Although her agency was eventually stripped away, Serena played a fundamental role in the creation of Gilead. Pre-Gilead, she worked as a vessel for God's word, where her far-right activism ended up being the blueprint Fred took credit for.
In the pre-Gilead era, Serena Joy was a singer on a Christian television programme and a strong advocate for traditional values. While she likely played a key role in establishing Gilead, she is extremely unhappy in her role as a Wife.
Because Gilead was formed in response to the crisis caused by dramatically decreased birthrates, the state's entire structure, with its religious trappings and rigid political hierarchy, is built around a single goal: control of reproduction.
Of course, fans of Margaret Atwood's 1985 book will already know that Serena was a homemaking advocate (based on the real-life Phyllis Schlafly), who campaigned for women to stay in the domestic sphere and focus on supporting their husbands and children.
Serena staying in Gilead was never an option for her for several reasons, the first being that her husband is a known traitor. It's likely that the Commanders at least assume that she is a traitor, too, although they have yet to indicate whether they know this. Serena also being pregnant and unwed is another factor.
The childbirth scene is primal and intimate and prompts the women to confess their secrets: June tells Serena that she didn't kill her when she had the chance because she simply didn't want to, and Serena realizes she has been forced into essentially being a handmaid in the Wheelers house and begs June to take her baby ...
At the safe house, Serena-sympathizer Mark Tuello tells her exactly what happened to Fred, including the fact that his ring finger had been cut off and mailed to her. As gross as that is, it makes it very clear to Serena that June, not Gilead, is responsible for his murder. Emily has gone back to Gilead.
In the Season 1 flashback, Fred tells Serena that she should be "coming with" to his important meetings, and it's easy to agree: She was the mastermind behind Gilead, and now, her opinion is no longer considered important (or even considered at all). But at the same time, Serena is in a prison of her own making.
Offred describes Serena Joy's background before Gilead. Originally a singer on a channel for fundamentalist religious values, she transitioned to a spokesperson for traditional values. The reader sees that Offred views Serena Joy as a hypocrite, who enjoyed working but preached against other women doing the same.
Not only has she been edged out of her protected position as the Wife of a powerful Commander, but as a single pregnant woman, she soon became a Handmaid.
But what's the cause? In The Handmaid's Tale, infertility is linked to another one of Gilead's prominent problems: pollution. As revealed in the season 1 episode "A Woman's Place," inorganic farming and radioactivity are to blame for declining fertility.
Following the massacre, the Sons of Jacob seized control of the American government and armed forces through unspecified means, declaring martial law, suspending the US Constitution and gradually reshaping American society into the "utopia" of Gilead.
Most of the working-class status rankings in the Hulu series — Aunts, Econowives, Marthas and, of course, the handmaids — are assigned by the overseeing government and a reflection of a woman's previous sins, such as infidelity.
Serena Joy Waterford
A deeply religious woman, Serena authored a book titled A Woman's Place, an anti-feminist, right-wing look into a woman's 'biological destiny' as child-bearers. She became a motivational speaker, where she framed fertility as a moral solution to the plummeting birth rates.
For Serena to have been surprised by the news means she was probably around 12-16 weeks pregnant when she found out in season 4. Although Fred wasn't particularly faithful in their marriage, Serena has been, which means that there's little to no doubt that Fred is the father of Serena's baby.
Though the Commander's wife, Serena Joy, had been an advocate for "traditional values" and the establishment of the Gileadean state, she is bitter at the outcome. She is confined to her home and forced to take in a Handmaid to try to conceive a child with her husband.
Unbaby, or shredder, is the term used in the Republic of Gilead to describe infants that are suffering from birth defects or physical deformities.
○ Aunt Lydia has power over the Handmaids and they are “hers to define.” In other words, Aunt Lydia can use her position of power to shape the very identities of the Handmaids. Ironically, she shapes their identities as Handmaids by making them forget their identities as people.
They were able to loop hole that and give Fred back because that's technically freeing him from American detention BUT they still have to free her. Therefore she was able to choose to stay in Gilead but Gilead did not want her.”
The highest ranking in Gilead, the Sons of Jacob amassed power through terrorist acts, and some members form a 'Committee', who oversee the theocratic reign.
Commanders of the Faithful, or just simply Commanders, are a social class of powerful men in Gilead. They are the highest ranking members of all Gileadean society and are identified by a gold star on their suits.
Lawrence then tells June to get a book from his bookcase that will help the leadership group better understand “an individual's value in the world as it pertains to gender.” The book in question is Charles Darwin's Descent of Man, which Lawrence calls “an oldie but a goodie.”
(A barn is … kind of like a manger?) “I turned the other cheek,” June explains after noting she has not forgiven Serena at all. “Turns out after all this, I guess I'm a better Christian than you.”
Even though Serena had written books supporting Gilead before they went into power she too faced brutal punishment. This was seen during season two after she rebelled and read a Bible verse out loud, as a result, the top of Serena's pinky finger was amputated.
In the end, the action of June sending Fred's finger to Serena has to do with the fact that she simply wanted to show her what she's capable of.