one of the things we fought for,” she said, looking away. [4]
In the Present[]
After bathing and eating, Offred must attend the Ceremony with the rest of the household. The Commander is always late for the Ceremony. Serena sits while Offred kneels on the floor. Rita, Cora, and Nick stand behind Offred. Nick’s shoe touches Offred’s. She shifts her foot away, but he moves his foot so it touches hers again. As usual, Serena allows them to watch the news while they wait. The Commander arrives and proceeds to unlock an ornate box. He takes out a Bible and reads to everyone. As the Commander reads, Serena begins to sob softly. After the prayers and Bible reading, the Ceremony continues as usual. In the bedroom, Offred lies on her back between Serena’s legs, her head resting on Serena’s pubic bone. Serena is fully clothed, while Offred’s skirt is hiked up and her underwear is off. The two women hold hands, and Serena’s rings dig into Offred’s fingers. The Commander has sex with Offred in a brisk, impersonal fashion, then zips himself up and leaves the room promptly. Serena orders Offred to leave, even though Offred is supposed to rest for ten minutes to improve her chances of getting pregnant.[6]
When Offred reaches the house, she notes that Nick’s hat is askew. Serena calls Offred over and asks her to hold the wool while she knits. She asks if there is any sign of pregnancy. When Offred indicates there is not, Serena suggests that the Commander may be sterile. After a moment of hesitation, Offred agrees that it is possible. Serena suggests she try another man, since Offred’s time is running out. Serena says Nick would be the safest possibility, and then offers to let Offred see a picture of her daughter if she agrees. Blinded by sudden hate for Serena, Offred nonetheless agrees, and Serena gives her a cigarette as a reward and instructs her to ask Rita for a match.[7]
Serena shows Offred a photograph of her daughter. In the photo, she wears a white dress and smiles. Offred senses that her daughter hardly remembers her. This tears at her heart.[8]. Back in her room at the Commander’s house, Offred has removed her makeup and put on her Handmaid clothes. Serena plans to meet her at midnight to take her to Nick so that Offred and Nick can have sex. In the middle of the night, Serena comes and tells Offred to go to Nick’s apartment. Serena will wait for Offred to return.[9]
From the porch, Serena calls to Offred. When Offred comes in, she holds out her winter cloak and the sequined outfit Offred wore to the club. She asks Offred how she could be so vulgar, and then tells Offred she is a slut like the other Handmaid and will come to the same end. [10]
As a van with Eyes painted on its sides pulls into the driveway, Nick opens the door of Offred’s room. She walks down the stairs to meet the men waiting for her. Serena demands to know Offred’s crime, and Offred realizes Serena was not the one to call these men. The men say they cannot tell her. The Commander demands to see a warrant, and the Eyes—or the men from Mayday, perhaps—say that she is being arrested for “violation of state secrets.” As Serena curses her, Offred follows the Eyes to the van waiting outside.[11]
Epilogue[]
The epilogue discusses Serena Joy's real identity: the most likely candidate for her husband is Commander Fred Waterford, however, his wife's name was Thelma, not Pam, and Commander Judd, the other most likely candidate, did not have a wife named Pam, either. This would suggest that Offred misremembered Serena's real name, that she is a completely different person or even that Offred used a false name for some reason; using Serena's real name could've identified Offred, endangering her loved ones, or it's possible that, despite Serena's generally horrible treatment of her, Offred was attempting to protect Serena herself, as she would likely have gotten into a great deal of trouble for helping Offred commit adultery with Nick.
The Testaments[]
Offred gives birth to Serena's legal daughter, who is named Baby Nicole in Gilead. Nicole is taken to Canada, though Gilead demands her back given Commander Fred's high rank. Canada caves in, but Nicole disappears - she is raised by adopted parents and called Daisy. Serena is never reunited with her legal daughter.
Relationships[]
Wife of Commander Fred Waterford
Appearances[]
She has blond hair and wears on a blue wife dress with a blue veil on her head.
Quotes[]
“I want to see as little of you as possible, I expect you feel the same way about me.” — Chapter 3
Gallery[]
Not[]
References[]
- ↑ Chapter 8
- ↑ section 3
- ↑ Section 10
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Section 3
- ↑ Section 8
- ↑ Novel, chapter VI Household
- ↑ Section 31
- ↑ Section 35
- ↑ Section 40
- ↑ Section 45
- ↑ Section 46
References[]
| Chapter 2 | Offred (Novel) | Aunt Sara | Aunt Elizabeth (Novel) | Alma (Novel) | Janine (Novel) | Dolores (Novel) | Moira (Novel) | June (Novel) | Aunt Lydia (Novel) | Rita | Cora (Novel) | Luke (Novel) | |
| Commander (Novel) | Serena Joy (Novel) | | |
| Nick | Ofglen | 5: Janine 7: Offred's Mother | Offred's (First) Daughter | Angela | |