"'Blessed be those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.' Nobody said when." (89)

     This quotation contains an allusion to the Third Beatitude, a Catholic prayer. The Third Beatitude suggests that the "mourning" is not for the loss of material things or people, but for the evil and lack of piety throughout the world. Offred disagrees with this, as stated by the line "nobody said when." This quotation does tie into her life however- her own mourning is for the negative treatment of women, and the loss of her husband and daughter. She wants to know when she will be comforted- when she will see them again.




Source: Van Kasteren, John Peter. "The Eight Beatitudes." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York:            Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 30 Aug. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02371a.htm>.