1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it.
2) Then, either:
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together.
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage
OR--
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?
Some reminders:
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment.
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment.
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss.
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message.
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people!
Format:
"......" (17).
Response:
"Let them bleed. So it must have been abotion rights. I went into my bedroom, to be out of there way, and too loudly. They ignored me, and I resented them."(180)
ReplyDeleteIn the Handmaids Tale Offred's mother is supposed to repersent feminism. The republic of Gilead is an extremely patriarchal society where women are afforded no rights. Througout the book there are flash backs that show Offreds mother, and her views on certain social issues, and her parenting techniques. In the evidence above we are shown how Offred's mother is a real feminist who supports a womens right to chose, and does not believe in spending all your time with your child. In the present day part of the novel where women are made voiceless by a patriarchal society, the the memory of Offred's mother defiance of stereotypes helps keeps Offred from believeing the sexist steretypes promoted throughout The Handmaids Tale.
I definitely agree with your perspective. This flashback really illustrates Offred's relationship with her mother as well as allows insight on her mother's ideals and parenting techniques. In this same scene Offred recalls her mother's interactions with her, "You're such a prude, she would say to me, in a tone of voice that was on the whole pleased. She liked being more outrageous than I was, more rebellious." Offred's flashbacks of her mother depict a passionate, wild woman and is one of the many unique female characters Atwood portrays.
Delete“I didn’t go on any of the marches. Luke said it would be futile and I had to think about them, my family, him and her. I did think about my family. I started doing more housework, more baking. I tried not to cry at mealtimes. By this time I had stared to cry without warning, and to sit beside the bedroom window, staring out. I didn’t know many of the neighbors, and when we met, outside on the street, we were careful to exchange nothing more than the ordinary greetings. Nobody wanted to be reported, for disloyalty” (180).
ReplyDeleteThis passage stood out to me, because it shows the immediate effects that the new society had on everyone. From the last few sentences in this passage, you can see the beginning formations of the mistrust, formality, and secrecy employed between people in the modern Gillead society. Prior to this moment, Offred’s relationship with Luke was described as a partnership rather than an ownership. However, her description of Luke in this passage suggests that he had begun making decisions for her and telling her what she could and could not do. The steps taken by the Gillead (kicking women out of their jobs, and deactivating their compucards) are obvious attempts to remove women from positions of power. In current Gillead society however, we see men in working positions and it doesn’t seem that they necessarily have power over women. This makes me wonder whether the intentions of the Gillead changed over time, or if the whole time these steps were a component in some greater plan.
I believe that the intentions of those who founded Gilead changed over time. Evidence to support the claim is highlighted in the charecter of Serena Joy. "It's one of the things that we fought for, said the commanders wife." (16) This statement shows how Serena Joy was one of the founders of Gilead, she along with her husband fought for a pious society. Later on in the book it is shown how Serena Joy is unhappy, because she can only tend to her garden and knit. She is afforded no rights, and while she has a higher status then the handmaids she to is treated as an object belonging to her husband. Unless she is mentally ill she would not have fought for the right to give up her rights as a human being. So obviously along the way the plan that was supposed to be Gilead disrailed resulting in this oppresive, and patriarchal society that we see in the Handmaid's Tale.
DeleteI completely agree and disagree with you. When I read this as I thought that Gilead knew exactly what they were doing, and from the beginning their intentions were impure.Gilead was doing what I like to call “woman in their place”. Gilead started by making all funds on a card controlled by one master computer. Then the attack on women begin by, cutting off all financial accounts and only transferring funds to the husband or a male family member making women financially dependent on men and, then to prevent women from gaining any more money, or power they made a law saying women could not work or own land, only men. By doing this small seemingly insignificant things women unintentionally went back to their ‘places’. Luke told Offred, To not riot it, because she needed to think about her family. To not pay it any mind because, it was temporary was she was blindly put in line, back into cooking, cleaning and caring for children; ‘the respectable’ place for women and she didn't even know it was coming. Gilead knew by promising everything was temporary that women wouldn't have predicted this was coming
Delete"I [can] see that she must have learned it here, in this room. Where else? She was never a schoolboy. With him, during some previous period of boyhood reminiscence, of confidences exchanged. I have not been the first then. To enter his silence, play children's word games with him" (187).
ReplyDeleteEarlier in the novel, Offred describes her relationship with Luke, explaining how when they first were together, he was married. She is the second person that he has married, and now, with the Commander, she is the second person that he has allowed to spend time with him in his room. Offred’s realization that she has "not been the first" and is instead just replacing a previous handmaid's presence proves that the Commander is only using Offred to fill a hole in his life. He has clearly done what he is doing to Offred before, which is allowing a handmaid to break multiple rules in the supposed safety of his office. This passage also hints that even before Gilead existed, Luke may have used Offred to fill a hole in his life as well, by pursuing a relationship with her even as he was married. Overall, the passage emphasizes how in the society of the book, handmaids, who live to serve their Commanders, were once the same women who existed for their husbands, and that the men in this society use women to satisfy their needs, oblivious to any possible consequences.
I found this passage very interesting, especially the point you bring up: that Offred has been used many times in her life as a replacement to fill a gap. The way she has been treated in her life, specifically with the rise of Gilead, gives the strong impression that she is not promised anything, but what she has been given is simply because there was a space to fill. This shows in her relationship with Luke and the Commander, as well as with the loss of her job, when the women who were felt “as if [they’d] been caught doing something [they] shouldn’t” (177). This type of thinking indicates that these women feel that they are not promised anything.
Delete“That is what you have to do before you kill, I thought. You have to create an it where none was before. You do that first, in your head, and then you make it real. So that’s how they do it, I thought. I seemed never to have known that before… That’s one of the things they do. They force you to kill, within yourself” (193).
ReplyDeleteThis passage reveals how the oppressive society of Gilead suppresses humanity, forcing people to look at their life and those in their life objectively. In this case, Luke must mentally kill the cat, shutting down his human emotions in order to help his family survive. He must turn the cat into “an it[,]” instead of a living, breathing animal. Although this act was, at least in Luke and Offred’s minds, necessary, it leaves them with a burden; It leaves them with the knowledge that they have taken away a life. Not only does it leave this more obvious fact, it also shows them that they are capable of “killing” their emotions. Gilead makes those in their society kill their emotions within themselves in order to be able to survive in a society where basic human morals are destroyed.
I absolutely agree with your observations! In the presence of this new society, citizens are innately forced to conceal their inner emotions, beliefs, sentiments, and streams of thought so as to function in this unethical, unprincipled world. The idea of the human moral code is annihilated from history. More specifically, this reminds me of Offred’s reflection of the first ceremony night, ever since she made the arrangement with the Commander. Immediately she struggles with the Commander’s emanating presence during this encounter. Considering the several non-sexual interactions and conversations they’ve had together, in her eyes, the Commander now seems more real, authentic, tangible, existent and simply human. Instead of viewing him as a mere blank body, she’s compelled to assign an individualized identity to him – he held a persona, an aura, like no other person. Offred could not help but “felt shy of him. I felt, for one thing, that he was actually looking at me, and I didn’t like it… He was no longer a thing to me. That was the problem. I realized it that night, and the realization has stayed with me” (160-161). Hence, this development of human connection has cultivated a substantial, meaningful level of kinship between them – something that holds great substance. His eyes were no longer vacant, rather, they were fulfilled with purpose, as they narrowly centralized, focused, and directed itself towards her, an undertaking that seemed too close for comfort, too casual, too personal, too intimate. Now there was this consciousness and understanding that there was an authenticity and sense of realism to him. In the past, by defining the Commander as a “thing” just like how Luke described the cat as an “it”, it facilitated this conditioned mindset, one that ceased all human feeling, emotion, and sensitivity. However, at this point, she’s fixed between her desire to release her true, inner sentiments and her obligation to follow the new regulations of her society. Ultimately, she’s trapped within this deep moral conflict – one that has gradually dehumanized the core of her spirit.
Delete"Night falls. Or has fallen. Why is it that night falls, instead of rising, like the dawn? Yet if you look east, at sunset, you can see night rising, not falling; darkness lifting into the sky, up from the horizon, like a black sun behind cloud cover. Like smoke from an unseen fire, a line of fire just below the horizon, brushfire or a burning city. Maybe night falls because it's heavy, a thick curtain pulled up over the eyes. Wool blanket. I wish I could see in the dark, better than I do" (30.1 pg 191).
ReplyDeleteThis passage reveals the first time when the republic of Gilead stared to develop. It talks about the arising of darkness and how night falls or has already fallen because Offred is talking about the Republic of Gilead. This darkness was shrouding over the sun, "darkness lifting into the sky, up from the horizon, like a black sun behiind cloud cover", explaining how the black sun(darkness) was shrouding over the bright yellow sun. Now in the Republic of Gilead, the women are forced to certain roles and they all have certain jobs. Then at the end of the quote, Offred says, "I wish I could see in the dark, better than I do", showing how all of these women and Offred in Gilead are in a position where they are tremulous. They are unable to do many things and it stops them from seeing through the darkness.
I very much agree. I was initially going to write about this passage because it discusses a motif that has been very reoccurring lately in the novel which is darkness. It is very difficult for the women to see through the darkness in this society which is because they are beginning to have less and less controls over themselves.
Delete"She would say this a little regretfully, as though I hadn't turned out entirely as she'd expected. No mother is ever, completely, a child's idea of what a mother should be, and I suppose it works the other way around as well. But despite everything, we didn't do badly by one another, we did as well as most. I wish she were here so I could tell her I finally know this"(181).
ReplyDeleteAs Offred talks about the idea's of what a mother has of a child as well as a child of a mother, she begins to reflect on her own experience as a child. As she does this, she begins to reflect about how she viewed her mother. I believe she is showing regret for her actions and the way she treated her mother as a child, "I wish she were here, so I could tell her I finally know this." This then gives me reason to believe that possibly the point for all the flash backs in this story was not only to depict how life was like for her before she became a Handmaid. But to in the end show that she regrets not doing things such as telling her mother that she finally understands that no mother is actually a child's idea of a mother and visa versa. My question now is, Why is she finally realizing this?
I think that Offred is finally realizing that she regrets how she treated her mother because now she knows that she most likely will never see her mother again. When Offred was a child, she would never have thought that her life would turn out like it did, and would not have been able to adjust her actions to treat her mother better, with the knowledge that their relationship would end abruptly and not on the best of terms. Offred's realization of this also connects to the "not your problem until it's your problem" mentality that a lot of characters display. Just as Moira and Offred once joked about date rape before rape actually became a part of their lives, now that Offred won't see her mother again, she is able to reflect on their relationship and see what she should have done differently had she known she wouldn't see her mother for most of her adult life.
DeleteTo answer your question, in my opinion the reason she is now as an older woman realizing this is because similar to the way people say 'you don't know what you have until you lose it' now that she is in a position of a handmaid and so much has been taken from her she's starting to realize the things she didn't cherish before are things she wishes she could change now, for example her mothers relationship with her.
Delete“It’s only a job, he said, trying to soothe me.
ReplyDeleteI guess you get all my money, I said. And I’m not even dead. I was trying for a joke, but it came out sounding macabre.
Hush, he said. He was still kneeling on the floor. You know I’ll always take care of you.
I thought, Already he’s starting to patronize me. Then I thought, Already you’re starting to get paranoid.
I know, I said. I love you” (179).
After reading the passage, I instantly recognized this pivotal shift within their society, in which the presence of gender patriarchy has begun to emerge. Especially now that women are officially declared as property, the idea of male superiority has become implicit throughout the country’s beginning stages of war. When Luke says, “you know I’ll always take care of you” his comment ultimately dehumanizes women as subservient figures under men, and thus, reinforces the existence of this ideology. This patriarchal culture can be even further portrayed in Offred’s response. While she initially thinks of his remark as a sign of patronization, she rebukes this impulsive thought and defines such an instinct as being “paranoid.” Therefore, this highlights how women have been gradually programed to acclimate and conform to the ideals of this new world, in which the woman should never question the man. This reminds me of when Offred was let go from her job. She steps outside of the library with her coworkers and recollects that “we’d looked at one another’s faces and saw dismay, and a certain shame, as if we’d been caught doing something we shouldn’t” (177). Then, Offred thinks, “what was it about this that made us feel we deserved it?” Therefore, this demonstrates the crucial pivotal moment of the conditioning of the female mindset. Essentially, at this turning point, women were programmed to believe that they are of property and possession. Day after day, new laws have been implemented to pluck women from such basic, rudimentary rights, like having a job or owning a bank account. Yet, this entire process has fundamentally fueled the construction of this “utopia” and has brainwashed its citizens along the way — a theory that Moira has suspected since the start of the war. Therefore, this not only exposes the reprogramming of the citizens’ mentalities but also the reprogramming of their entire society. Truly, the entirety of their world is shifting – everything seems to be masked as “temporary” but in all honesty, this reality is purposefully designed to stay permanent.
"The squares on the board in front of me are filling up: Im making my penultimate play of the night. Zilch, I spell, a convenient one-vowel word with an exspensive Z. 'Is that a word?' says the Commander. 'We could look it up,' I say. 'Its archaic'. 'I'll give it to you,' he says. He smiles"(183).
ReplyDeleteThis passage conveys the idea between the dfferences of old Gilead versus new Gilead. While the Commander and Ofglen are sitting in the Commander's office playing scrabble, Ofglen uses the world zilch. An archaic word meaning old-fashioned or extinct. The meaning behind why Ofglen plays the word zilch is truly representing how Ofglen was educated in the 'archaic' days, and knew words like zilch. However, since Gilead has changed, Ofglen and the rest of women don't have nearly the same rights as they used to have. Addiionally, at the end of this quote, the Commander says to Ofglen, "I'll give it to you" (183). This shows how the Commander thinks he must give his approval for Ofglen to use the word. Going back to the idea of old Gilead, women were allowed to have ownership of things and not just let men give things to them and be owned by men. For example, earlier in this passage, Ofglen and the rest of the women who worked in the supermarket were fired and had to give all of their money to their husbands or closet male relative. Furthermore, when Luke said he would take care of Ofglen, rather then fight for womens rights. Lastly, when the Commander always gives her the magazines and an access to them, rather then changing the own laws he doesn't support, yet created. Therefore, this passage shows the difference between women's rights in old Gilead rather then new Gilead
I was so relieved when I read your comment, as I'd also thought about the point you brought up (women are no longer allowed to own things but rather accept that these things are given to them by men and to some extent, are owned by men). Specifically, this passage made me review the Commander and Offred's relationship through their games of Scrabble. Specifically, this ability Offred has to play scrabble is simply an opportunity given to her by the Commander (male), which shows what little ownership (of her own actions) Offred has in this society, as well as how they've been presented to her by a man. However, while reading into this complication, I questioned whether being given the opportunity to play scrabble also gives her power in being able to "own" her own words.
DeleteAlthough the Commander controls the games and the meetings that he and Offred have, Offered still benefits from them greatly and in a way, they do give her power. Going back to the first game of scrabble, she says "I hold the glossy counters with their smooth edges, finger the letters. The feeling is voluptuous. This is freedom, an eyeblink of it. Limp, I spell. Gorge. What a luxury" (139). This shows how the use of forbidden words empowers her. As the meetings between Offred and the Commander continue, we see her start to ask for things and use the little power she has to get information. During each new meeting, her power seems to grow slightly as she strives to accomplish her goals of collecting information, despite the impossible situation she has been placed in.
Delete“While I read, the Commander sits and watches me doing it, without speaking but also without taking his eyes off me” (184).
ReplyDeleteThroughout all the scenes involving the Commander and Offred, I have developed an interest in the authenticity of their relationship. Specifically, whether the Commander is being manipulative to Offred or genuine in his kindness. However, from this passage, I found an interpretation of their relationship that appears to fall somewhere in between the two rationalities. From the description of the Commander intently watching Offred read, the new perspective that came up was his genuinely curious interest in Offred’s deprivation of belongings that exist in his everyday life, (the scene seemed like a scientist watching an experiment). However, this interest, although possibly genuine, also has a component of manipulation, for he knows the risk that entails with the actions he is providing to Offred.
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DeleteI believe that the commander may sometimes have actions that appear genuine however it is the execution of his actions that seems like it his all for himself. He may do things that help Offred but ultimately it is for his own pleasure instead of helping her. For instance on the passage you mentioned on page 184 Offred talks about reading quickly because the commander watches her. I feel that his actions of watching her really say a lot about why he is allowing her to read things she is deprived of. He is defiantly not being genuinely kind here. If it were really about her he would not watch her read.
DeleteI agree,the Commander sees Offred as a form of amusement. He gives her the gifts and opportunities that he does,simply to amuse himself. He doesn't have anyone to share his pleasures with. Although this sounds selfish to us it’s understandable that he is lonely as he hasn't truly been in a loving relationship with anyone for a while. My question is why doesn’t Offred see this, and if she does how does she feel about it? Does she feel belittled or childish?
DeleteI think she does realize it. However, I think she is willing to turn a bind eye to it because of the beifits it gives her. Even though she knows it is dangerous to see him the prospect of it excites her. She wants these forbidden things and it is worth it to her even if it is pleasing the Commander. She is so cut off and so attratched to her past memories that this helps her connect back.
DeleteI agree with the previous statement pointing out how the Commander is currently manipulating Offred. As Keo pointed out, it's almost like a scientist observing an experiment take effect. As we've seen throughout the book so far, the commander is borderline oblivious to the life that Offred suffers through - he merely understands the guideline for the society that him and his other powerful friends created. I think this almost motivates him to take a strong likeness in Offred - it allows him to take notice and understand how the society that he pioneered affects a regular person. Now whether or not he is simply interested or wants to help, we have yet to find out. I truly think the Commander's lack of interaction with those directly affected (and most likely hurt) pushes him to interact with Offred, regardless of if he is being genuine or not.
Delete“I said there was more than one way of living with your head in the sand and that if Moira thought she could create Utopia by shutting herself up in a women-only enclave she was sadly mistaken. Men were not just going to go away, I said. You couldn't just ignore them” (172).
ReplyDeleteIn today’s society the fight for equality is as strong as ever, and feminism has become a quite prominent subject. A definition of feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. However, a common misconception is that feminism promotes the idea that women are “better” than men. Atwood addresses this idea in her book through the multiple female perspectives that illuminate the spectrum of ideas of a perfect society. Atwood shows that a “women-only enclave” is not a utopia and neither is Gilead. All genders should should be acknowledged for their unfair expectations and roles in society in order for there to be true equality. Nothing will ever change if people believe the only solution is to ignore the issue.
“We still have … he said. But he didn’t go on to say what we still had. It occurred to me that he shouldn’t be saying we, since nothing that I knew of had been taken away from him…He kissed me then, as if now id said that, things could get back to normal. But something had shifted, some balance. I felt shrunken so that when he put his arms around me, gathering me up, I was small as a doll. I felt love going forward without me. He doesn’t mind this, I thought. He doesn’t mind it at all. Maybe he even likes it. We are not each other’s, anymore. Instead, I am his.” (182).
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading this passage it reminded me of the short story “The Lottery”. Much like “The Lottery” Offred was ignorant to the changes in the society until they affected her. Until it meant that something was taken away from her. This passage perfectly highlights this when she states, “It occurred to me that he shouldn’t be saying we, since nothing that I knew of had been taken away from him” Luke doesn’t see this as a loss at all he is still ignorant to the societies changes because it hasn’t happened to him. Offred’s description of her as a doll adds to this idea because a doll is usually something pretty to be played with and most importantly a doll is lifeless and cannot make choices for itself.
The part of your analysis about Offred's description of the doll also reminded me about the same analysis of the reuccuring theme of furbiture. How it is meant for decoration and is an object for the house. Also, when Offred says, "We are not each others, anymore. Instead I am his". This goes back to how furniture is owned just like the rest of the handmaids in the novel, as well as furniture.
DeleteI really like the part of your analysis where you point out how Offred was ignorant to the changes in society as well as Luke. This also really reminded me of Offred's current relationship with the commander. Just as Luke wasn't even thinking about continuing life as normal in Offred's flashback, the commander doesn't understand what's at risk for her and has no trouble continuing their meetings. Both Luke and the commander don't think about Offred's situation too much because it doesn't directly effect them and they don't realize how horrible things are and how much worse they could get for her.
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ReplyDelete“I have not been the first then. To enter his silence, play children's word games with him. ‘ what happened to her?’ I say… ‘She hanged herself,’ he says; thoughtfully, not sadly. ‘That's why we had the light fixture remove. In your room.’ He pauses. ‘ Serena found out,’ he says, as if this explains it. And it does. If your dog dies get another… ‘ You want my life to be bearable to me,’ I say… ‘Yes,’ he says. ‘ I do. I would prefer it.’” (187)
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this text it bewildered me how, the commander himself doesn't seem to like the rules of the handmaids. I say this because if Offred is not the first, then his fascination with her is not because she's special. It is because he sees the rules against them as suffering in a way. It’s almost as if the Commander takes a sense of personal responsibility or guilt for the handmaid’s lifestyle. Why it is so important to the commander to have the handmaid's life to be bearable? Does he feel responsible or guilty for these conditions? This text also help me understand Serena's hatred towards Offred is because she can't connect with the commander anymore, and he is looking for the connection with the handmaids instead of her. Serena jealous tendencies seem to be vicious, so was the previous handmaid death suicide or murder at the hands of Serena Joy? Why does the commander look for companionship in the handmaids even after having one die because of his selfish needs? Is it because he can control them or is he truly that lonely?
I was also very shocked by this passage, but for a different reason. The Commander said "If your dog dies get another," which I found very disturbing. He uses losing your dog, to possibly losing something very special to you. When your pet, or dog in this case dies, it's not easy to just go and get a new one. Same thing with something like a girlfriend. If your girlfriend breaks up with you, it's not easy to just go and find a new one. You probably have to recover from the old one first, before you go find a new one.
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DeleteBoth you and Ryan make very great points that allow me to see a different perspective as to how you interpreted the text. Although, I saw it a very different way than both of you. I thought that the Commander was only telling Offred what she wanted to hear in order to gain her trust and please her in order to continue his amusement of spending time with Offred. Aaliyah as you said, the Commander seems to have had multiple handmaids become his mistress so I thought that if he has a problem with the current governing and laws why does he not change it? He has the power, he has the title of Commander yet what is he doing? Hoarding books in a room for himself, finding pleasure in watching someone have something they where once exposed to now taken away from them, and allowing himself to fall into the temptation of luring the handmaids he has gotten to that exact room Offred is in. Although it takes one person in the relationship (speaking of Serena Joy and the Commander) to hinder it, it takes two people to allow it to fail. Going back to my point, I wonder if the Commander is not showing a side to Offred because she is falling submissive and into these traps he has set for her. This may not be the case but looking at the larger picture I do not see the Commander as a man who genuinely cares for Offred or any past handmaids at all.
DeleteThis quote stood out to me as well, particularly the part "If your dog dies, get another." Throughout the Handmaids tale, Offred constantly refers to herself and other handmaids as pets. Besides the harsh restrictions of the current social system in place she further constrains herself, diminishing her self worth to that of an animal. Earlier in the chapter, when Offred triumphs in scrabble, she feels as if she is "show[ing] precocity, like an attentive pet, prick-eared and eager to perform" (183). In describing herself as a pet, Offred insinuates that she is owned by the Commander. The above quote further solidifies this idea, adding that pets are merely disposable and the Handmaids are expendable belongings to the Commanders
Delete“ I’ve been fired,I told Moira when I got her on the phone. She said she would come over. By that time she was working for a women's collective, the publishing division. They put out books on birth control and rape and things like that, though there wasn't as much demand for those things as there used to be”(178).
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this passage I couldn't help but see a connection between Moira and Offred's mother. They were both activists in the women's empowerment movement. Offred most likely sees Moira as a motherly figure and therefore relies on her in her times of hardship. After reading this it made sense why Moira rebelled against the Handmaid society, her past life's work was to empower women about making their own choices and being in control of their own bodies. When Offred is talking about Moiras work she talks about rape so freely by saying “rape and things like that”, this shows a different side of Offred, it shows she wasn't very empathetic even before the change of society.
I completely agree with what you are saying. However, I'd like to add to the argument by looking deeper into the line, "They put out books on birth control and rape and things like that, though there wasn't as much demand for those things as there used to be." First, the sentence starts off with what seems like a positive statement about the society: they were conscious about the problems woman observed and were trying to create change. However, the second part of the sentence completely dis regards anything positive about the statement. The words "used to be" probably are referencing the time before women had all these restrictions on their lives, like to be able to read for example. Now that women are more oppressed in this society, these books aren't selling as much.
DeleteThat is very interesting, you have a nice take on this passage. I see Moira and Offred's mother as the two characteristics of Offred. Moira is hope and represents a better life and a better time. Additionally Moria represents freedom. While her mother represents defiance and being a strong women. Although Moira and Offred's mother represent different characteristics in my head, I do agree that they are both mother figures for Offred. I see them as mother figures because the impact they made on Offreds life was a strong one, an impact that a mother would make.
Delete"I try to conjure, to raise my own spirits, from wherever they are. I need to remember what they look like. I try to hold them still behind my eyes, their faces, like pictures, in an album. But they won't stay still for me, they move, there's a smile and it's gone, their features curl and bend as if the paper's burning, blackness eats them. A glimpse, a pale shimmer on the air; a glow, aurora, dance of electrons' then a face again, faces. But they fade, though I stretch out my arms towards them and they slip away from me, ghosts at daybreak" (193).
ReplyDeleteThroughout this page there has been a vivid mention of darkness and her being surrounded in this so called darkness and this paragraph perfectly emphasizes that motif. In this paragraph she talks about it figuratively becoming darker and darker for her which symbolizes the the way she slowly loses more and more control over herself and her life.
"You want my life to be bearable to me," I say. It comes out not as a question but as a flat statement; flat and without dimension. If my life is bearable, maybe what their doing is all right after all.
ReplyDelete"Yes," he says. "I do, I would prefer it."
This is a conversation between Offred and the Commander. Offred seems to be assuming that the Commander only wants her to be bearable, he wants her to be not hard for him. She says this to him and he actually agrees with him. She seems angry at him, but he then asks "What would you like?" and she responds with "besides hand lotion, you mean?" She was right and she answered with "wanting to know." The Commander as well as myself was confused, and asked her what she meant. When she explained it it seems that she wants to know what the Commander knows about the society, that she does not. What does the Commander have to say to Offred, and is there any big secrets that she doesn't know about?
Of course I think that there is a big secret she doesn't know, however i think that by having the commander tell her what she is missing, this might give her the isentive on trying to change the immediate place around her, which is what I think the Commander would like anyways, being that Offred describes him as being sad
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ReplyDelete"Now we come to forgiveness. Don't worry about forgiving me right now. There are more important things. For instance: keep the others safe, if they are safe. Don't let them suffer too much. If they have to die, let it be fast. You might even provide a Heaven for them. We need You for that. Hell we can make for ourselves" (195).
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this passage, I became both bewildered and excited at what is later to come for Offred. Before Offred and Ofglen speak of if they thought whether or not they believed God listened to the machines reciting the "prayers" yet Offred later says "Though I suppose it's faith, of a kind" (168). Was this the faith Offred was thinking of? I also saw how this was a clear turning point of the story where sisterhood is clearly shown. With Offred praying for what I implied as maybe Moira or the "others" Ofglen speaks of, Offred does not pray for herself although she is committing a crime which if caught could lead to her death. This passage also stood out to me because of the fact that Offred, along with many others see their lives and the society they live in as "Hell" while also making a connection to the Commander and how he mentions to Offred that the handmaid that carved "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum" committed suicide by hanging herself maybe in the hopes of a better life in Heaven. Although the translation means "Don't let the bastards grind you down" the handmaid allowed the treatment by the Commander to "grind" her down to the point where she kills herself. I started to wonder if Offred would reach this point and follow the paths of many before her and will there be a shift in the Commander that Offred is yet to see?
In this passage you also see Offred having suicidal thoughts, so what does this tell us about Offred and does sisterhood really show in this passage? Maybe she is having these thoughts because she does not feel sisterhood, she feels lone and wants to end it all.
DeleteI also found this passage extremely interesting. In fact, I began writing about it, and halfway through started questioning what I was writing. I originally thought that Offred was referring to "the others" as her fellow females. However, she also uses the pronoun "we" twice in this passage. If "the others" are women, then who are the "we" she is referring to? Perhaps "we" refers to the handmaids specifically, and she is addressing some who have not been converted into handmaids. I think it is interesting of Atwood to keep the pronouns in this passage vague, as it alludes to sisterhood on different levels. I find that she uses pronouns in a very powerful way throughout the whole book, in order to comment on characters relationship with each other.
Delete“Pen is envy, Aunt Lydia would say, quoting another Center motto, warning us away form such objects. And they were right, it is envy. Just holding it is envy. I envy the commander his pen. It’s one more thing I would like tp steal” (186).
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel you can see this motif of stealing and ownership. Offred continously lists the things she wants to steal and all the objects are obviously thingss she can not have.With Offred wanting to steal things, you can tell she wants control of some sort. She is amost saying she want to have her life back. Maybe with her stealing these objects she feels like she’ll have closure with herself and the person who is behind all of this. Is it possible for Offred to ever have the closure shes looking for with her constantly thinking about stealing objects?
While looking at this passage, I thought as if Offred wanting to steal the pen is her wanting freedom. She states that she's never held a pen or pencil in this room, which in this passage, the pen is the source of Offred's envy. The envy of power and freedom, and it's something Offred gets to hold for a moment, although she never keeps the power, as she doesn't keep the pen.
DeleteI agree that the pen represents Offred's hunger for freedom. When Offred states that she can feel the pen's power and "the power of words it contains", I thought about the quotes saying that the pen is mightier than the sword. Maybe Offred does not want the actual pen but she wants a revolution that can soon grant freedom in this patriarchal society. Maybe Offred wants a sense of sisterhood in her life; she wants unity with the women in this society. Only this sisterhood can lead to a revolution which abolishes these gender norms. This sisterhood may be what Offred needs to see better in the darkness (192); she along with the rest of the women need an awakening that could inspire a revolution.
Delete“What the commander said is true. One and one and one and one doesn’t equal four, Each one remains unique, there is no way of joining them together. They cannot be exchanged, one for the other. They cannot replace each other. Nick for Luke or Luke for Nick”(192)
ReplyDeleteMany of the men in this novel have treated women as disposable goods, that are interchangeable when not sufficient. The commander, who has entertained both Serena Joy, Offglen, and Offglen’s predecessor, is a perfect example of this idea. The recurrence of mistresses in this novel highlight the fact that women are taken for granted. The idea, the commander brought up, that women “can’t add”(186), is touching on the fact that women, especially in this novel, do not act this way. Although it is a generalization to say that “all women” believe that men cannot be exchanged, it is true that this is a more common phenomenon for men. Offglen for example, is not willing to clump or “add” together the men in her life into a group distinguished merely by their gender as a means to satisfy sexual desire. In doing this, people lose their humanity and character, a common theme in the novel. On page 193, when Offlgen in describing her cat, she says: “That is what you have to do before you kill it, I thought. You have to create an it”(193). This is another example of grouping things together, that is done by men in the novel. The idea of making relationships, both sexual emotional, impersonal and replaceable is largely represented here.
I completely agree. By grouping any race, ethnicity, or gender together dehumanizes them. Which is why Offred refuses to replace Luke for Nick or Nick for Luke, but as separate people. If she tried to replace Nick for Luke, then she is no better than the Commander replacing the previous housewife for not being adequate.
DeleteI completely agree with your analysis. This passage actually stuck out to me the most. I think this passage comments on one of the most emotionally strenuous issues in the book- the loss of identity. This new society they are living in has been stripping the women in particular from their sense on individuality. Earlier in the book, the commander talks about how women"can't add"(186) and one plus one plus one plus one doesn't equal four to them, it just equals one plus one plus one plus one.The commander is commenting on the fact that the women see it differently than him, and therefore they 'can't do it'. However, the women are the ones being oppressed the most. That is why one plus one plus one plus one only doesn't make four to them- they have a different perspective. It's because they have experienced first hand their loss of identity, they can see the most that pushing groups of people together into one 'idea' does't retain the uniqueness of each person.
DeleteSo Luke: what I want to ask you now, what I need to know is, Was I right? Because we never talked about it. By the time I could have done that, I was afraid to. I couldn't afford to lose you. (182)
ReplyDeleteOffred questions her relationship with Luke, and asks if he had ever realized how her rights had been taken from her after the society changes. They were no longer in an equal and loving relationship, but now Luke owns her. Offred desperately wants to know if their love was altered because of society, even though now she will never know. This also provides the reason why the Commander is no longer in love with his wife and vise verse, because their relationship is no longer equal. Instead of them belonging to each other, she belongs to him.
"Again he smiles; this time you could call it a grin. I imagine freckles on him, a cowlick. Right now I almost like him. "But what did it mean?" I say. "Which?" He says. "Oh. It meant don't let the bastards grind you down" (187).
ReplyDeleteWhy does this cause her to start to like him? What does it show about the past of the Commander and who she is?
I think Offred gets insight from this into the past life as well as the personality of the Commander. It makes him more human to her. That may be why she starts to feel more friendly towards him. He wrote it at a time when he was free to be himself. She sees this as a genuine part of him and not some show he is putting on for her. This is so rare nowadays that she is caugh off guard by it. This causes her to start to relax with him.
This reminds me of the interview with the Nazi guard's mistress. Offred begins to find the beautiful parts inside of this cruel man. The mistress said "People say he was a monster, but he was not one" (Pg 145). The Nazi somehow showed his mistress a different part of him that the outside world did not see, while the Commander is doing the same to Offred. He may or may not be doing it on purpose, but Offred is definitely portraying him more as a human. The real question is if the Commander looks at Offred as a human.
DeleteI agree with the both of you. Offred doesn't alway get to talk to other people, to play scrabble, to fence, and to read. And by her becoming closer to the commander she is realizing there is another side to him, just as the Nazi commanders mistress saw another side of him. Adding on, I believe that the commander may represent a sense of hope for Offred in the sense that other than the society of the Handmaids, people are pretty much normal. There are more freedoms available and less of a patriarichal society.
Delete"Knowing was temptation... Maybe I don't really want to know what's going on. Maybe I'd rather not know. Maybe I couldn't bear to know. The Fall was a fall from innocence to knowledge." (195)
ReplyDeleteThis passage is significant because it shows the change in Offred and her view of the society from earlier in the novel. Earlier, Offred asks the Commander to tell her "whatever there is to know" (188) about what is going on in society. She is curious, and has a strong desire to learn more about whites happening, instead of just sitting back and doing nothing. In this passage, however, in her prayer to God she is also realizing things for the first time for herself, which is that she doesn't WANT to know what is happening, what is REAL. Later on in the prayer she says she feels very 'unreal' talking to God because she feels as if there is no answer, as if she is alone. This process of Offred talking herself through the concept of knowledge, and if she even wants to know more about this society is also her differentiating what is real and what isn't. She is now turning to hope to get her through this, as to before she was eager to learn more.
“Behind it are printout machines, row on row of them; these machines are known as Holy Rollers, but only among us, it’s a disrespectful nickname. What the machines print is prayers, roll upon roll, prayers going out endlessly. They’re ordered by the Compuphone, I’ve overheard the Commander's Wife doing it. Ordering prayers from Soul Scrolls is supposed to be a sign of piety and faithfulness to the regime, so of course the Commanders’ Wives do it a lot. It helps their husbands careers” (167).
ReplyDeleteThis passage very subtly shows some of the backbone principles of this new society is and shows how it also doesn't differ from our own society today very greatly. The commercialization of religion in this book is essential to the dystopia that is created, as the integration of religion to this government essentially labels it as a theocracy. Our modern day America is clearly more functional and fair than this society, but christianity has been commercialized in numerous ways across the country. Mariah Secrest, a faith-based indie artist states, “Being a Christian is marketable in America. Thousands if not millions of jobs are created around this business of being a Christian, not just in musical entertainment but on a bigger scale such as church leadership, mission agencies, book and magazine industries, student ministry, etc. I wonder if Christianity were suddenly removed from America, whether a great number of people would find themselves with a narrower set of skills to market themselves with.” Though there is no active currency in this society so consumers eating up any Christian related merchandise is not possible, regular people in this dysfunctional world will still “eat up” these religious ideals, and these “Holy Rollers” are the prime way to do that. Offred is seemingly terrified when she discusses with Ofglen about not believing in god, with a fear that she will be persecuted for having these opinions. Part of the backbone of this world that the higher-ups helped create is having all people united under one religion - even if that means brainwashing them into doing so.
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ReplyDelete“‘She hanged herself,’ he says; thoughtfully, not sadly. ‘That’s why we had the light fixture removed. In your room.’ He pauses. ‘Serena found out,’ he says, as if this explains it. And it does. If your dog dies, get another” (pg 187).
ReplyDeleteThe Commander thinks of the handmaidens like they are replaceable, because technically they are. The women of Gilead can be replaced because in the eyes of all authority, the men, their only use is for fertility. So, the Commander uses the handmaids to his advantage. He apparently knows about their life and feels bad, so he tries to make their lives “bearable.” But in all honesty, he only does this to make himself feel better. He also says, “Serena found out,” meaning he knows what his wife would do if she found out about his and Offred’s secret meetings. Therefore he has no cares for what happens to Offred after he uses her to his advantage.
“We stood in a cluster,on the steps outside the library. We didn't know what to say to one another. Since none of us understood what had happened, there was nothing much we could say. We looked at one another's faces and saw dismay, and a certain shame, as if we'd been caught doing something we shouldn't. It's outrageous, one woman said, but without belief. What was it about this that made us feel we deserved it?” (177)
ReplyDeleteThis passage reminds me of when Moira escaped and offred said “already we were losing the taste for freedom, already we were finding these walls secure”(133). These reminded me of each other because at this point in the workers lives they're use to structure in their lives and a place to be, but throwing them out into the world just how Moira made the decision to go out into the world and be independent scares the workers just how it scared Offred when she was fired and when Moira escaped. Later on Offred describes to Luke the way she felt after being fired “you don't know what it's like, I said. I feel as if somebody cut off my feet” (179) I thought this comparison of being fired to feeling like her feet have been cut off show the control and power she feels has been taken from her.
“That night, after I’d lost my job, Luke wanted to make love. Why didn’t I want to? Desperation alone should have driven me… I felt love going forward without me. He doesn’t mind this, I thought. He doesn’t mind it at all. Maybe he even likes it. We are not each other’s, anymore. Instead, I am his” (182).
ReplyDeleteWhat I find most powerfull about this passage is the ending, “We are not each others anymore. Instead, I am his.” This really speaks how women, in particular Offred, are treated in this society and how little control they have over their body. Time and time again, we see them getting almost controlled by men. There’s Offred’s relationship with the commander, the ceremony they have to participate in, and now this. Although this may not happen often in the real world, we still see cases of this pop up every now and then. For example, a video of Donald Trump that was released a few weeks ago catches him bragging that he can grab a woman's privates just because he is wealthy and famous. This is sort of how the commander and Nick act in this novel. In Nick’s case, he tried to take advantage of Offred just losing her job by trying to have sex with her. And Offred, who of course is a woman, had no real choice in whether or not she wanted to do it or not, hence the line “Instead, I am his.”
"I print the phrase carefully, copying it down from inside my head, from inside my closet. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Here, in this context, it is neither prayer nor command, but a sad graffiti, scrawled once, abandoned. The pen between my fingers is sensuous, alive almost, I can feel its power, the power of words it contains" (186).
ReplyDeleteThis passage shows how a privileged object can affect a person's internal desires. Offred states that when writing the Latin phrase, it was almost as if it was abandoned, but when using the pen, she could feel the power of the words in her fingers. Knowing the meaning of the phrase translates into "Don't let the bastards grind you down," we see the opposite happen with Offred as she is always debased by the Commander. Now knowing the meaning, this will give Offred an altered mindset of thinking, Whether it be that she stands up to the commander, that's all to be seen in the near future.
“Because they were ready for us, and waiting. The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt that you’ve been betrayed: that some other human being has wished you that much evil. It was like being in an elevator cut loose at the top. Falling, falling, and not knowing when you will hit” (193).
ReplyDeleteWhen first reading this passage, I was confused as to who was “ready for [Offred and Luke]”. After reading it a second time, I realized that the thing that was “waiting” could be the people residing in Boston, the police force or the army, or even Offred’s own neighbors. Offred lives in such an oppressed society; people are not even granted freedom of speech. This oppression has forced people to not trust one another. This lack of trust leads to “moment[s] of betrayal”. The falling elevator represents the people living in this patriarchal society in which Offred lives. This is a community in which people’s rights, specifically women’s rights, are constantly limited and where living standards are worsening by the day. Some examples include Offred’s bank account being cut and the firing of women’s jobs. The society itself does not have any signs of weakening because military power is enforcing the patriarchal ideology that this community is forced to support. This conquered nation, the United States, is no longer a land of freedom but a land of oppression. It is no longer democracy; it is a dictatorship. The elevator can represent sisterhood and the feminist revolutions that sisterhoods can create. However, this patriarchal society cuts this elevator of freedom “loose at the top”; this results in a society in which women’s voices are being crushed by men. Also, none of the women in this society will be able to know when a revolution can occur because men will continue to have this elevator falling, and women’s voices will never be heard as a result.
Really nice analysis, David.
Delete- Ms. Kaufman
“I no longer sit stiff-necked, straight-backed, feet regimented side by side on the floor, eyes at the salute. Instead my body’s lax, cozy even. My red shoes are off, my legs tucked up underneath me on the chair, surrounded by a buttress of red skirt, true, but tucked nonetheless, as at a campfire, of earlier and more picnic days” (183).
ReplyDeleteAs Offred becomes more and more comfortable with the commander I almost find as though she talks about her time with him as she talks about the old world. She often compares being in his office to things of the old world, “as at a campfire, of earlier and more picnic days.” I also am beginning to notice similar emotions or thoughts that Offred has for the commander and Luke. Both of these men somehow give (gave) her a sense of protection and comfort. The commander makes her feel needed and important, as did Luke. Maybe Offred just wants the commander to be able to fill Luke’s void in her life, but it seems to be more than that. It seems as if Offred has developed some sort of respect and trust in the commander that one would have in a loved one. The commander has become this sort of symbol of reality as well as hope just as Luke was in the old world. The commander seems to create this overlap of the two worlds, old and new, for Offred that nothing else seems to be able to do. We mostly see how the commander is using Offred and seems to need her, but I feel as though Offred is in a way using and needing him just the same.
“Things have changed. I have something on him, now. What I have on him is the possibility of my own death. What I have on him is guilt. At last” (188).
ReplyDeleteSince the introduction of the Commander into the novel, the concept of manipulation has been recurring. For the most part, it was apparent that the Commander was playing to Offred’s needs, catering to her fascination with literature by playing scrabble and providing her with nostalgic memorabilia. But according to this quote, perhaps Offred is more manipulative than the Commander. Offred convinces the Commander that she is merely concerned about the previous Handmaid. In actuality, she yearns for leverage. While the Commander exploits Offred’s desires and cravings for literature and human connection, she more powerfully turns the Commander’s words against himself, exposing his greatest vulnerability: guilt.
"The Commander likes it when I distinguish myself, show precocity, like an attentive pet, prick-eared and eager to preform. His approbation laps me like a warm bath. I sense none of the animosity I used to sense in men, even in Luke sometimes. He's not saying /bitch/ in his head. In fact, he is positively daddyish. He likes to think I am being entertained; and I am, I am." (183-184)
ReplyDeleteThis passage stood out to me even on my first read through of this chapter, mostly from the pure emotion that we see from Offred in it. Throughout the novel so far, Offred has been very closed off to the reader, to the point of even making her own pseudo-rape seem like business as usual, but here in this passage, she shows a genuine excitement for something despite who she is with. It shows just how much that she has acclimated to the harsher life that women have in Gilead, and how much that these small meeting with the Commander are now affecting her. Offred is much more used to comparing herself to objects, or, as we specifically discussed in class, to furniture. She is unfeeling, and only meant to be used as basically a baby maker. However, with the Commander, she is able to feel large emotions like excitement again, and she is able to take a moment to actually just enjoy things like playing a game of Scrabble once again. The interesting thing about this moment is that it is entirely controlled by the 'daddyish' Commander. He, a man completely in power over the situation, is seen as somewhat of a sympathetic figure simply because of the fact that he allows Offred things that would be seen as simple human joys in our world.
“I wish you would tell me Your Name, the real one I mean. But You will do as well as anything” (194)
ReplyDeleteThis line is from the internal thoughts of Offred while she is doing her prayers during her time at the Center. The significance of this passage is it shows what Offred wants in this terrible world; answers to everything. Additionally, earlier in this novel when Offred tells the Commander she doesn’t want to see him anymore, the commander says he will give her anything she wants, Offred then asks for answers. Furthermore, Offred has respect for the truth and wants the truth, “the real one I mean” (194). The matter of fact that Offred wished she knew everything most likely stems from long period of time where she knew nothing about how her world was changing forever.
Furthermore, it is interesting to me that while some women are praying to become pregnant, Offred prays for answers. This is a question I have been trying to answer for about 20 minutes now. I think that the reason behind why Offred prays for answers and not to become pregnant is because praying for answers is more useful to her than praying to become pregnant. OR, she may already know she can get pregnant because as we know she had a daughter before all of this happened, so she may only be praying about what is worrying her. Another possibility is that Offred is afraid of what a lot of us are also afraid of; the unknown. As stated above, Offred has already had a baby, that is already known to her. However, this world is not and that scares her so she prays for answers. She probably believes that the answers she is praying for will make her world a lot less scary.
Delete"I'll take care of it it, Luke said. And because he said it instead of her, I knew he meant kill. That is what you have to do before you kill, I thought. You have to create an it, where none was before. You do that first, in your head, and then you make it real. So that's how they do it, I thought. I seemed never to have known that before" (192-193).
ReplyDeleteI am a bit confused as to what Offred meant when she said "so that's how they do it". Is she talking about the rebel army or something different?
I thought that the use of italicizations in this passage was really interesting. The words it, her, and kill were italicized. Later in the passage, Offred states that "you have to create an it, where there was none before", does she mean her past self or the lives of women in this society entirely? I thought it was interesting how she says that you have to make SOMETHING into NOTHING, before you can actually kill it completely.