The Testaments

This is the transcript of the oral testimony of Agnes Jemima, who grew up the privileged daughter of a Commander and his Wife in Gilead. She recognizes that the interviewer, and other outsiders, have a different perspective than she. She mentions that, in Gilead, many children were well-loved, and many adults were kind.

Agnes describes how the children’s teacher, Aunt Vidala, constantly warns the girls about enticing men. However, their favorite teacher, Aunt Estée assures the girls that not all men are lustful and that proper husbands will be chosen for them.

This school is for the daughters of Commanders, while ordinary girls from Econofamilies don’t attend school and will not have the best husbands chosen for them. Agnes has an elevated status because her father is an influential Commander. Agnes is also special because her mother, Tabitha, had “chosen” her; according to Tabitha, Agnes was under witches’ enchantments in a forest, along with other girls. Tabitha could only rescue one little girl, and she chose Agnes. Agnes has a hazy memory of running through the woods.