Example:
"It pleased me that she was willing to lie for me, even in such a small thing, even for her own advantage. It was a link between us" (152).
Question: Why is Cora and Offred's moment of secret solidarity so rare? What does this moment of "sisterhood" DO for these women who are all being oppressed? What does this exchange suggest about Atwood's larger message about the ability for "sisterhood" as a means of resisting patriarchy?
Answer: Answer your own question! Even if you're not sure, posit various responses-- "maybe..." or "perhaps...." Make connections to other passages/moments in the novel to try to answer your own question.
"What would she tell me, about the Commander, if she were here? Probably she'd disapprove. She disapproved of Luke, back then. Not of Luke but the fact he was married. She said I was poaching, on another woman's ground. I said Luke wasn't a fish or a piece of dirt either, he was a human being and could make his own decisions"(171).
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Moira makes interesting comments the view of women in relationships. Why does Moira have such a negative view of men in general, is it inherent sexism or did something in her past cause this? And what are the double standards that face women in issues like this?
Answer: This passage shows interesting view onto Moira's perspective. We have seen that she has a somewhat feisty personality, and earlier in the book Offred did have the flashback where Moira casually made a date rape joke. This connects to this passage because it represents her carefree nature, telling Offred she shouldn't approve of a man that's married, and it can lead the reader to synthesize that she wouldn't approve of any man Offred would date or marry. This passage also makes an interesting connection to the role of woman in relationships with married men, which is happening with Offred right now and in the past. If a woman was married and had an affair with a man it would be looked down upon more then if it was the opposite. This shows double standards in our society, where if girls sleep with a lot of men she is called a 'slut' and looked down on, where if it's men that do it they are considered a 'player', and even if that term isn't one someone would want to uphold, it does create the person a certain level of eliteness to the person. This connects back to Offred's life as a Handmaid, where it is almost said that the Marthas' look down upon her because of what she does, and where the Wives dislike them as well, as they are essentially a mistress in their marriage.
I think your argument is great, I just want to add on that I think that Moira is everything Offred probably wishes she could be: carefree, fearless, determined, and "logical," which was also on page 171. She perhaps wishes she could stand up for her rights as a woman just like Moira did when she escaped the Red Center dressed as an Aunt. Furthermore, I think this connects back to the fear of failure/change. Everything that Gilead has imposed on these women has become embedded in their brains, that they are so afraid of making their own opinion out loud. Moira obviously sets the distinctive example of how to embrace being a woman, even in such a harsh environment like this one.
Delete
ReplyDelete“He kissed me then, as if now I’d 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 at all. Maybe he even likes it. We are not each other’s anymore. Instead, I am his...So Luke...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).
Question: What are the power relationships between men and women? How are male and female roles defined?
Answer: This passage enticed me because it refers to men as being the dominant one in the relationship, and how that role makes them more powerful and superior. I was really struck when Offred says, “Maybe he even likes it,” which does show how possessiveness can be a part of male behavior. However, in another part of the passage, Offred mentions how she would never bring up to Luke hat she felt unworthy and unappreciated as both a woman in her marriage and a woman in this changing society. When she says, “So Luke….Am I right?’ it is made clear that Offred was only making assumptions about how Luke felt after she lost her job in terms of who had more power in the relationship. I think Offred’s assumptions are right and that Luke obviously had more power, but I also think Offred was also afraid of change, of being alone, of suddenly feeling uprotected. I think she should have spoken up and attempted to have good communication with her husband, instead of cowering away because she was afraid to lose him. On the other hand, he was all she had at the moment besides her daughter, and I do understand her reasoning for not confronting him,. In a fast-forward to the present in the book, the commander starts to become an older resemblance of Luke, someone who looks out for her, but still maintains that dominant male role in the relationship.
I really liked your connection here to the idea that Luke has the dominant role in his relationship with Offred, but I really think that Luke did not always have this. Earlier, when Offred had a flashback to when her mother was mentioning the amount of steps it took that made it okay for Luke to do the cooking, I thought this demonstrated the idea that Luke and Offred were more or less equals. Offred wasn't made to assume the typical gender role of the woman cooking, making me think that Luke didn't necessarily have more power over her. Now, when Offred lost her job, and it was clear that Luke was going to have to support the family, you could obviously see that he began to assume a dominance over Offred. I agree with you in this way, that he changed after she obviously became more dependent on him, because he killed the cat, and he sort of began to 'own' Offred, etc. I just think that he wasn't always this way.
Delete"Maybe I shouldn't come here anymore," I say.
ReplyDelete"I thought you were enjoying it," he says lightly, watching me, however, with intent bright eyes. If I didn't know better I would think it was fear. "I wish you would."... Things have changed. I have something on him, now. What I have on him now is the possibility of my own death. What I have on him is his guilt. At last." (188)
Question: In a patriarchal society, are there aspects in which women have power over men? If so, how?
Answer: I think that in this sense, Offred has power over the Commander. She says deliberately that things between them had "changed", that she had "something on him, now". This proves that she has now figured something out that gives her an advantage or dominance over the Commander, who, in Gilead, automatically has an advantage over women. Additionally, I mentioned in an earlier post that in Gilead, women have power over men in the aspect that they must set the boundaries, because men do not have the capability to do this for themselves. Normally, in any patriarchal setting, men have the benefits and have power over women, but there are aspects in which a woman can be more powerful than the man or have something over them that they can control or get things from them with.
"What we prayed for was emptiness, so we would be worthy to be filled: with grace, with love, with self-denial, semen and babies"
ReplyDeleteWhat does the history of Gilead tell us about the way women are perceived and what does Atwood tell us about patriarchy?
This line from the text assured me that Gilead and the aunts are not there to see you grow or to see you become a woman. They are there to change your perception of life in general. There are there to defend all of the basic gender roles" like women saying in their house, just cooking, cleaning, not learning, going outside to buy food, and getting fucked often in order to carry a baby. Some people would argue that most women get pregnant in order to keep the man, in this case they get pregnant in order to sacrifice themselves for the government. In global a philosopher from the 18th century named Thomas Hobbes agrees with humans giving up all but one right which is self preservation. People in Gilead are at war, they are at war with one another. This dystopian society reminds me of a movie i saw names " My sister's Keeper." These parents had a child with cancer and in order to save her life they had a baby that will donate almost all parts of her body in order to help the other sister survive. This is the result of when people think quick and try to ration things out but in the end it is just wrong. Gilead was in a rush to preserve the population that they didn't see that women might be looked as only providers to their idea. To answer the second question about patriarchy, these men only want to fuck the handmaids to make a baby. There is no chemistry between the two, there is no sign of love, there is nothing to connect the two souls. The patriarchal society of this book blames women for the decreasing birth rate, and force fertile women to become Handmaids, they are being passed around like prostitutes to high class families in order to impregnate them. Again we see both roles living up to their stereotype as in now in the 21st century. Women stay home, do work, and get fucked while men go out, work, and fuck. The reason i say fuck is because there is no connection between two people in Gilead who Have sex or make love. All three terms are so far in definition and purity.
I definitely agree with what you're saying but I'm not sure if I would compare the handmaids to prostitutes. I think on one hand a prostitute sells her sex appeal and the physical appeal of her body. Also in most scenarios, but definitely not all, the prostitute is having sex willingly. The handmaids though, are not selling their sex appeal, they are simply there for their fertility and the Commander's nor anyone in Gilead are allowed to see them as sexual beings. Also we see in Offred that she is not doing this voluntarily or making a profit from it.
DeleteI agree with you here, Darlyn but I believe that Siri also makes a very good point. Prostitues usually have sex willingly yet handmaids are somewhat forced into this role because they are fertile, like Siri mentioned. Offred is not enjoying having sex with the Commander because she knows that Serena Joy is present and there is no real love between them. Offred views sexual intercourse as "making love" and that is not what is going on between her and the Commander. She merely sees this as a job and nothing more but as she starts to get more attached to the Commander later on in the book, we see a different side of her and the Commander while they are having sex because Atwood mentions how he almost touches her face even though they are not supposed to have any intimate moments with each other.
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).
ReplyDeleteQuestion - How is the relationship between men and women portrayed? What are the power relationships between men and women?
I really liked this quote because I think an important message is being illuminated. That being, that both men and women are needed in defeating the patriarchy and reaching equality. Offred understands that equality doesn't come through women isolating themselves from men and that that would only make the gender disparity worse. It is impossible to ignore an entire gender in trying to achieve justice because without male voices expressing their goals for equality their would always have to be some sort of existing power dynamic of one gender over the other. This quote also showed me that Atwood is undermining the patriarchy and has a feminist agenda because I think someone that truly stands for the equality of women would understand that men are just as important as women in the fight for justice. This idea is also very present in modern day feminism. There is a stereotype that feminism is focused on "man-hating", and through activists like Emma Watson and he foundation "He For She", the understanding of the importance of men in the feminist fight can become clearer.
I agree with your response especially when you connected Atwood trying to tell the reader that gender equality will not be achieved by women going against men with Emma Watson and her "He for She" foundation. Interestingly enough, in the clip we saw for homework last week on the Emma Watson video she mentioned how in these feminist movements there are barely any male supporters. I also believe that men are important for this movement as well instead of just bashing on men and sort of blaming them for gender inequality.
DeleteI also agree with this very much, the problem with many feminist movements today is that people tend to see feminism as an attack on men, this gives feminism the bad reputation that it has. It's not the feminists' fault, it's the fault of those who oppose of ideas that feminists have
DeleteI totally agree with you, Josef. When thinking of passed feminist movements it is all about hating men and looking down at the way they treat us while at the same time and not look at the problems with our own gender. For example in the book Serena Joy, she was a woman who was for the idea that women's only purpose was to stay at home and make babies . But in Gilad when that is the case she is extremely.depressed. I think that is what Atwood means that you can just point fingers at men but also at women and what we do to ourselves because that is what is happening in the book women are oppressing themselves and if they really wanted to they could overthrow the government
Delete"He kissed me then, as if now I'd 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. Unworthy, unjust, untrue" (182).
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What are the power relationships between men and women and how are they portrayed in this society?
In this passage, Offred seems to remember the past when she lost her job and how Luke eventually has to take care of the family. We start to see some patriarchal gender roles take shape in this part of the book. Offred just lost her job and she realizes that now that she does not make her own money anymore, Luke will have to be the one that supports fhe family. It seems that Luke does not mind that this is starting to take place because it means that he will have more power and authority over his family. However, I also believe that Offred and Luke were in some ways equals until this point. They both had jobs and one person did not have dominance over the other. Then Offred mentions how "maybe he even likes it" which portrays how men might like to have this power over women because of their ego. Their ego seems to take over their human nature and they believe that they are the ones who need to control everything. When the man at the store tells her that her card is not valid and then she finds out that all of her money will be transferred to Luke, she lost that sense of freedom. Now, she will have to ask Luke whenever she wanted to buy anything from a store such as a cigarette. I would also like to point out how she says that she feels "unworthy, unjust, untrue" which foreshadows what she will feel in the future as a handmaid. As a handmaid, Offred is viewed as a object, someone who bears children and this is makes her feel worthless and powerless. This is what she felt in the past when she was with Luke.
I agree with you completely Varshini, on how men like this kind of power. Now he is the true provider and in their relationship if will be much harder to find equilibrium. There is a quote that says "Starve the ego, Feed the soul" I think if more people in Gilead believe in this they will be able to come out of that dystopian society. Men and women would be much more equal if they dont think about things that will make them be complete in society or perfect. It is nice to strive for perfection but at the same time it has its many flaws. I want to connect this back to The circle. They all tried to strive for perfection with new advanced technology and it made people think the power is in their hands, when in fact it is with the government since everyone was going transparent. Maybe its okay to keep thing show they are and strive for something better not perfect.
DeleteI really like your response, especially the part when you elaborate on how Offred feels "unworthy, unjust, untrue." I think it is extremely unfair that because of this new form of government taking over, women now have to rely completely on a male counterpart, just because it has a F on their Compucard, rather than an M. Without any type of reason, women are suddenly forced to become a classic "housewife," with noting to do all day, making all women feel useless and taken advantage of. Luke of course doesn't see a problem with this, acting as if the only change is that women are going to have to ask for access to their own money, but Offred sees what this stands for, which is taking away all of her power and independence.
Delete"I started doing more housework, more baking. I tried not to cry at mealtimes. By this time I'd started 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.
ReplyDeleteQuestion- Is the goal of the new government to turn Gilead into a society with patriarchy? Are they trying to separate women and men by taking away women's rights and power?
Response- I think this new government is separating out the population by gender. When Offred got fired, it was implied that the other people in the room were women. Their former boss kept saying it wasn't his choice to make them leave, but would not provide a reason, which leads readers to believe that the new army officers outside his office were forcing him to. Then women stopped being able to buy things, because their Compucards were deactivated, forcing them to rely on a male counterpart to dole out their hard earned money, whenever they wanted to buy something. After taking away their jobs and ability to basically go out on their own, women are left bored with nothing to do. Using no physical force, women eventually put their work into homelife, supporting the idea of a society filled with patriarchal women. People in this society have to start living by strict rules in and out of home. Women are forced into gender stereotypes by having their independence and trust taken away. What really stood out to me was when Offred said that she tried not to cry at mealtimes. This reminds me of Serena Joy when she starts to cry at the ceremony. When Offred is surrounded by her family at dinner, she is forced to confront the fact that she is now disabled and cannot provide for her family. Serena Joy is also disabled because she cannot have children, both characters feel their grief when they are surrounded by the people who previously relied on them. Although at this point, no one is forcing Offred to become a housewife, the new society pushed them into these roles by taking away all of their other freedoms.
I couldn't agree more with what you're saying. I definitely do think that these women were pushed into the role of being the vulnerable submissive in the relationship and entire society of Gilead. How else would a women support herself if all she's worked for was taken away from her over 24 hours, yet men still had everything? Of course, they would turn to a source of being able to stay alive and healthy for themselves, and only men could provide that now. I feel like both Serena and Offred felt that they were weak. Also, I think that they both felt anger towards the situation due to how hard they worked. Serena worked on TV her whole life and Offred worked and paid for her own home and supported her family, and to go through so much work to have it all taken away must produce hatred and anger for those with more power over you, which is also where envy comes in.
DeleteI totally agree with you about the Serena Joy and Offred parallel. The two characters, and not just these two, but all women of this society, have so much in common and have all been oppressed so much, so why is it do difficult for them to come together and make this "sister hood"? These women know that they are all being oppressed and that they are alike in these ways but they don't want to say or do anything because they want this power hierarchy. Serena Joy has power over Offred which is why she would never stoop down to her level because that would make her seem less powerful.
Delete"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)
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What are the power relationships between men and women (or characters assuming male/female roles)?
I think this quote really embodies this question in the sense that here Offred has power over him now that she knows that the last handmaid killed herself and she used to meet with the Commander as well. What if Offred kills herself because she has been exposed to the forbidden? She'll just want more and more, she is already questioning why she is alive, and if she were to kill herself, the Commander would feel guilty. The fact that she can make him feel that way for any reason, the fact that she has something over him makes her feel so powerful. Even today women have power over men for example through their bodies(unfortunately) women have the power to seduce men, making them weak, giving the women power.
I agree with you and I also think that since she has been exposed to the forbidden it allows her to have some sort of confidence with him. Because of this confidence she asks him for what she wants. When the commander and Offred are together she said "on the third night I asked for some hand lotion"(158). I think that because they see each other each night and the commander gives her gifts and shows her words not only does she feel like she has power but she has created a relationship with the commander. I also think that because the commander has created a relationship with Offred he sees her as friend and not only a women that works for reproduction. In a way the relationship they have is good because the commander is valuing Offred but also if the relationship they have created gets to his wife there would be consequences for Offred and probably the commander.
DeleteI think this is an interesting quote, and question Noelie. First off, it is sad that one of the only "powers" women have over men are their bodies/seduction. That alone shows a lot about the type of society we live in; one that values sex over intelligence. I also think the relationships within "The Handmaid's Tale" is a good thing to focus on, because men and women both play very specific roles within Gilead. The relationships that men and women share are interesting, because you are forced to ask yourself, how do societal roles change/affect relationships between men and women? I think that time will tell more, but the relationship between Offred and the Commander proves that, although Gilead supresses it's people, and stops (for the most part) meaningful relationships between men and women, friendship still may blossom.
Delete"It occurred to me that he shouldn't be saying we, since nothing that I knew of has been taken away from him. We still have each other, I said. It was true. Then why did I sound, even to myself so indifferent?... 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)
ReplyDeleteQuestion: How are women portrayed? What does the work suggest about women's creativity?
In this passage, Offred is portrayed as weak and vulnerable towards Luke. The message that I felt Atwood was giving in this passage was that, the bit of independence of having a job and being able to support her own home and live stably with Luke and her daughter, was Offred's creativity. It gave her that power of not only having the option to support herself but to support others and live the way she wanted, knowing that she worked for herself. And, when that got taken away from her and her attitude/character immediately changed to vulnerable and arguably, angry, I think it showed how important her feeling of power was to her and that creativity does make up a person. When Offred talks about the idea that Luke may "like" having that power over her, I feel like it connected to the power that the men have in Gilead presently and the act of taking away jobs from women and the money that they worked so hard over, was just the first message to them basically saying, "you have no power, men are superior". Not only does this make women seem lesser, but as Offred thinks about Luke and says, "I couldn't afford to lose you", it shows that women now have the obligation to be with men because they can no longer be independent for themselves.
I completely agree with you. Offred losing her job caused her to feel and become inferior to Luke. With a job she was able to somewhat support her family alongside her husband, he now had all the power. Her job made for independent and gave her a sense of power. This quote also shows how men are portrayed to not be affected by gender inequalities. Whereas Offred saw Luke's comment about them having each other, as a way to declare his power over her, he could have been acknowledging her feelings and telling her that with each other they could get through it, together, equally.
Delete"all those women having jobs: hard to imagine, now, but thousands of them had jobs, millions. It was considered a normal thing"(173).
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Why are women portrayed the way they are now? Why are they not able to have some power like they had before Gilead?
I think they are portrayed this way because of all of the thoughts and opinions men have about women. I think that before Gilead men thought that it was not right for women to work and have power so that is why these things were taken away from them. What the author is trying to say is that if they way women are portrayed does not change then today's world would be like Gilead because women are not valued the way they should be valued. Before Offred was able to work and go to the store by herself but now they are not able to because in the world of Gilead women are seen as less and not very important. When Offred was able to work she had some power over her life and I think she felt valued but now she is not able to control her life. Before having a job was a normal thing but now it not since women are not seen as important and good enough to have a job. In Gilead the women do have a job but it's not something that should be considered as a job because they just make babies and they are not even paid for this.
I agree with you completely, but there is just one thing that I want to add, Women are not just portrayed as nothing more than a mere object, but also they can't do anything about it, just like you have stated. They don't have any form of escape, other than the small bits of power they have over one another, like the commanders wife to the handmaids. The Handmaid supports my claim when she says that she felt as if she was taking something away from Serena when she went to visit the commander. In other words, they do manage to get some small bits of power over another but it isn't much since they still don't get to escape this society.
Delete"You have everything on your list?" Ofglen says to me now, though she knows I do. Our lists are never long. She's given up some of her passivity lately, some of her melancholy. Often she speaks to me first. "Yes," I say. "lets go around," she says. She means down, towards the river. We haven't been there for a while." Pg 165.
ReplyDeleteThis quote intrested me very much because I think that it broaches the idea of sisterhood in this society even more, which is something that has been somewhat scarce in the story so far. Before we examine what the character say themselves, lets talk about the gramaical choices that the author has made. In the book thus far, the author has not used any quotation marks when the character are speaking. What does it mean now that she has added these quotation marks? I think that is is to show that through the sisterhood that Ofglen has given to her, has allowed her to break free from the mental depression that this society has inflicted upon her. This sisterhood has let he become more intact with her enviornment and overalll more mentally healthy. This raises a question on sisterhood. Is sisterhood as essential as the fact that men and women also need each other, is sisterhood the same? Do women need close bonds, or any sort of friendship with other women in order to be happy?
"There is an us then, there's a we. I knew it...It occurs to me that she may be a spy, a plant, set to trap me; such is the soil in which we grow. But I can't believe it; hope is rising in me...We have made an opening" (169).
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What does this imply about the possibilities of sisterhood as a mode of resisting patriarchy?
Answer: This passage stands out to me because it shows us how difficult it is to form a sisterhood in Gilead. Offred doesn't trust Ofglen because of the possibility that she might be a spy, not even because she knows that she is. Although this quote shows that it is very difficult for the women of Gilead to come together as one because of their trust issues towards each other, Offred shows us she has hope that it is still possible to have a sisterhood. I think that if the women of Gilead all agreed to one thing: gender equality, then there would be no reason to not trust one another. In order to have a sisterhood, they must believe in each other and have the same perspective on Gilead. If they agree to believe in one thing and have that one goal, then they'll be able to form a sisterhood as a way to resist patriarchy and rise up against as a unified whole.
I agree with what you're saying about the possibility of a sisterhood in this society. I think that there is a way where they can unite and be able to rebel or overthrow this patriarchy, but I also think that this quote shows how the patriarchy tries to destroy the possibilities of sisterhood. They have it ingrained in them that they can't trust anyone else, especially other women as they all hate each other. I think that this hatred and distrust of everyone is a tactic that the leaders of this society are using as self-defense so they can avoid any rebellions. Instead of attacking each and every woman, they merely plant the idea that any sisterhood is impossible as anyone could be a spy ready to hurt them.
DeleteI totally see what your saying, but I sort of disagree. I think that there always is and will be a strong anchor of sisterhood between women without resolving personal issues between one another. What I mean by this is that there are millions of women that dislike each other around the world and in our own surroundings but that does not mean that they won't ban together when they feel their rights are being taken away from them. We see all women fighting for gender equality today,a good representation of sisterhood, but that doesn't mean that women don't envy or express hatred towards other women while this is taking place. Previously in the book we have seen conflict between Janine and other Handmaid's, but when Janine found out the news about Moira, she felt it was important to let the other Handmaid's know. Even though this is a small line of the book it shows that sisterhood is already there and always will remain between women even if characters in the book and girl's today have a weird way of showing it.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete“ ‘you can join us,’ she says . There is an us then, there’s a we. I knew it … I can't believe it ; hope is rising in me , like sap in a tree . Blood in a wound. We have made an opening… ‘Don’t say a word,’ Ofglen warns me , though she doesn't need to ‘In any way’ ‘Of course I won't ‘ I say who could i tell ? “ (page 168)
ReplyDeleteIs there finally an idea of sisterhood in the book ? Was it always there , just under the surface?Who else is part of this new found sisterhood ?
This part really stood out to me because the idea of sisterhood is really important in any society because women can sympathize with other women and fully understand each other with it women feel distance and they feel like they are different from one another even when they are in the same situation ,like in Gilad. Gilad is a place where the idea of sisterhood is suppressed and unwelcome . To be very honest I suspecting this form the very being , I knew that there couldn't be society where women were all oppressed and they didn't try to ban together and fight their common oppression. I think that this “ sisterhood “ has been brewing for a while now but they have been waiting and looking for people who really didn't believe in the things that Aunt Lydia , Commanders and others were trying to instill in them someone like Offred “There is an us then, there’s a we. I knew it … I can't believe it” (page 168)
I agree and I do believe that there is a chance for sisterhood among the women of this society, especially the Handmaids. In the quote that you wrote, you can see that it is all about taking a risk and "doing the unexpected." I also agree and believe that there was always a sense of sisterhood and if Ofglen didn't speak up and create an interaction with Offred, there wouldn't be a surfacing sense of sisterhood between them and Offred would have never known that there was an "us."
DeleteI also agree with this and thought this when I was reading this. I think that once the handmaids realizes the injustice going on they will gradually begin to protest for what they want. But I think it is important to remember that once ideas are instilled in your head, it is hard change your way of living and I think that might be one of the major things holding back the Handmaids from coming together.
Delete"All those women having jobs: hard to imagine, now, but thousands of them had jobs, millions.It was considered the normal thing"(173).
ReplyDeleteHow could the way people think change so dramatically? How could these women not make some type of riot or revolution against this new screwed up society?
What the Handmaid says is nothing more then her conscious speaking for her, this shows that she knows what the society is doing is wrong. This also raises another question which is, "Does everybody else think that this is wrong?". In my opinion I do think that everybody thinks that this is wrong but the main obstacle that is stopping them from creating a riot or revolution is that they are afraid. They are all afraid to revolt against an armed Government that has complete power over them. Their government managed to change their way of thinking by simply brainwashing them into thinking that what they are doing is good when in reality it is not.
"It's only a job, he said, trying to sooth me. I guess you get all my money, I said...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." (179)
ReplyDeleteWhat does this quote show about the men's values/ideas about women's rights or the relationships between men and women?
This quote shows how men rarely seem to care about women and their rights through Luke's reaction to the loss of women's jobs and bank accounts. Instead of being outraged, or wanting to find a way to change what has happened, he seems to only care for his wife. Not only that, but he doesn't seem very interested in finding a way to change what has happened, but instead "console" her. He tries to tell her that "It's only a job" as if there is nothing larger happening, such as women's rights being taken away. Furthermore, the largest argument in his mind that will soothe her and make everything all right is that he will take care of her. This mindset of men being there to take of women and provide for them while they just stay at home, is just the beginning of what happens in Gilead, as even Luke in a modern-day setting is viewing his wife as an object to be taken care of, almost like a child or pet.
I completely agree with everything you've said! It struck me as well that instead of reacting and wanting to fight for women's rights, Luke instead tries to consoles his wife. It's almost as if he is okay with the fact that women are being oppressed in this manner. This clearly shows how women are portrayed as inferior to men. Luke receives the role as a provider and in return gains power over Offred.
Delete"I want to ask her if she's seen Moira, if anyone can find out what's happened, to Luke, to my child, my mother even, but there's not much time; to soon were approaching the corner of the main street, the one before the first barrier. There will be too many people." (169)
ReplyDeleteDo women want to get their freedom in a patriarchy in hopes of destroying males, or out of other intentions?
I think this quote tells us that women don't want their freedom in order to get revenge on men but for other aspects of life like family, education, etc. Offred is less concerned with getting equal with the men and women in her society that are viewing and treating her inferior and more interested in claiming her freedom in order to find her husband and daughter. I think that women in this book and women in society today challenge societies ideas on femininity not because they want to be superior to men or because they want to take over but rather to give women the rights they deserve. I think what I am trying to say is that women and Handmaid's aren't necessarily expressing hatred towards men specifically but more towards the stereotypes and radical jobs that are being enflicted upon them. As shown in this quote, Offred is expressing excitement towards the idea of freedom because it may lead her back to the past, a time where she along with the rest of society was happy, not because freedom may lower the commander's and the commander's wives in Gilead.
I agree I think the women in Gilead don't blame the men for their problems they just want everyone to be equal. The women know that life isn't easy for the men either as shown by Offred's relationship with the commander. The reason Offred wants to be free is not to get revenge on men for under powering women, but to have her family back and have power again.
Delete"You don't know what it's like, I said. I feel as if somebody cut off my feet. I wasn't crying. Also, I couldn't put my arms around him." (179)
ReplyDeleteWhy is there an inequality between the genders, where the dominant side doesn't realize how the other side suffers?
A big issue that occurs when any group of people feel oppressed is that those who don't suffer either aren't aware that someone is suffering, or they don't realize how severe it could possibly be. In Gilead, when the society starts to change, although men are aware of these changes, they cannot truly understand how it feels to get all rights revoked unless they actually experience it themselves. Luke sympathizes with his wife because he sees that she is sad, and he tries to console her. He does this out of love. In this excerpt, Offred knows that he can't truly understand her situation, and so his support seems superficial. Offred later stops herself from continuing that train of thought because she knows that her husband does love her and is being sincere. However, one of the main issues in this society as it changes, and when it becomes permanent as well is that many people are not aware of many atrocities that go on. Because they are oblivious to it, they don't act to stop it. This is seen with the Commander, when he's surprised by the few rights Offred has. He can't begin to see how much Offred suffers because he doesn't even know about it. Also, because he isn't really experiencing it himself, he cannot truly sympathize with her.
I agree with your point about how the people of Gilead don't see how severe things are unless they go through it themselves. An example of this is when the Eyes take and brutally attack this ordinary-looking man. After the attack Offred says, "It's over, in seconds, and the traffic on the street resumes as if nothing happened. What I feel is relief. It wasn't me" (170). These people went about their days as if nothing happened, and they all have the same mindset as Offred: "it wasn't me" so they don't really care.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"I suspect him of cheating, to flatter me, to put me in a good mood. But why? It remains a question. What does he have to gain from this sort of pampering? There must be something." (184)
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What does the work reveal about the operations (economically, politically, socially, or psychologically) of patriarchy?
As Offred and the Commander's relationship continued to grow, I began to question why the author chose to create this relationship and what she wanted her readers to take away from it. In this quote, Offred seems to be questioning the same sort of thing, what are the Commander's intentions? Later, towards the end of the chapter, it is revealed that the Commander had a relationship with another Handmaid who later hung herself. I don't think he (men in this society in general) understand what women are going through and their struggles. It's almost like a representation of his "innocence" of not being aware of what is really going on or fully accepting his role as a male because he desires and believes in love. The fact that he has reached out to Offred shows his desire for love and compassion and to have actual human interactions with other people. For me, the Commander and even Nick help me see that while women in this society are being oppressed, so are men.They are being oppressed because they are also a victim of this society and cannot express their feelings. Men are also human beings and the same way Offred craves to touch or Cora desires a child to care for, men desire having connections with people.
I agree with your point. The Commander's oblivion to Offred's situation is also the fault of the government. Offred and the other women in this society are being oppressed, and he isn't really aware of how severe it is. The fact that this information is kept from him (or hidden in a way) by the government is a form of oppression as well. This creates such a strong barrier between the government and the people that it gives an excessive amount of power to the government. It also isn't the Commander's fault that he's oblivious to everything. He has been deprived of having real human connections with other people, so he innocently jumps at the occasion of having that connection.
DeleteI also agree, however I feel that the commanders are not in oblivion of the handmaid's ordeal, in fact I think he is fully aware of it, but he choses not to think about it, as in the current part of the book he is focusing on wooing Offred; I feel that his focus on this is a distraction, a step away from the reality that he condones.
Delete“I wish I knew what You were up to. But whatever it is, help me to get through it, please. Though maybe it’s not Your doing; I don't believe for an instant that what's going on out there is what You meant,”(194).
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What does Offred’s prayer to God reveal about the operation of patriarchy?
This passage brought up the question above because it shows how confused Offred is about the treatment of women in Gilead. She prays, asking God to help her understand and digest why anyone would want to create a place, like Gilead, where women are limited and identified by their fertility. When Offred points out that she didn't “believe for an instant that what's going on out there was what” God intended reveals that she doesn’t blame God. I understand Offred’s confusion, because one would believe that God would only intend good and create hardship in ones life that will present itself in the future as a benefit. She blames the higher power in Gilead who interpreted and justified laws created to undermined women in the name of God. Offred’s participation in Gilead as Handmaid represents a leap of faith which is why she asks for strength in order to not commit suicide. She has hope that Gilead isn't the end for women. This quote challenges patriarchal ideologies because it causes one to think about who has the power to interpret what religion states about the way men and women should be identified and apply it.
"They've frozen them, she said. Mine too...Any account with an F on it instead of an M...Women can't hold property anymore...Luke can use your Compucount for you...They'll transfer your number to him...Husband or male of next kin" (178,179).
ReplyDeleteWhat does this reveal about the power relationships between men and women? How are the male and female roles defined?
This quote really illuminated how women are portrayed as inferior to men. Being that Offred's banking account is frozen, all the money that she has earned is going to be given to her husband. This would leave her with no choice but to become dependent on Luke for everything. Men are basically given the role as the providers and actually have a voice. Women, however, are deprived from such rights. Their voices are not heard and their dependence towards men exemplify how men hold more power over women.
I agree on how the quote illuminates the inferiority. The rebellion caused women power to shift drastically causing them to become basically slaves to society and just meet the demands they need. An example of society making women inferior would be the fact that they are not even allowed to read anymore and have roles like handmaids,marthas, etc. that are basically their whole point of life until they can't do it anymore
DeleteI completely agree with this analysis. Atwood demonstrates that women are less important than men and that they are only subject to do certain things. She creates the concept that handmaids are only allowed to have children which makes women looked up as only a tool. The idea of women being inferior and not having as much power as men will only cause a rebellion of females and lead to a society of feminist.
Delete"I thought you were a true believer," Ofglen says.
ReplyDelete"I thought you were," I say.
"You were always so stinking pious."
"So were you," I reply. I want to laugh, shout, hug her.
"You can join us," she says
How does this system turn women against each other and portray them as these spies on each other?
I think that this system is set up so that the women don't trust each other so that they can't band together to rebel. That also seems to be the reason for the governments so called "spies". Since the spies are supposed to be incognito, the handmaids are taught not to talk to anyone for they could be a spy and they could catch the Handmaids saying something they shouldn't. Since the punishments are made so obvious by the hangings on the walls, the Handmaids are almost scared into following all these rules and regulations. Since all the women are taught to not trust anyone because they could be turned in and be punished, they keep to themselves which makes it alms impossible for this sisterhood to form.
I agree with your argument, Grace, and I wanted to raise the possibility that there aren't actually any spies. As I was reading I repeatedly asked myself if these "spies" are actually existent or just fabricated by the Gilead Government to create anxiety within women. I also began to question if there is actually a war going on, or if it was made up to make women feel protected by Gilead.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Luke found the cat, who was hiding under our bed. Thye always know. He went into the garage with her. I don't know what he did and i never asked him. I sat in the living room, hands folded in my lap.I should have gone out with him, taken that small responsibility. I should at least have asked him about it afterwards, so he didn't have to carry it alone, because that little sacrifice, that snuffing out of love, was done for my sake as well."(193)
ReplyDeleteHow is the relationship between between men and women portrayed?
This quote shows how men even though they don't say it are aware of the things the women are going through and what they gonna go through. Luke realizes it was better for him to deal with the cat because of the burden women are gonna go through. Luke seems like he has lost faith and seems like he was was aware this was gonna happen for a while like Moira. This also disapproves what Moira said that Luke does not care about Offred because he seems to really be aware of her feelings and try to help her out when he can.
I Agree.
DeleteBecause of the corruptness of the system and society of Gilead, men, even though they know the atrocities that Handmaids have to go through, are restricted on what they can say. Luke knows what the handmaids go through is brute and nasty but he can't change it because the system is corrupt.
"I guess you get all my money, I said. And I'm not even dead. I was trying for a joke, but it came out sond macabre.
ReplyDeleteHush, he said. He was kneeling on the floor. You known I'll always take care of you.
I though, Already he's starting to patronize me. Then I thought, already you're starting to get paranoid."
This is after the passing of the new law which makes it so women can hold money in their accounts. This stood out to me because Luke is now seen as the authority figure, instead of before the law passing, as they are no longer equals. Luke now controls all the money in their family, and will get all of the rights. But what may happen is that ass Offred gets increasingly oppressed, their marriage may start to break down, and this may be a representation of what leads to Gilead: the men get too much power, and they are able to pass whatever laws in the favour, probably detrimental to women as seen in The Handmaid's Tale.
"...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."
ReplyDeleteDoes Ofglen's posture in this scene support or undermine patriarchal ideology?
After sex with the Commander, Ofglen becomes more relaxed around the Commander, as she states in this passage. She is not stiff-necked or stiff in general, but rather relaxed in her attitude and posture. What this reflects about Patriarchal ideology is that it all depends on the man. In a Patriarchy, if the man is brute or strict, the wife is likely to be more rigid and stiff when in the presence of the man. If the man is more open and relaxed around his wife, she is likely to be the the same as the man. I think this undermines patriarchal ideology. The idea of a patriarchy is a corrupt one in which the man is the strict leader of a household. And while the Commander is still "the commander" of the household, Ofglen becomes a more welcome presence in the household after they become closer and go through the ritual.
sorry i wrote ofglen for some reason i meant offred
Delete"All those women having jobs: hard to imagine, now, but then thousands of women, millions. It was considered the normal thing. Now its like remembering the paper money, when they still had that...."
ReplyDeleteDid the protests create a sense of sisterhood before Gilead changed completely?
Offred’s constant flashbacks gives a clear idea of how Gilead was created. In the shift from the United States to Gilead, all money has been computerized, and pornography and prostitution have become more accepted and common. Offred mentions “Pornomarts” and “Feels-on-Wheels” meaning that women are considered sex machines that have no feeling and the idea of individual liberty has been lost. When Offred describes the changes in Gilead, and that there is little resistance to the new regime, even after it dehumanizes women and strips them of their jobs. When Offred loses her job and her money, Luke does not get angry but he tells her not to worry and promises to take care of her, (when reading this I couldn't tell if this was an example of making women more dependent on men). Later, during marches, he tells her that it would be a good idea to march and that she needs to think about him and their daughter because he didn't want to be looked upon badly in the society.
I completely agree with you. When Luke tells Offred about the marches she quickly ignores his comment not knowing that if she listened, she could have possibly changed some of the outcomes in Gilead.
DeleteI agree with the ideas you bring up in this, however, I thought after reading the passage that 'feels on wheels' and 'pornomarts' were closed during this new regime, rather than becoming more common and accepted. I think that one of the reasons that these drastic changes were not initially questioned so much is because it seemed like they were trying to protect women by removing these kinds of things from the society.
Delete"Its over, I'm seconds, and the traffic, on the street resumes as if nothing happened. What I feel is relief. It wasn't me"(170).
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that the only way men and women are not equal is through a mans role as a Commander?
This particular line shows how there will never be a true uniting between any of the people in Gilead. Here, a man is being taken, most likely to Lolll him and the most Offered can say is "What a relief. It wasn't me". Thus showing how even when people are in the same hierarchical position, there is still a division. The question I asked, would be answered using the power she has over the Commander, and the power the Commander has over her. A commander would never be watched by the Eyes like the men and women of Gilead. Even if men are some what above women, they are still being treated worse than they would if they were Commanders. Yet, women don't have this option which makes it increasingly difficult to have any freedom.
"Things can change so quickly, buildings can be torn down or turned into something else, it's hard to keep them straight in your mind the way they used to be." (165)
ReplyDeleteHow does this demonstrate the amount of change that has occurred in Gilead?
This quote is significant to me because it shows how much has changed for the lives of people in Gilead. Offred mentions before how there used to be an ice cream store somewhere along the block she was walking on with Ofglen and couldn't seem to remember the name. In addition, she recollects of a memory she had with her daughter in that ice cream store. This demonstrates how much the society has brainwashed the people to where they cannot remember the simple enjoyable things. There has been a lot of change ever since the war and in my opinion I don't believe that the people truly understand how much of a difference that has made in their life. Now, they are so used to being handmaids, Guardians, and Angels. These roles only stop them from being one unit and actually feeling sympathy for others.
I agree, I don't know if they have been brainwashed though, as much as they have been oppressed. I think that they have been oppressed so badly, to the point where they start to forget rather then remember the happy times which is usually used as a coping mechanism for us humans in times of hardship.
Delete"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." But I think the system was set up so there was nothing but acceptance. There was no middle ground, there was acceptance of the new policies or the shame of being an unwomen.
ReplyDeleteHow does the system eventually turn the women against each other instead of towards the obvious common enemy?
This quote stood out to me because the narrator refers to all of the women as "we". Nowhere else in the book is there unity within the women, somehow, the injustice directed towards women spread the women apart to the point that they blamed each other for their prejudice. This also made me raise the question: "how were the women able to change their lives so dramatically?" Women went from being completely capable people with rights similar to those of men; to women who aren't allowed to buy their own cigarettes or maintain their jobs. Were any women unable to stand the immense lifestyle choices? Perhaps those are the unwomen, the women that couldn't take their loss of rights. Whoever set up this system, they must have thoroughly thought out how to make sure the women cannot and do not make a protest.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"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."(192-193)
ReplyDeleteWhat does this say about human nature, and dehumanization?
This line shows that people throughout our society have, and will continue to use dehumanization to justify horrific acts in our own society, and that it is human nature to put down those around you for your own well being. This line is talking about how Luke called their cat it, so it was easier to kill, and yet, in the past this has been done with humans. One example of this is that slavery was justified because black people were not considered the same as white people, but as less human. This made it easier to justify the awful things happening to them. I think that this passage suggests that he same thing is happening to women. They were dehumanized in the book, and consequently, they were taken advantage of, and lost all of their rights.
Even though the women are not being mass murdered, to dehumanize them is one of the worst, most degrading things you could do, and this passage emphasizes that. As soon as Offred lost her job and her money, she felt that Luke began to patronize her. We don't know if this was really happening, or if she was being overly sensitive, but regardless, the dehumanization of a group of people causes immediate, and nearly irreparable damage. It takes generations to overcome hateful views of people, for example, there is still rampant racism long after slavery was abolished, showing that dehumanizing black people caused damage that will last for a very long time.
“He leans back, fingertips together, a gesture familiar to me now. We have built up a repertoire of such gestures, such familiarities, between us. He’s looking at me, not benevolently, but with curiosity, as if I am a puzzle to be solved.” (pg.184)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because of how Offred compares herself to being a puzzle. A puzzle being something that is very complicated and takes a lot of time to figure it out. And the fact that she would say that she is like a puzzle would suggest that she think that she might be above all this, that she is smarter than the people around her think. You can see when she gets the commander to get her a bottle of hand lotion. She is able to get him to do things for her without him really noticing what she is doing to him. Offred thinks that she is just better then other people or even just more complicated than some of them. Offred Also describes what they are doing as something that they do often and that they have certain things that they do over and over that almost become a routine in their life. That she is looking for someone to solve her. When she saids “puzzle to be solved.” that saids that just maybe she wants to be solved or to have someone to love her. That she needs something or someone to figure her out.
Question: How does Offred see her self compared to other women?
Delete"Ofglen and I are more comfortable with one another now, we're used to each other. Siamese twins. We don't bother much with the formalities anymore when we greet each other; we smile and move off, in tandem, traveling smoothly along our daily track..." (165)
ReplyDeleteHow are relationships (female to female) affected or changed in "The Handmaid's Tale" by the societal structure Gilead imposes?
I think that instead of friendship among women in "The Handmaid's Tale", something else takes it's place. Because they are all oppressed by the government, every woman, in a way, is united. Instead of intimacy in the form of friendship between the women of Gilead, there is a feeling of support from each other; all the women have a common enemy: the Government. I wonder if a relationship among women could exist in Gilead that wasn't a sort of unspoken unity between them all. I wonder if something could exist on a smaller, more intimate level. Is a "sisterhood" type relationship the only one that can survive in a world where all women are oppressed by such a strong government? I'm also curious as to how friendship and unity, or "sisterhood" differ. Which enables people to be closer? Which type of relationship is more honest? Which is more rewarding?
"We can see each others eyes… She holds my stare in the glass, level, unwavering… Even this meeting of eyes holds danger." (167-168)
ReplyDeleteHow could this patriarchy cause all trust between women to vanish, shouldn't it have made women more unified?
Handmaids did not want to believe that they were being oppressed because they were scared of the aftermath. You would think that in a patriarchal society such as this one, women would benefit off each other and try to rebel but in reality the opposite has happened. Women are too scared to tell each other what they truly think and work together. When Ofglen looks at Offred in the eyes for the first time in front of the soul scrolls store, is the first time Offred realizes that both of them are on the same side thinking equally and not having been brainwashed, "She lets out a breath, in a long sigh of relief. We have crossed the invisible line together." (168). After having realized this, will Offred and Ofglen begin to slowy rebel with the other Handmaids? Is this the beginning of a feminist revolution?
“Ofglen and I are more comfortable with one another now, we’re used to each other. Siamese twins… smoothly along our daily track.” (165).
ReplyDeleteHow does this demonstrate a sense of sisterhood as a form of revolt?
This quote is an excellent demonstration of sisterhood. One it talks about how they have started to develop a relationship. The relationship is impressive because they live in a world where all women are envious of one another, but mainly because the society has taken away any and everything they ever loved. Forming a bond is hard because of the fear of losing even more. Also Offred refers to Ofglen and her as Siamese twins this is important because it shows that they are in the system together and that they understand each other’s pain. The fact that these two women have formed a bond and feel comfortable enough with each other that they can skip formalities is a big step towards a revolution in a world where all women are jealous of one another.
"But vacant, it is also potential, like a storm approaching.When i can see the bodies, the actual bodies, when i can guess from the size and shape that actual bodies, when i can guess from the sizes and shapes that none of them is Luke, I can believe also that he is still alive" (166)
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing about what gender is portrayed in this book is all mess up. Although the Handmaids are a “sex toy” they get tread with some sort of respect. They basically get they breastfest in bed. They are above the Mathers, they don't have to cook or clean. By this showing they have some sort of power. Now men are portrayed as trash. Everytime she looks at the wall they are mens . The role of a man don't really appear in this book but they do play a big role. The fact the it still gives her hope she hasn't seen Lukes give us a clue on this. when women are send to the colonies they aren't treated like this. Man prohes have a more brutal ending. Although being a handmaid is not one of the greatest role to play in this book because by the red dress people already know who you are, but by this they still get respect. But now mens can't have babies so what role do man play in this society? Where are they send to?
"It's warm, humid; this would have been sundress-and-sandals weather, once...The sea fisheries were defunct several years ago; the few fish they have now are from fish farms..."
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows how the sense of there past will never be forgotten. Offred even says that she wants and is going to forget all about the time before Gilead, but she always ends up thinking about her past. Obviously she doesn't like her situation right now, and quite frankly, I'm sure no woman would chose Gilead over before. They are oppressed to the point were they don't even want to remember their past. Usually, it is a coping mechanism that us, as human beings have, to remember things that we enjoyed. So you can relive the old and block out the new. But these people are oppressed so badly that the government has went so deep into their sub-conscience that they can't even do that. Somehow Offred is fighting it in someway to the best of her ability because she remembers some things and has forgotten some things but the fact that she hasn't been able to remember things, if the government had anything to do with it (by my reasoning) is wrong and absurd.