Why Did Serena Joy Really Refuse a Handmaid in Season 6, Episode 8 — Has She Truly Changed?

#thehandmaidtale #handmaidstale #wharton #nick #janine Commander Wharton and Serena Joy return home after the wedding. But when she arrives, she learns the terrible truth: Wharton has a Handmaid. Even though Serena Joy can have children, Wharton wishes to carry on performing Gilead's Ceremony with the Handmaid. Serena finds this extremely distressing and will not live in a house with a Handmaid. She tries to vent her rage at Wharton while speaking to the Handmaid. Then, demonstrating that she will no longer be with a man like Commander Waterford, Serena Joy departs from Wharton. Serena Joy's response to the Handmaid is intriguing because it's unclear whether she is merely protecting herself or if she is morally against the use of Handmaids. Regardless of whether Serena Joy was morally opposed to having children, the use of a Handmaid is now unnecessary. If Serena Joy was unable to conceive, it is unclear why she would be so against having a Handmaid. Another reason Serena might not want a Handmaid is that it exposes Wharton's treatment of women, which could lead to her receiving unfavorable treatment in the future. It is impossible to determine whether Serena Joy's rage stems from self-interest or morality. It has been difficult to get a read on her this season, as she has been a bit back and forth. Serena Joy's support of Commander Wharton's New Bethlehem project is a good sign, as it shows that she is participating in making society better for Handmaids and women as a whole. However, her marriage to Commander Wharton shows that she is also interested in maintaining influence over Gilead, something that paints her in a more negative light.