In "The Handmaid's Tale," a troubling incident highlights the extreme measures taken to maintain security in a repressive society. A woman, identified as a Martha, was shot by authorities while she was looking for her pass. The guards mistakenly believed she was a threat, fearing she was a man in disguise with malicious intent. This moment reflects the heightened paranoia and brutality of the regime, where even mundane actions can lead to fatal consequences.

Characters Rita and Cora, who are familiar with the victim, rationalize the violence as a necessary step to ensure their safety. This chilling justification underscores the fear that permeates their lives and the dehumanizing environment they inhabit. The narrative illustrates how ordinary people can become desensitized to violence when it is framed as a means of protection, raising questions about morality under oppressive systems.