Keyword Guide · study-guide
Students often ask this question when reviewing key plot turns in The Handmaid’s Tale. The moment is important because it reveals power, secrecy, and survival within Gilead.
Serena Joy sets Offred up with Nick in Chapter 16, commonly titled “Night” in many editions of the novel. This is the chapter where Serena secretly arranges the encounter as a way to increase the chances of pregnancy. Some editions divide or label chapters differently, so always double-check your book.
Serena brings Offred to Nick’s room without the Commander’s knowledge. The meeting is presented as practical rather than romantic, showing how reproduction is treated as a duty. The secrecy of the plan highlights Serena’s limited power and willingness to break Gilead’s rules when it benefits her.
This chapter develops several themes: control over women’s bodies, moral hypocrisy, and survival under oppression. It also deepens Offred’s relationship with Nick, which becomes more emotionally complex later in the novel. For essays, this scene is often used to show cracks in Gilead’s rigid system.
For quizzes, remember the chapter number and Serena’s motivation. For discussion, focus on how Serena’s actions reflect both power and desperation. In essays, connect this scene to themes like agency, resistance, and the contrast between public rules and private behavior.
Most editions place this event in Chapter 16, but chapter titles or numbering can vary slightly. Always check your specific copy.
No. Serena arranges the meeting in secret, which shows her willingness to bend the rules without his consent.
Nick is nearby, young, and likely fertile, making him a practical choice within Gilead’s expectations.
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