Janine's eye was forcibly removed as a punishment during her time at the Red Center, where handmaids are trained. This happened because she confronted Aunt Lydia with vulgar language, which was seen as rebellious behavior. The removal of her right eye was a severe form of corporal punishment intended to break her spirit
. This traumatic event led to a mental breakdown for Janine, and she later attempted suicide. The loss of her eye left her with a bare eye socket that became dangerously infected, requiring multiple medical procedures and an eye patch
. The punishment was a direct reference to a biblical passage used by the regime to justify harsh discipline. Throughout the series, Janine endures further physical and emotional trauma, including poisoning and abuse, but the loss of her eye remains a defining moment of her suffering and symbolizes the brutal control exerted over the handmaids
