Epigraphs in The Handmaid's Tale

There are three epigraphs in the beginning of the book, The Handmaid's Tale.

First:

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath witheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
- Genesis, 30:1-3

This epigraph conveys the importance of having children. It is so vital that there is a story in the Bible to get across this message. Women could reach upto extreme levels to have children even in that era. So extreme, that they would find it normal for their husband to sleep with another woman as shown in the Biblical story. This act would otherwise would be labelled as adultery if the wife had not known or told her husband to do so.

Second:

But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal . . .
- Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

This epigraph means that after being through hard, unbearable cirumstances, something good suddenly comes along. This means, after something bad there is always something good. After hard times, there are good times. After every hardship, there's relief. The mind only starts working at it's best once it realises it's in danger.

Third:

In the desert there is no sign that says, Thou shalt not eat stones.
-Sufi proverb

This epigraph can mean several things. I personally believe it means that you don't necessarily need instructions to do something you want to do. If in life, you think you have to do something, you should go ahead and do it.