This encounter, learning what happened to the former Ofglen, has made her understand Gilead’s “true power” for the first time. For the first time, she herself feels close to death, because the twin she walked with everyday, the one she felt closest to, is now dead because the power of Gilead, in the form of the Eyes, had come for her Ofglen. She realizes now that the same power could have easily come for her. Still can. She is now “abject.” She feels no pride, no dignity, no self-worth. She feels completely cast off as a human being. She no longer has any sense of self. This close confrontation with the reality she’s living in, imminent death if she does wrong, makes her empty out any sense that she has rights or any will to live a life of her own. She has truly become an empty chalice (referred to many times; you can also substitute her other images: empty vessel) to be filled with whatever Gilead wants to fill it with. Therefore, she’ll do whatever the state wants. She even...