One of its epigraphs is from Genesis 30, about Leah, Rachel & Rachel’s servant Bilhah

Monday’s episode of Jeopardy! closed with a literary challenge in the category “20th Century Novels.” Contestants were asked to identify a novel connected to a biblical passage cited as one of its epigraphs. The clue read: “One of its epigraphs is from Genesis 30, about Leah, Rachel & Rachel’s servant Bilhah.” The reference pointed to a well-known modern novel whose themes echo the story of women and childbearing found in the Book of Genesis.

What Is The Handmaid’s Tale?

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, first published in 1985, is a dystopian novel set in the fictional Republic of Gilead. In this society, environmental disasters and declining birth rates have led to the establishment of a rigid social system that places strict control over women’s bodies and reproductive roles. Women capable of bearing children are forced into servitude as “handmaids,” whose purpose is to conceive children for elite couples.

The novel is narrated by Offred, a woman assigned to a high-ranking household where she must participate in a ritualized attempt at conception with the Commander of the home while his wife is present. Through Offred’s memories and observations, Atwood explores themes of autonomy, power, religion, and the consequences of authoritarian rule. Since its publication, the book has become one of the most widely discussed works of late twentieth-century fiction.

The Biblical Epigraph from Genesis

One of the epigraphs at the beginning of The Handmaid’s Tale comes from Genesis 30, a passage that recounts the story of Rachel, Leah, and Rachel’s servant Bilhah. In the biblical narrative, Rachel struggles with infertility while her sister Leah bears children for their husband, Jacob. In response, Rachel instructs Jacob to conceive a child with her servant Bilhah so that Rachel may claim the child as her own.

The verse reads in part: “Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.” The passage reflects an ancient practice in which a servant woman could be used as a surrogate to provide children for an infertile wife. This biblical story provides a direct thematic link to the reproductive system depicted in Atwood’s novel.

How the Epigraph Connects to the Story

The inclusion of this biblical quotation is not incidental. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the leaders of Gilead use selective interpretations of scripture to justify their social order. The system of handmaids mirrors the arrangement described in Genesis, where a woman’s servant becomes a surrogate in order to produce children for a powerful household.

Atwood’s use of the Genesis passage highlights how religious texts can be interpreted and applied within political systems. In the world of Gilead, the biblical story is used to legitimize a structure in which fertile women are stripped of personal identity and assigned to reproduce for others. The epigraph therefore sets the stage for the central conflict of the novel.

The Novel’s Place in 20th Century Literature

The Handmaid’s Tale has become one of the most influential novels of the late twentieth century. It won the 1985 Governor General’s Award and has been widely studied in literature courses for its examination of gender, authority, and religious ideology. The novel also reflects anxieties of the era in which it was written, including debates about women’s rights and the role of religion in politics.

The story has maintained cultural relevance decades after its publication. It has inspired adaptations across multiple media, including film, opera, and a widely recognized television series that premiered in 2017. The continued discussion surrounding the novel demonstrates its lasting impact on readers and critics alike.

Why the Clue Pointed to This Novel

The Final Jeopardy clue relied on a specific literary detail: the epigraph referencing Genesis 30 and the story of Leah, Rachel, and Bilhah. This passage is directly tied to the central premise of Atwood’s novel, in which surrogacy and control over reproduction form the foundation of the fictional society.

Because the biblical reference appears prominently at the start of the book and mirrors the system used in the story, it provides a clear connection to The Handmaid’s Tale. Recognizing that link between the Genesis narrative and the dystopian world created by Margaret Atwood led contestants to the correct response for the March 16, 2026 Final Jeopardy clue.