Historical Notes

• The historical notes section is the only break from Offred's narrative at the very end of the novel which follows a lecture given by Professor Piexto many years after the dismantle of Gilead
• The Historical notes reframe the narrative of the novel within the wider historical context in which Gilead exists which gives the reader the impression that Offred's story is only a small part of the large scale atrocities committed within Gilead
• It can be argued that the Historical notes show that important stories are always told regardless of the restrictions those telling them face as Offred's story is told although she is banned from being "allowed to read or write" by Gilead