Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 5!
The Commanders of Gilead are hoping that Commander Lawrence’s New Bethlehem project fails inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, and here’s why this is the case. Commander Lawrence is one of the most interesting characters inThe Handmaid’s Tale, with him ambiguous motives and seemingly contradictory actions making him a bit of a wild card. Lawrence has enemies and friends inGilead and in the United States, with his true allegiance not being fully known. However, when it comes to Gilead, Lawrence’s pool of friends is shrinking and his well of enemies is growing inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6.
The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 5has been released, with it being a massive midpoint for the show’s final season. June and Moira have found themselves stuck in Gilead, with them killing a guard while on a Mayday mission at Jezebel’s. Luckily, they find Commander Lawrence while attempting to escape. Lawrence begrudgingly puts June and Moira in the back of his car, although their fate isn’t yet known. This is just the cherry on top of Lawrence’s controversies,with his New Bethlehem project and treatment of Janine potentially landing him on the Wall.
Commander Lawrence is a founder of Gilead and one of its most powerful leaders. Despite this, most Gilead Commanders aren’t like him. The protagonists inThe Handmaid’s Taleoften turn to Lawrence when they need help, with them knowing that he is far more sympathetic than the other Commanders. Lawrence has done awful things, such as shooting down theMayday planes inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 5. However, Janine admits that Lawrence looks good in comparison to the other Commanders, which is a big deal considering how awful most of them all.
Commander Lawrence truly wants Gilead to succeed, which is why he is still an antagonistic force inThe Handmaid’s Tale. However, it is hard to argue that he is downright evil. Lawrence is still radically far-right, with him supporting many of the practices of Gilead. However, he does seem to care about people, something that the other Commanders can’t say. Lawrence’s New Bethlehem project is designed to make a more liberalized version of Gilead,something that the others are opposed to. Lawrence doesn’t enjoy suffering, although his beliefs often lead others to it.
The Commanders Just Need To Use Lawrence’s New Bethlehem To Save Gilead
They Can’t Run It Without Him
Commander Lawrence’s radical changes to Gilead should have gotten him killed a long time ago. Many of the Commanders have already turned on Lawrence, which is why it is strange that he is still around. However, his presence is merely because the Commanders need Lawrence so that Gilead can succeed. Although Gilead has increased its influence in Canada, it is having a lot of problems. International relations are souring, and thepublic presence of figures like June and Serena Joy is hurting Gilead’s ability to succeed.
The Commanders recognize thatNew Bethlehem is what Gilead needsin order to continue being sustainable. Although New Bethlehem will have a lot of problems, it could work as a sign to the international community that Gilead is willing to change. The New Bethlehem project also seems to be helping with birth rates, potentially acting as a justification for the entire Gilead project. Lawrence may be a wild card, but he is the only one who can make New Bethlehem work, which is why he is still alive inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6.
Can Lawrence Make New Bethlehem Work Long-Term?
It May Appear In The Testaments
If Commander Lawrence wants to stay safe, he has to make New Bethlehem work long-term. However, this will be difficult to do. New Bethlehem will still be a fascist theocracy, meaning that the underlying issues that are causing resistance to Gilead will eventually pop up again. It is impossible to keep people happy while oppressing them, and while it has a better chance than Gilead proper, there are still a lot of issues.
Although it may not work long-term, New Bethlehem will probably be around for a while.Based onThe Testaments, a state similar to Gilead will still be around afterThe Handmaid’s Taleends. It would make sense for New Bethlehem to take over at the end of season 6, creating a new antagonistic force for the sequel series. There are still a lot of questions about New Bethlehem, and the series will probably tackle them asThe Handmaid’s Talecomes to a close.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Cast
The Handmaid’s Tale is a television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, released in 2017. It is set in a dystopian future where a woman is compelled to live as a concubine under a strict fundamentalist theocracy.
