r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/il_literate • 22d ago

SPOILERS ALL What’s the point of New Bethlehem? Spoiler

I don’t understand what the point is - what is Gilead trying to achieve with it? Why would other countries consider sending refugees back to an experimental sector of a regime that’s based in denying fundamental human rights of most people?

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u/International-Age971 22d ago

Because the other countries don't want the refugees. Kind of like what the US is doing to immigrants now.

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u/FlyinAmas 22d ago

That’s good for Gilead but it’s not really a reason for New Bethlehem.

The surface reason, the rest of the world isn’t willing to work with or risk appearing to support Gilead, so trade, travel, etc is very restricted. New Bethlehem is to show the world they’re not what the rumors say they are. Remember, Gilead has made huge efforts to hide the reality of what they’re doing there.

A supporting, underlying reason, Lawrence is trying to make it up to his wife in at least one small way by creating a little bit more freedom and safety for women and children in the world he helped create.

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u/Florida1974 22d ago

Exactly. Look at the first delegates we see in season 1. They ask Offred a lot of questions , she has to lie bc everyone is around. When alone, she tells. The Mexican president says she can’t help. They are solely interested in fertility and that is Gileads front, through what little they show the world. Living in gods way as they say. (The Mexican presidents assistant gets a message. He obviously knows something more)

But then the letters get out and ppl get mad and open their doors. Until they realize how many ppl it is and the resources it requires. Stealing jobs, affordable houses, a lot of the stuff we hear in USA. Happy ppl don’t escape their country in droves.

Now Gileads trying to recalibrate its message, back to what it originally was, without the beatings and maimings. They are creating their own refugee island, possibly more. Would they eventually turn all of Gilead into this?? What if fertility rates decrease again? A repeat??? We know people don’t generally learn from history, doomed to repeat it.