40 years after Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” was published, the story now has a new conclusion with the finale of Hulu’s television series. Over six seasons spanning eight years, the ending of “The Handmaid’s Tale” provides some resolution to the tale of June Osborne (also known as Offred), as well as many other characters living within Gilead. However, much like Atwood’s books, there are plans for more developments on the TV front.
The upcoming TV series “The Testaments” will resume the storyline several years following the series finale, similar to Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel with the same name which expanded on the tale of Gilead years later. It should be noted that there may be some variations and discrepancies between the show and the book due to the significant changes that occurred in “The Handmaid’s Tale” television adaptation compared to its original source material by the time the series ended.
The Handmaid’s Tale Book Ending Was The End Of Season 1
The Show Continued Far Beyond Margaret Atwood’s Novel
In the final episode of the first season of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” June finds herself in a difficult situation: by continuing her intimate relationship with Nick, she has become pregnant with his child, placing her at risk of the Waterfords’ wrath due to this secret pregnancy. It is then that a black van arrives – without the knowledge of the Waterfords. Nick persuades June to place her trust in him, and she steps into the van and is driven away, leaving the season on a cliffhanger.
The book concludes by leaving Offred’s fate undisclosed, as Atwood writes from her perspective: “‘And so I enter, either into the darkness or the light.’” We witness the Waterfords’ dismay and fury as she departs; however, as readers, we are not privy to what transpires afterward.
In the series, June’s narrative progressed, and it did so in a manner that saw her being taken back to Gilead, only to eventually break free, come back, and so forth, leading all the way up to season 6. This loop concluded us back at the start of the show, and it also mirrored a significant aspect of the book’s conclusion.
How The Handmaid’s Tale Show Ending Connects To The Book
It Also Goes Back To The Pilot Episode
In summary, June finds herself once more at the Waterfords’ residence, a structure still standing amidst the battle wreckage. Notably, their wardrobe bears the inscription, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” This return brings her full circle and carries echoes of both the series premiere and the source novel, as June utters, “A chair, a table, a lamp…”
In simpler terms, after the fighting, June goes back to the Waterfords’ house. The house is damaged but still standing, with an important message written on their wardrobe, which she was at in the beginning. This return has connections to both the first episode and the book, as June says something similar to what she said before.
In the initial episode (and its second scene) of the show, June uttered a line that was also present in the second chapter of the book. However, there’s an even closer link to the novel, as June choosing to document her story mirrors something Offred did in the book as well. The tapes were discovered later on in the series, serving as a nod to this connection.
The Handmaid’s Tale Still Leaves Out Part Of The Book’s Ending
Atwood’s Book Goes Into The Future
In June’s narrative from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” it doesn’t mark the conclusion of the entire book. Instead, Margaret Atwood includes supplementary material referred to as “historical notes.” These notes are set far in the future, around 2195, and they detail the Twelfth Symposium on Gileadean Studies. Particularly noteworthy is the unearthing of recordings left by a handmaid, Offred.
Essentially, the information unveiled suggests that Gilead had collapsed prior, and society seems to have regained a level of tranquility as one speaker points out that the circumstances leading to Gilead’s establishment are no longer relevant in today’s world. However, embedded within this peaceful facade is still the lingering misogyny, as the speaker avoids condemning Gilead’s actions, makes a disparaging remark about a female professor (whose presence at least signifies progress compared to Gilead), and the chapter primarily revolves around the credibility of the tapes and the identities of those mentioned in them.
In other words, it seems logical that the final episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale” wouldn’t venture into the future, as this approach would have intensified June’s farewell and maintained an emotional impact. Moreover, delving into a future Gilead could have muddied the waters for some viewers and potentially interfered with “The Testaments,” since that work depicts a Gilead that continues to exist. While the book and its sequel explore this aspect, the show’s ending chose its own path while still remaining faithful to its source material.
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2025-05-28 22:48