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The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 34: Saved by Childbearing | Banned Books Comedy
Description
The handmaids file into the courtyard for a mass wedding of teenage brides, and the Commander takes the podium with a speech about how much Gilead has "given" women. Then the Bible gets quoted, the hymns get sung, and the Handmaid gets a warning from Ofglen that someone knows where she has been going at night. Jennifer and Dan read it, argue about it, and keep finding reasons to hate the seating chart.
This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.
Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter — we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.
Things To Listen For:
- Jennifer tries to say "salmon" while living in Washington state and has a salmon creek in her own backyard.
- The Commander's voice is described as "metal-colored and horn-shaped," and Robot gets some unwanted comparisons.
- Robot explains the real hymn behind "a balm in Gilead" and why Atwood named her country after a place that heals people.
- Robot gives the real history of purity rings and purity balls. Jennifer and Dan react the way you would expect.
- Jennifer learns exactly which Bible verse the Commander is quoting, and Robot points out a one-word change Atwood made.
- Jennifer's future in the Colonies gets a very specific and very loving forecast.
- Robot's Private Journal takes a hard look at bathroom stall graffiti, and then goes somewhere it was not supposed to go.
Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?
This chapter has a wedding night passage that challengers often point to as "sexually explicit," and a Commander who turns Bible verses into rules for women. Both help explain why the book keeps landing on challenge lists, even though it mostly shows what happens when religion and government team up.
If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).
Banworthy to Bingeworthy
Our friend Beowulf checks in again with good news from the fight against book bans.
- Good News for Lefties: Beowulf's show, broadcasting from a socialist safe house in the Oregon woods. This time he reports on the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and its Read Between the Bans campaign, which raised more than $7,000 and gave away nearly 400 banned books for free.
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Disclaimer
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.
The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.
https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?
The Handma