The Testaments

Baby Nicole is a symbol utilized by forces both inside and outside Gilead. Her picture is everywhere in Gilead, in every classroom, in offices, in dining halls, and in the chapel in Ardua Hall. Baby Nicole represents every baby stolen from their godly place in Gilead by treacherous Handmaids, and Gileadeans use her image to galvanize hatred for Gilead’s enemies and to energize the faith of its citizens. She also serves as a warning of the possibility of betrayal by Handmaids in the future, so that good citizens will maintain their vigilance. As propaganda, Baby Nicole’s image appears on every Pearl Girl brochure and every protest sign, as Gilead continues to demand her return.

For those opposed to Gilead, Baby Nicole is a symbol of the oppression of the Gilead regime and its misogyny and brutal treatment of Handmaids. Baby Nicole represents freedom from oppression as well, as proof that escape from Gilead is possible. Her image promotes the continued fight for the liberation of those who still suffer in Gilead. Baby Nicole, now the teenager Nicole, later becomes famous for bringing the destruction of Gilead, changing her from a tragic symbol into a symbol of victory and