The Handmaid’s Tale question

The "Notes" serve to distance the story, and then light is promptly thrown on how we distance ourselves from disturbing narratives. We're meant to question the refusal of the academics (indeed, of the extremely politically correct tendencies of our own day) to pass moral judgments on past societies.

The facts that this is the "Twelfth Symposium on Gilreadean Studies", that this symposium is being run at the convention of a probably prestigious "International Historical Association" at a university, that the Chair and the Keynote Speaker are recognized academics and that the research discussed by the Keynote Speaker is so thorough - give validity to the former existence of Gilread.

All these justifications also convince that Gilreadean society did not last indefinitely, but had come to a certain conclusion.

Because it is a given that these authorities know Gilread to be real, and that it was eventually terminated, adds an entirely other possibly more believable perspective for the reader.

In addition and not pertaining to the above: "As for the fate of the narrator, it (still) remains obscure."

The Historical Notes are as close as we will get to a happy ending with this novel. We don't know for a fact that Offred escaped successfully, we only know that her story made it through to the outside world. We do know, however, that this ill advised social experiment known as the Republic of Gilead failed and existed no more, which certainly makes me happy.

Of course I do wonder what brought Gilead down..... and I'm envisioning a scene that takes place in Jezebels, and involves roofies and straight razors. I like to think that the women revolted and took out the top brass and everything just fell apart after that.

Sarah... interesting. Now I have to think about this, dang you.

Hmm while I felt relieved to know that yes, she probably escaped, this part felt like a bit of a cop-out "happy ending". It's more shocking to just leave it with the last chapter so that your mind can begin to wander down roads that make you question why you believe she died/survived and even into.. was Moira real or was she Moira etc etc.