The Testaments: Chapter 34 Summary & Analysis

Lydia installs two remote surveillance cameras in the foot of her statue, hoping to capture evidence of Elizabeth placing offerings for the statue and plotting against her. Instead, the cameras capture footage of Vidala secretly putting eggs and oranges in front of the statue and dropping a handkerchief embroidered to look as if it belongs to Lydia herself. This is a great surprise to Lydia, though not an unwelcome one. Now she has evidence of Vidala’s treachery and can turn Elizabeth easily against her, and perhaps Helena as well, in case one of them needs to be framed and sacrificed. Lydia is at the “turning point” but she does not intend to back down. Soon, she will tell Commander Judd that Baby Nicole is back in Gilead, within her grasp.

To explain, Lydia goes back to an even that occurred nine years before. Aunt Lise entered her office, wringing her hands, and told Lydia about Becka’s attempted suicide with the secateurs. Although they’d tried counseling and threats of death, Becka insisted that she would try to kill herself again if they forced her to marry anyone at all. Lydia asked if it was bearing children that Becka objected to, but Lise insisted that Becka liked children, but that she had a nearly phobic fear of penises. Lydia reflected that perhaps their education system placed too much emphasis on the threats that pensises represent, though obviously they could not teach “the theoretical delights of sex” either. Lise mentioned that Becka claimed a “higher calling,” meaning she wanted to be made an Aunt. Lydia decided that this was better than Becka killing herself, so allowed for a probationary trial as an Aunt.

Aunt Lydia brought Becka in for an interview and explained the path she would take as an Aunt: six months on probation, and then the Founders would make their decision, at which point Becka would be a Supplicant Aunt until she served her mission as a Pearl Girl. Becka eagerly accepted all of this. Lydia asked Becka if she was ever sexually abused, but Becka insisted she did not want to speak of it. Lydia did not push this but assured Becka that she would be safe in Ardua Hall and that justice would be served, eventually, even if only behind the scenes. Lydia sent Becka with Lise to receive her uniform and begin her reading lessons. Becka was overwhelmed with gratitude and Lydia noted that that would be useful in the future. She had rescued many such girls through Ardua Hall.