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Is Joseph Lawrence the Hero or Villain of The Handmaid’s Tale?

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The acclaimed series The Handmaid’s Tale has returned for its sixth and concluding season, featuring the return of one of the main cast members: Commander Joseph Lawrence, portrayed by Bradley Whitford. This powerful commander appears to harbor a tender side towards certain women, particularly June (Elisabeth Moss). However, he is also a strong proponent of Gilead’s leadership. In Season 6, Lawrence’s complex identities and loyalties have grown even more intricate, leaving viewers unsure if they can rely on him.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share my thoughts about the captivating narrative unfolding in Season 5. Lawrence, a character who has always intrigued me, established a new settlement named New Bethlehem, claiming it would embody the virtues of Gilead while avoiding its vices. He even extended an invitation to June and Luke (O-T Fagbenle), hinting at moving Hannah (Jordana Blake) closer once she married and settled down with her future husband.

Fast forward to Season 6, Lawrence continues his quest to develop New Bethlehem, but the enigma surrounding his role in the story’s climax remains unsolved. Given his complexity, it’s challenging to predict how he will contribute to the ultimate resolution – a testament to the skillful writing that keeps us on our toes!

It’s Tough To Determine Whose Side Lawrence Is on in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

In Season 6, Episode 4 titled “Promotion,” a character previously known as Commander Lawrence has been elevated to High Commander. Subsequently, he is seen at Jezebel’s, a place frequented by commanders for socializing, consoling, and conducting business affairs over cigars and drinks. Despite the disrespectful behavior towards women that is common in this establishment, Lawrence chooses to converse and observe rather than participate in any of the female attention on offer.

Lawrence feels compelled to keep his feelings hidden, so when everyone teases him about his past with Janine (Madeline Brewer), he takes her into one of the rooms to give the appearance of spending time together. It’s common knowledge among those who know him that he has no plans to hurt Janine. Instead, they engage in conversation and he presents her with a drawing made by her daughter.

He defends himself when Janine scolds him for sending her to this horrible location, explaining that due to her past behavior, the only other options available were a prolonged death in the Colonies or a swift execution.

At that instant, spectators are inclined to think Commander Lawrence is kind-hearted. However, he decided to send her to Jezebel’s, a place perhaps more dreadful than death itself, instead of finding a means to save her completely. Despite knowing that all three alternatives are wrong, he selects what he considers the least terrible, which still adheres to Gilead’s regulations.

In Season 6, Episode 5 titled “Janine,” Lawrence reaches his limit with the poor treatment of Janine by the men. He bravely defends her, though she secretly manipulated them into acting aggressively as she knew it would prompt Lawrence to escort her into a room. Upon doing so, Janine voices her ambivalent sentiments towards him. She says, “You’re not a good man,” but clarifies, “Only compared to them, you are.” This statement is the most truthful assessment of Lawrence ever made on the series.

Commander Lawrence Flips, But It’s Mostly for His Own Interests

Enhancing the intrigue in his narrative, it’s revealed that while Lawrence was with Janine, she shared crucial insights with him. Hidden behind a painting within the room was a covert listening post used by the women to spy on the men. This secret passageway proved useful for Lawrence as he overheard his fellow commanders disparaging him, not only plotting to oust him from New Bethlehem but also aiming to see him on the wall, with sinister intentions.

Simultaneously, June and Moira (Samira Wiley) have been secretly infiltrating Jezebel’s, aiming for their scheme to eliminate all the commanders within to succeed. Interestingly, Lawrence nearly recognizes June, momentarily pausing as she swiftly exits a room with her gaze averted, hoping he won’t spot her face.

When their scheme uncovers and a lockdown ensues, June and Moira need to figure out an alternative means of escape since Luke, rendered unconscious by a guard, can no longer serve as their getaway vehicle. As they swiftly make their way towards the parking lot, they run into Lawrence preparing to leave in his car. Upon spotting June, he lets out a disheartened “oh dear” and sighs, as he is well aware that she tends to stir up trouble.

Despite his role as a commander upholding Gilead’s mission for a new world order, Commander Lawrence’s loyalties appear to shift with the wind. In an unexpected turn of events, he orders her and Moira to get in the trunk and transports them to his house for safety. This act could be seen as benevolent, but there remains a question about whether he would have acted the same way had he not just overheard their conversation. Could it be that he’s angry and is using this opportunity to counteract Gilead and New Bethlehem, who are trying to remove him from power? His intentions remain unclear at this point.

This is clearly demonstrated in a previous scene where Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) asks him to pray with her and questions if he truly prays. She perceives that his actions are not fueled by religious devotion, but rather economic interests. It’s about control and change. He doesn’t subscribe to the “under his eye” ideology that Gilead claims in all its actions. In fact, he has previously criticized other commanders as being overly religious.

Lawrence, being economically driven rather than deeply rooted in Gilead’s religious dogmas, can be seen as a complex figure. It’s plausible that if presented with an idea for Gilead devoid of religious connotations, he would have embraced it just as enthusiastically.

A Look Back at Commander Lawrence’s Journey in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

As a cinema enthusiast, I’d rephrase it this way: Right from the start, Commander Lawrence stood out to me. You see, he lived with his beloved yet mentally ill wife, a unique situation that set him apart. Being one of the founding architects of Gilead’s legal system, he now grapples with internal conflict over the society he helped construct, given its heavy emphasis on religion – an area in which he considers himself spiritually ambiguous.

It’s evident that he feels uneasy about specific elements, such as the Ceremony involving handmaids, which could be one reason behind his preference for contentious outcast handmaids like Emily (Alexis Bledel), who suffered in a particularly heart-wrenching scene, June, and Janine. He believes he can bypass traditions like The Ceremony without repercussions, as they won’t expose him. However, his wife had also shared with June that the Colonies were her husband’s idea, suggesting he’s not entirely free of blame regarding the mistreatment of others.

Following a single compulsory participation in The Ceremony with June in his home, he subsequently facilitated her escape, maintaining contact as an intermediary while avoiding any implication himself. Remarkably, he demonstrated kindness towards Emily too, assisting her in escaping to reunite with her wife and child, seemingly unphased by the fact that she is a lesbian.

In summary, his aim was to build a society centered around practicality and economic growth. At times, it seems he tolerates the hardships involved, but there are aspects of this society that trouble him. Earlier, it was thought that only his connection with his wife kept some semblance of compassion in him. But after her passing, moments from Season 6 reveal that Lawrence possesses an inner moral compass even without her presence.

His endeavor to establish New Bethlehem signifies a fresh beginning, allowing him to restore Gilead according to his initial vision without enforcing roles like Marthas and handmaids. He advocates for women’s literacy and appears open to Serena’s suggestion of ex-handmaids serving in the fertility clinic.

Commander Fred Waterford (played by Joseph Fiennes) told June that Lawrence was “difficult to decipher” and showed little fondness for being found tedious, a trait that remains consistent throughout the series. Though it’s possible that Lawrence is solely motivated by his own interests, if aiding June and the resistance is the outcome, then perhaps being considered ‘less bad’ compared to others serves as enough goodness for him. Watch The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

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2025-04-22 19:33

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