** You can choose a passage from p. 151-195, but make sure that as a group, you've reached towards the end of the reading, too!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:
Passage:
ReplyDeleteThe Commander: "'Oh, theres not much to say about me. I'm just an ordinary kind of guy.' The falsity of this, and even the falsity of the diction-guy?-pulls me up short. Ordinary guys do not become Commanders"(184).
Question: What does this passage reveal about The Commander?
The fact that The Commander refers to himself as a "normal guy" reveals that he is oblivious to the horrific and unjust world that he helped create. The Commander was largely involved in setting up Gilead and by referring to himself as "normal" demonstrates his moral blindness. This moral blindness can best be seen through his ignorance toward Offred's awful situation as a Handmaid. He has never shown any significant regret or sympathy towards Offred, but rather taunts her and jokes with her, which highlights his irreverent attitude. The Commander calling himself "a normal guy" attempts to create a humanity for him by implying that he did not do anything wrong to society, which he did. Additionally, Offred reproaching his statement by saying "The falsity of this" reveals that even she acknowledges that he is very different from a "normal guy". Overall, Atwood demonstrates how naive he is towards his actions and judgement, when he should be guilty for the mess he helped brought onto society.
That is a great point Evan! To add on, this passage and your analysis not only reveals information about the Commander, but it is solidifying information about Offred as well. This passage along with practically all of Offred's interactions with the Commander, show that Offred is a well-educated woman who is managing to think differently from the way the rest of her society wants her and the Handmaids to think. Not only is she seeing through the Commander, but even the media, she understands could be toxic. An act, trying to hypnotize it's viewers. Yet Offred acknowledges this fact, understanding that what she is watching, during the meetings while they wait for the Commander, could be twisted. These are just two examples that show how Offred is mentally stronger than most Handmaids and that she can think independently.
DeleteYou both made outstanding analysis' of the passage and I completely agree with the both of you! Adding to Charles, when Offred interacts with the Commander she does seem like an educated women as you said, and that can even be seen when her and the Commander play Scrabble, when she uses all to those "big" words and eventually wins the game.
DeleteAdding on to Evan, when the Commander refers to himself as a "normal guy", it does sound like he is implying that he had nothing to do with how this society currently looks. When I read this passage, it seemed to me like he was almost trying to impress her and make her believe that he is a good guy. To me, he was doing this to try and get closer to her in a way that he is making her believe that he complete understands what she is going through and understands it. By this, he is trying to prolong their emotional relationship.
This point is excellent!! I agree that the commander is attempting to humanize himself by calling himself a "normal guy", however I think that he was attempting to convince himself that he was normal, not just others. The commander is subtly quite selfish and oblivious to his actions throughout the novel, however i'm not sure whether he's trying to conceal his regrets for forming the society, or he's just selfish. By calling himself a "normal guy" he's reassuring himself that nothings really changed, this society isn't really a nightmare, and he's just a normal guy.
DeleteI agree with what you're saying here. The commanders nonchalance and his ability to normalize himself and the life he leads in this novel really shows the lack of understanding he has for the true effects his government has on its people especially the women in it. Despite his attempt at making Offreds life a little more manageable he still will never understand how she feels and because of this it allows him to not place too much guilt on himself in particular for the damaging actions of the patriarchal society they live in.
DeleteI definitely agree with your analysis. Whether the commander is being indifferent or really is ignorant to the struggles women have in the society he may have helped create is what troubles me. It would be easier to decipher what the commander really thinks if we had a chapter in his point of view. As for him seeking humanity, I made a similar connection. The commander may be seeking normalcy in a society where norms are on a whole different spectrum. Abnormal you can say.
Delete“Its outrageous, one woman said, but without belief. What was is about this that made us feel we deserved it?” (177)
ReplyDeleteWhat has caused them to feel this way?
I found this passage extremely interesting due to the fact that after being “let go” from their jobs, these women actually felt like they deserved to be fired. Offred had not implied that any of them did anything wrong, so it must have come up as a surprise. But maybe, just being women was enough for them to think that they deserved to be fired. I think this because I see their “old” society sort of like ours is at the moment. To the extent that there was biased opinions, discrimination, and sexism. So they must have been exposed to the idea that they were “not enough” to hold their jobs due to the fact, and only the fact, that they were women. This shows that they, as women, did not see themselves as worthy enough compared to a man.
Zachary Schiller
DeleteI feel the same way, and I feel that it is kind of messed up that these women felt that they deserved to be fired. I agree that because of the society they go into jobs feeling that they aren't good enough, making them thankful of their jobs. By putting these women down it makes them just appreciate their lives even more and be thankful for the people that gave them their jobs.
This is a great observation. I agree with you completely, and I feel like the way the woman are depicted and made to feel like they are nothing but an object is what causes them to think they deserve everything they get. The women shouldn't have to feel like even though they did nothing wrong, getting fired was okay and they totally deserved it. This kind of reminds me of the furniture comparison with women that we made in class, because this exposes how in this society women are viewed as disposable and replaceable by all means.
DeleteZachary Schiller
ReplyDelete"What I feel is relief. It wasn't me." (170)
Why would Offred be scared to be abducted by the people in the black van?
I feel this passage was one that stood out to me because usually people would be scared or distressed in a situation like this. But Offred felt relief because she wasn't abducted, didn't show any signs of sympathy for the man who was taken but felt relief for herself. To me that seems kind of selfish but I guess in this dystopia in this alternate future, people are like that in a way that woman can't go outside without feeling unsafe and worried about being abducted. I started to wonder what Ofglen was feeling and I came to a conclusion that Ofglen would be feeling relieved as well. I feel that Offred and Ofglen really share a special connection and imagine that Ofglen feels the same because they are in the same prediciment in life, same job.
Zachary Schiller
I like this quote Zach because this is extremely similar to the passage about Moara escaping. The Handmaids became scared with the idea of freedom and feeling relief is and unordinary feeling for them. They can't grasp it. Offred is scared that relief might not work for her in the long run.
DeleteTo begin, I'd like to say that i really like this passage and analysis that you have for it. In addition, i think that while Offred was relieved that she wasn't abducted, i also think that she's used to the new society that they have built and she's scared of having her freedom again because she doesn't know what to do. She has been trapped in this controlling society for so long that the thought of freedom or changing it scares her. While being abducted is bad and dangerous, i thought that she thought of it more as being abducted is getting her freedom back or trying to achieve an escape to this world.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete"From the outside I must look like a cocoon, a spook, face enshrouded like this, only the outlines visible, of nose, bandaged mouth, blind eyes." (171)
ReplyDeleteWhat does this quote and comparison demonstrate about women in this society, and also this potential of people not supporting it?
This quote, especially with the comparison of the cocoon stood out to me a lot. Cocoons are associated with new life, usually more beautiful, like caterpillars turning into butterflies. While it could be interpreted as Offred becoming more beautiful, I think of it more as a birth of something new, despite its causes being there from the beginning, and it could be considered more beautiful (just think of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly). This is probably a reflection of what just happened with Ofglen, with this sudden change from devout to a protester, and also with the Commander, seeing this other side of him, with him also not really supporting this system he has a lot of control in. This also reminds me of the description of Serena Joy's garden on page 153, where she describes the plants and flowers as bursting out: "Whatever is silenced will clamor to be heard, though silently." These sudden realizations to Offred that not everyone may be devout to this society is like a small uprising, a small burst of new knowledge, yet these realizations are from almost silent actions, despite them being very strong and intense. Also, the bursting of the flowers can be predicted, and there is an understanding to it, and I think that is quite similar to this society, where people have been protesting since the start, and these small changes should have been predicted. Then the physical description of the way she looks is also representative of women in this society, literally hidden, from their face to just being seen in general. The bandaged mouth reflects how women have a very specific set of greetings they're allowed to say, and nothing else. The blind eyes shows how they can only see the world in 'gasps', small moments that can't mean anything when all alone, it's like not being able to understand what and why things are happening.
Good connection to the cocoon symbolizing new life, Nora. I would also like to add onto your analysis of the cocoon. I believe that the cocoon represents Offred transitioning into something beyond physical beauty, but her mind changing or becoming enlightened. When you’re in a cocoon, you’re protected from the harsh dangers of the outside, which relates to how some of the Aunts and handmaids believe that they’re being protected from the war. I think Offred wants everyone to see her as a cocoon, it’s sort of like her disguise while she is unearthing the truth. On page 188 Offred asked the commander to tell her: “Whatever there is to know,...Whatever is going on”. With this line and the cocoon it’s probably foretelling how there’s an event about to happen where all will be revealed that will force Offred to reevaluate her decisions. Additionally, your selected quote demonstrates how in this society women are present but also invisible, like it states in the quote, “bandaged mouth”, when you bandage something it’s usually a wound, so when their mouth’s are bandaged it means that their ability to voice their opinions are weakened, disabling a significant piece to their true identities. “Blind eyes” could indicate that the women are seen as oblivious to what is really going on in this society, which again Offred enjoys that perception, because it allows her to uncover the truth without anyone being suspicious of her.
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 face again, faces. But they fade, though I stretch out my arms towards them, they slip away from me, ghosts at daybreak. Back to wherever they are. Stay with me, I want to say. But they won't. It’s my fault. I am forgetting too much”. (193)
ReplyDeleteUp until the end of chapter 30, what has been motivating Offred to not let go of hope?
In the novel the handmaids are stripped of all things that they could call a possession, including their name. Throughout history possessions are what gave people power, in the novel even being called an Aunt gave you power.Through Offred’s flashbacks readers can understand that when Offred had her home, she also had her job, her name, and her family, she had control over her decisions, she had power. Her memories are the only things reminding her of what it felt like to be in control and are what keeps the little shred of hope she has left alive. In this society she takes comfort in her memories, it’s her safe haven, but now that she’s beginning to forget what her life used to be like is dangerous, because they’re the only thing reminding her of what she craves most. I fear that the longer Offred is in this society the more she begins to lose herself and the chances of her ever breaking free or taking a stand against the hierarchy decreases as the novel progresses.
That's really interesting, Cynthia, and I think you've touched on a good point. Just to try and answer your question, I think that her naps and her sleep allows her to gain hope, which is kind of strange. However, at the beginning of chapter 28, which takes place in the afternoon, a little before she loses hope, she decided not to take a nap. In her naps, she remembers details about her 'past life' and her naps are another way she can escape this society. I may be wrong, but I think Offred's naps are very important to her accomplishing a form of protest by helping her keep her memories.
DeleteI agree with you, Cynthia, and Nora! Great passage choice! Adding on, I also think Luke and Moira keep Offred's hope alive. This is adding on to Nora's point about her "past life"- she has all of these good memories, that could be the goal, to get back to a life similar to her previous one. Also the fact that Moira did rebel and got out, that is again another line of hope that something could be done about the situation that Offred feels stuck in. The hope that Luke is alive is keeping Offred going as well, the idea that she might see him some day. Overall, I think all of our answers are very true and now we have to wait and see if she uses any of these tactics of hope to do anything to get her out.
Deletelol that was me- forgot to change the name ^^^^
Delete“They put out books on birth control and rape and things like that, though there wasn’t as much demand for those things are there used to be” (178).
ReplyDeleteI chose this passage because of Offred’s peculiar choice of words. I found it interesting to see her say that there wasn’t much demand and how these books have to be “popular” to sell considering the importance that they should have in society. I also found it interesting because I felt that it revealed the kind of world everyone had begun to adopt. Slowly, everyone was falling under the influence that women weren’t actually humans with inalienable rights but irreplaceable tools for reproduction. It was no longer a relevant issue if women were being sexualized and targeted because it was considered normal for them to get raped or impregnated at any age. I also felt like this quote was very relevant to our modern world because it still happens now. A lot of people have been influenced by the ridiculous idea that what a women wears is an important factor on whether or not she gets raped so they just dismiss the situation. As discussed in class, this book’s society is unbelievably similar to our society now and it’s a scary world to witness, fictional or in reality. It makes me wonder if we could ever begin to adopt this kind of world where women serve as handmaids or aunts. I wonder if this will be our future.
That's a good point, I think it also shows how it was a steady change from what we consider normal, to the society in the Handmaid's Tale. Before anything drastic happens, books that tell people how to not have child, and how rape is not the victims fault, stop being something that people read about. It stops being something society focuses on changing, or educates themselves about. It mentions in that passage how their use to be a big demand for those books but as society shifts towards the society in the Handmaid’s Tale, interest in those subjects that encourage women to have power and rights over their bodies is one of the first things to go. Books like that are not official banned yet though, neither is a women’s right to read. This is something that is legal, but society is stripping itself of the knowledge before the government even does. It also shows how not everything happened at once, there were signs that this society was going to come about before it did.
DeleteI agree with your interpretation Rosie, you really broke down the quote and the novel in general by explaining a very important theme in it. Throughout the story, everyone, even the women, continues to label women almost as object that have only one job in society, to have children. Just like you said, women aren't treated like human anymore, instead they are targeted, they are victims of the new society.
Delete"It was after the catastrophe, when they shot the president and machine gunned the Congress and the army declared a state of emergency. They blamed it on Islamic fanatics, at the time. Keep calm they said on television. Everything is under control."(174)
ReplyDeleteOffred seems to be implying that the government was hiding the truth from the people, that they blamed Islamic terrorists on the Coup instead of revealing the severity of the situation.
Why does Atwood decide to include this? What is she trying to reveal about this society before Gilead?
Throughout the novel Offred desperately tries to hold on to the past, as it was a much happier time. However, by stating that the government blamed "Islamic extremists" for a puritan coup shows us how corrupt and unstable the old government was. This quote gives us a unique insight into the government pre-Gilead, and allows us to understand how a society like Gilead rose to power. Additionally, the fact that "islamic extremists" are the scapegoats for government instability is eerily similar to today's society, where Islam and Islamic culture is widely feared and unknown to most of the country.
I also notice in this passage that they said "Keep calm" and "everything is under control". This reveals how the media can be wrong, which could be compared to the news that Offred watches on television. For example, this reminds me of earlier when Offred was watching television and the news man said something similar to 'remain calm, everything will be okay'. The fact that they told the public everything is under control, but it actually wasn't makes me think that the news man was also wrong and things won't get better for Offred. Furthermore, Offred has questioned the news on television and she does not know what to believe, which further shows how the media may be wrong or corrupt. The fact that they only show victories reveals how the government of Gilead is trying to cover up things, which also shows how the media is corrupt.
Delete"It was after the catastrophe, when they shot the president and machine-gunned the Congressand the army declared a state of emergency. They blamed it on the Islamic fanatics,at the time. Keep calm, they said on television. Everything is under control. I was stunned. Everyone was, I know that. It was hard to believe. The entire government, gone like that. How did they get in, how did it happen? That was when they suspended the Constitution. They said it would be temporary. There wasn't even any rioting in the streets. People stayed home at night, watching television,looking for some direction. There wasn't even an enemy you could put your finger on."
ReplyDeleteWhy did Atwood choose to be so detailed in telling about the catastrophe? What is the significance of showing the aftermath of the catastrophe?
Atwood strategically used the catastrophe to show the parallels between Gilead and our society, in terms of the root of catastrophes and how society reacts to them. The catastrophe itself is an act of violence on only the president and the congress. Both titles suggest power showing that many wars start over power. I thought it was interesting that Atwood found it necessary to say,"They blamed it on the Islamic fanatics" because she is highlighting that in our society, we put blame on Isis and other extremists for catastrophes of killing those in power before we blame any American citizen. The media, whom we resort to for any information of what's happening in the world, tells the people to stay calm, stripping them of any knowledge to prepare for the future, ultimately leaving them vulnerable. Without anyone monitoring and enforcing the constitution, people's feelings and emotions no longer matter. Hence, the lack of trust, freedom, and expression of romance between men and women in Gilead. Individuals "looking for some direction" is Atwood's way of showing that although some forms of leadership and hierarchy are corrupt, it is necessary in society because without it, everyone was lost with no one to turn to for advice or instruction. The conclusion of this passage showcases the part of human nature that desires blaming conflicts, catastrophes and wars on others.
I strongly agree with this position. The fact that this quote resembles our own society, as well as many others around the worlds tendency to blame others for causing certain conflicts instead of taking responsibility for their actions is very interesting. There is a clear connection between our society and theirs, acting even as an authors critique on real life circumstances. The portrayal of the media was quite thought provoking as well showing a clear distinction of what the media is telling us versus what is actually going on in the world. This quote makes the reader think about our own society in more than one way while reading the novel.
Delete"And if I talk to him I'll say something wrong, give something away. I can feel it coming, a betrayal of myself. I don't want him to know too much" (185).
ReplyDeleteWhat does this quote reveal about how clueless the characters are about their true identity?
This quote really stood out to me because throughout the novel, confusion about ones identity is a theme that has been brought up multiple times. I believe that Atwood decided to put this in the book because it reveals how the characters want to have the freedom and ability to explore their true selves and find their real identity. However, they are reigned in and molded to all be a certain way. In result, this causes the women to have a hard time discovering their identity. This exposes how if they try to figure out who they really are, they could put themselves in danger and expose themselves to their commanders.
This is a really strong piece of analysis and I completely agree! I also think that the handmaids want to be able to express how they feel and show their thoughts and emotions. Even when Offred was with the commander, she had so many thoughts about Serena Joy and how she shouldn't even be with the commander, but she doesn't say anything out loud. Even thought the commander is very open around Offred, she doesn't feel the same way about him, and I find that very interesting/
Delete"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?"(p. 193)
ReplyDeleteThis line reminds me of 'The Lottery', earlier she talks about how it could have been a neighbor, just trying to not be the one who gets punished. To get a "gold star" for ratting on her for trying to leave. This passage reminds me of 'The Lottery' because Mrs. Hutchison is betrayed by her family and neighbors when they stone her to death. She trusts neighbors and wants to live, they betray beyond any doubt when they take away her right to live. Her husband, Bill forces the paper out of her hand to confirm that it is her who will be stoned. In both cases people violate the characters by lacking sympathy for them and leave them in a quagmire. Mrs. Hutchison actually dies while, Offred wishes for death, but was not actually killed.
I agree with your analysis. To add on, this passage goes on to also show how Gilead has created distrust within the people in order to keep this dystopian society going. We see this distrust between Offred and Ofglen when they were not conversing as much and were afraid that one might be an actual believer. People in this society are constantly in fear of going against the law or being defiant because an actual "believer" might report them. This causes them to conform and keep shut which keeps te society going.
Delete“Do you think God listens,” she says, “to these machines?” She is whispering: our habit at the center. In the past this would've been a trivial remark, a kind of scholarly speculation. Right now it's treason. (168)
ReplyDeleteOfglen’s subtle questioning of God shows how this society is failing to sensor the masses, even if they think they are doing so, as well as showing possible defiance through the people that is soon to come. The act of questioning is powerful, especially within this society where as much as saying a wrong word can get you hanged in the streets. The question posed by Ofglen is rebellious and seemingly unheard of within the walls of society, but highlights the fear and distrust many citizens are sure to have about the government as well as God's superiority. Offred's later agreement to this question is powerful as well, and shows that this idea is silently shared by many within this oppressive utopia; even through the government's endless attempts to stop it. These thoughts that are being shared demonstrate society's ability to rebel, even through small actions, which could pose a great threat to the government later on.
I strongly agree with your analysis of the quote and I find it interesting that you related it back to the idea of defiance and power through questioning. I think it's also important how, in the quote, Offred points out that Ofglen is whispering and that it has become their habit in the center. This reveals how even though the women are edging closer and closer towards rebellion and defiance, they continue to live in fear. They continue to lower their voices and sensor their thoughts and obey all the instructions they are given because they are terrified of the consequences. So, even when they get close to rebelling and hoping for change, they won't feel safe enough to finally reach that goal. They will always be horrified that one day they'll end up as the ones hanging with a bag over their heads in the street.
Delete"It's strange now, to think about having a job. Job. It's a funny word. It's a job for a man....All those women having jobs: hard to imagine, but thousands of the had jobs, millions. It was considered a normal thing."(page 224-small book)
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Offred consider being a Handmaid as a job?
This quote is really interesting to me because Offred has a job. Being a Handmaid to me is a job. I do think it is more forceful than a true job, but they did have to qualify for the position and essentially get the title of a Handmaid. But Offred does mention to the fact that all jobs are to benefit men, "It's a job for a man." She definitely says this because it is true for her own life. This could answer the question on why doesn't she think being a Handmaid is a job, because it does not benefit her or give her satisfaction, its just for the men to gain more power. The repetition of the word 'job' is also interesting because it alludes to the idea that she misses having a real job, and the fact that women could have real jobs. She does not out right say it, but she seems to reminiscing on the old way of life, and possibly wanting to have those responibilities and normalities back. This may lead to Offered rebelling more, because she is realizing what she is missing out on, and she might want to try to make a change.
"He doesn't mind this, I thought. He doesn't mind this at all. Maybe he even likes it. We are not each others, anymore. Instead, I am his." (pg. 182)
ReplyDeleteWhat does this power shift reveal about Luke, or men in general, about this new situation?
When Offred loses her job, Luke doesn't show any sign of sympathy or sorrow. He tells her thats he will take care of her. The idea of Luke taking care of Offred is the first sign of the power structure that Offred experiences. She is used to being an independent woman that can provide for herself, but when she loses her job and has to rely on Luke, it reveals the new patriarchal society where men are dominant over woman. Luke also doesn't ever fight for Offred's rights, and by telling her that he will "take care" of her, it shows that he is supporting the power shift in the relationship, and that explains why he is so confident when he says to her that he wants to make love, and keeps on emphasizing it by kissing and touching her when she is clearly not in the mood.
Great analysis, Emma! I definitely agree with the idea that this is the ultimate start of inequality between men and women in this society. Offered must have known that everything was being changed for the worst when Luke, someone who she cared so much about, didn't fight for her rights. Even if he didn't know better, it was still a negative aspect that made Offred surprised and upset. The fact that Luke doesn't show any sign of sympathy or sorrow foreshadows the divide between men and women that is to come in the strict, modern society that Offred lives in.
Delete“The pen between my fingers is sensuous, alive almost, I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains. Pen Is Envy, Aunt Lydia would say, quoting another Center motto, warning us away from 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 to steal” (186).
ReplyDeleteWhat do pens deeply symbolize for Offred and the rest of the women in her society? What do they represent for men?
Offred uses the word “envy” to describe the pen more than once. Envy is known as a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck. It seems that the reason why she feels envious of the pen is because the pen represents freedom. With a pen, one is able to write words as a form of expression. In this society, women are left powerless- with no control whatsoever. This is why Offred states that she can “feel its power.” The idea that the commander is able to have pens demonstrates how men have much more power and control over women. They have freedom of expression, while women do not. Additionally, Offred says that the pen is one more thing that she would like to steal. As she spends more time with the Commander, she seems to think (to herself) about the idea of inequality. The realization that life was much better Pre-Gilead, when people had more freedom to be who they wanted to be, makes Offred want her freedom back more than anything. “Stealing a pen” could mirror stealing back her freedom that she has not had for a long time.
I love your analysis! When I read this passage, I instinctively thought of our class discussion about knowledge as a means of power. This passage also reminded of the famous quote "the pen is mightier than the sword" (Edward Bulwer-Lytton), in that, though these Handmaids lack physical power, their intellect and mental capacity is free from confiscation. A pen is power because writing is power, because literature has the power to influence and indoctrinate. Also, a pen promotes individuality, in the sense that all manners of writing are personal to the individual. This power of individuality is emphasized in a society as punitive and repressive as Gilead, especially in context of the Handmaids; where the Handmaids are forced from their individuality in the regard of fertility (all Handmaids are perceived as merely vessels, therefore lacking in any personal temperament), they sustain individuality in their minds, illustrating a separation of body and mind in the degradation of women. Thus, a pen is a vehicle to exercise the individuality that the Handmaids obtain, which would serve to unify the mind and body of women and thus threaten their denouncement (because so much of the sexism that women are subject to is perpetuated by the notion that women have no thought of their own).
Delete“‘Well then,’ I say. 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 his guilt. At last.”
ReplyDeleteWhy would the commander feel guilty of Offred dying, or any other handmaid?
Perhaps the commander feels as if he is indirectly the cause of death of a handmaid. Although we do not know exactly what the commander commands or what sort of role he had in the cultivation of Gilead, he has exacted the rules in place in their society. Ensuring rules are followed. Albeit, he breaks these rules himself. The commander becomes a murderer, killing the human out of the handmaid and giving birth to a child-bearing machine. Thus, why he takes a handmaid under his wing. To feel as if he is giving back some sort of humanity to them. Or maybe he wants a sliver of humanity himself?
You guys all made really, super good points.I just want to compare this point to the passage about the commander and Offred and the scrabble game. Right before that this passage Ofreed said" He was standing in front of a fireless fire place." Not only does the Commander seem to force offred into kissing him and playing scrabble he seems to be losing humanity. It almost feels that the fore he once had is gone. He now also referred to him self as a normal guy. I get the idea that he is understanding the society he drove everyone into.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Najjar
Sorry about that this goes with Evans comment
ReplyDelete“I will take care of 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”( 192-193).
ReplyDeleteHow does this passage relate to Gilead and it's government?
This passage goes to demonstrate how and why some people in power are capable of doing harm to the ones below. They have to objectify the ones they are harming to justify their harmful behavior. When Luke calls the cat an it, it detaches emotions and morality from the situation and devalues the animal, making it ok to kill. As long as it's not completely a human being, killing is ok. This can be what the government in charge of Gilead use to justify their rules and actions towards women and even men. By degrading the women to just sex toys or tools, they are able to use them without attaching feelings.
I completely agree with your analysis. I also think that "it" takes away any label given to the cat, just as using Offred, Ofglen etc. takes away any independence the women once had. Also instead of Luke saying "i will kill it" he says "I will take care of it". "Take care" is vague enough to leave room for multiple interpretations. However, they both know it means he is going to kill the cat. The unbabies go somewhere after they are labeled as such. No one can say they know exactly where they go or what happens to them, but I believe that everyone knows the babies get killed. The mystery is only a shroud to avoid taking the blame for murdering babies that don't fit the expectations of their society.
DeleteI strongly agree. It is crazy to think how a person or animal can be labeled by a "him", "her", and "it". The label it makes the cat seem as not important at all and as if it can just easily be replaced. It makes me think about how if handmaids weren't given these names (of-owner's name) would they also be regarded to as its. I'm not sure if that made much sense. I am trying to say how it is interesting to see that once something is labeled "it", that something has now lost it's value/existence.
Delete“The machines talk as they print out the prayers; if you like, you can go inside and listen to them, the toneless metallic voices repeating the same thing over and over. Once the prayers have been printed out and said, the paper rolls back through another slot and is recycled into fresh paper again. There are no people inside the building: the machines run by themselves. You can’t hear the voices from the outside; only a murmur, a hum, like a devout crowd, on its knees. Each machine has an eye painted in gold on the side, flanked by two small golden wings” (167).
ReplyDeleteWhat do the machines symbolize? What does the paper symbolize? What do the prayers symbolize? What do the painted eyes symbolize?
The machines symbolize the proponents of Gilead, such as the Commanders and their accompanying Wives/Aunts; the machines dictate “prayers”, akin to the way in which the Commanders dictate orders to the Handmaids. Thus, the paper symbolizes the Handmaids, in that these prayers are inscribed on the paper in such a manner as the orders of the Commanders and Aunts are ingrained into the Handmaids. Also, the paper “rolls back through another slot and is recycled into fresh paper again”, which can be perceived as the Handmaids’ role in fertility; they are impregnated and bear children, only to “recycle” their bodies and repeat the cycle over again. It is also of significance that the “machines run by themselves”; perhaps this could signify a reluctance by the Commanders and Aunts to buy into the society that they have so elaborately constructed. In this light, these powerful figureheads have become shells of their former human selves, as they have become so obliged to upkeep order in Gilead that they have turned into “machines”, merely dictating commands. Thus, this dystopian society has been so blown out of proportion that now the “machines run by themselves”, revealing how Gilead has become self-perpetuating, free of human supervision. In this light, even the people with the greatest authority are at a loss. The use of the word “machine” to symbolize the rulers of the society can also shed light on the loneliness that accompanies such a role, as there is very little human contact and affection (as illustrated by Offred’s commander). Lastly, the phrase “you can’t hear the voices from the outside” symbolizes the subversive nature of the brutality that exists in Gilead; from an outsider perspective, this dystopian society is seemingly utopian, as there is order, civility and functionality amongst its inhabitants. However, inside the society, one can clearly see the daily injustices and oppression that impinge the Gilead people. The painted “gold” eye on each machine represents the constant watch of the Handmaids, possibly even alluding to the “Eyes” characters that we have yet to learn more of.
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ReplyDelete"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.(52)"
ReplyDeleteWhy do Offred and Cora have a weird relationship that goes varies from envy to sisterhood? Why do they seem to hate each other at some parts of the novel?
I know this is really early in the assigned reading but while I was reading the book, i continued to have this thought in the back of my mind and i couldn't get it out. Throughout the story, Rita and Cora act like they can't stand Offred. They act like they are jealous of her, of just don't like having her around. I feel like in this time, the should be close and have a sister relationship because they are all going through the same things and might just want someone there that they can talk to and relate to. Offred says that Cora lying for her is a "link" between them. This kind of makes me think that Cora and Offred have a potential sisterhood, but they just don't want to involve each other with one another. They are 2 girls living in the same household, but they seem to have no relationship. In my opinion, I feel like if i was in Offred or Cora's position, i would need someone to lean on and help me throughout this. I wouldn't be able to live like that without anyone by my side. I think they might be scared of growing close to anyone because they know how the society is now. People come and go and no one stays in one place, happily, anymore. If they grow attached, they might just hurt themselves more.
I also really found this passage interesting! I was like "Finally, a sign of sisterhood!" To me is was always that they either hated each other or the didn't, I didn't think about the fact that it might be pointless and heartbreaking in the end to form relationships with each other because they could be easy replaced if they slip up. However, I feel that it would not be pointless to form relationships because it is an alliance nonetheless, that you can always cherish. At least it is better than being nasty towards each other for something none of you can control, not only does this not help with anything, but it is exactly what Gilead wants, for women to be against one another instead of fighting against the system together.
Delete"If i were Moria, I'd know how to take it apart, reduce it to its cutting edges. I have no screwdriver but if I were Moria, I could do it without a screwdriver. I'm not Moria" (171)
ReplyDeleteWhy does Offred feel like she can't do anything for herself but feel as if Moria can?
Offred thinks that she isn't independent like Moria which makes her feel like she can't do anything for herself. Since Moria broke free, she thinks that Moria can do anything and she is different compared to everyone else. Not having her freedom and being treated like an object makes Offred feel like she isn't one with herself and can't anything. Being Moria is a motif for her freedom and her willpower to be independent. Since the society's changed, Offred lost her power and her independence.
In addition, in the line " ..but if i were Moria, i could do it without a screwdriver" this revels how Moria would be able to think outside the box and do things that only she needs to do but not a material. Offred thinks of herself as dependent of either someone or something.
While i know this passage is in the beginning of the pages we were assigned to read, I thought it was a very interesting to analyze.
Interesting analysis! Along with what we have discussed, I feel as if Moirs's boldness also is a beacon of hipe for all of the women. They unconsciously all are excited that Moira was able to defy the society's rules and tske control for her own path so, it shows them that with incessant determination, they can all break out of the prisons they are in. It also undermines the power of the aunts and Gilead's leaders because it shows that they aren't as untouchable as they make themselves out to be.
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 over the eyes. Wool blanket. I wish I could see in the dark, better than I do" (191).
ReplyDeleteI know this is a long excerpt but I simply had to include all of it. It is exciting because I can relate a lot of it to my analysis of Evan's quote about Offred seeing through the Commander and the media. Offred is questioning more social norms and it does not seem as though many other Handmaids are thinking the same way as her. It is a good representation of her, questioning why we can't say the night rises instead of falls, like dawn. Perspective is key in any scenario, and Offred is able to see multiple, which is such a valuable ability. I can relate the night to the Handmaids. In the sense that the Handmaids are used to falling for their society, unwilling to question it. Where as Offred is saying why can't we change our perspective? "Look east"? (191). Maybe if we change the way we take in our surroundings and our society we can rise up, instead of falling victim to society. "Like a black sun behind cloud cover" (191), The Handmaids can do so almost incognito, because no one would see it coming. They think Moira was an outlier, that no one else could possibly think like her. Yet the second half of the quote depicts Offred's struggle to grasp how they could rise up, facing reality or hitting a hidden wall in a sense. She cannot find the "unseen fire" (191) that she wants to spark within herself. She thinks night "falls heavy" (191) like a curtain or blanket shielding her eyes from the answer she wants to find yet is intangible. She wishes she could "see in the dark" (191) better than she does. That she could see through a dark room void of the answer she seeks. Looking for the needle in the haystack yet restricted by society, blindfolded and unable to feel her way through such a haystack. This quote depicts Offred's desires yet her conscience speaking against such ideas, saying they simply cannot happen.
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” chapter 29
ReplyDeleteHow has this phrase that we constantly revisit in “The Handmaid's Tale” change offered and shape her choices throughout the rest of the novel
At this point in the novel The Commander and Offred have formed a more unconstrained relationship which the law would likely condemn offered for being a part of. They continue to play board games with one another despite the danger that would be faced if there actions were made known, as they play a game of Scrabble the commander provides offered with a magazine as he always does but to his surprise she rejects it and suggest to talk instead. She attempts to get to know the commander and retrieve information about him but it quickly seems futile as his answers he gives her vague answers. She then tries to asks him what “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” translates to as the phrase has been a constant thought behind her mind and has led her to do thing she normally doesn't, she knows that the phrase has had an impact of her but she's unsure as to why. The Commander translates it as “don’t let the bastards grind you down,” and goes on to explains that the phrase is “just a joke...you know how school boys are”. This leads to Offred presuming that the former Handmaid learned the phrase from the commander then scratched it into the floor. She soons learns that the former handmaid had hung herself from the commander. This Suddenly sparks a thought in offred's mind , Offred comes to the realization that when the Commander asks her to come to his office it is because he wants her life to be bearable due to the fact that he feels guilty. She tells herself that she can use this guilt against him so when the Commander asks how he can help make her life better, Offred tries to obtain information about “what’s going on.” Her initial interest in the Latin phrase pushed her to start asking questions even when she knew they weren't allowed to be asked. We begin to see a very different offred who takes risks, this helps explain why the author uses this phrase in the book not once but on multiple occasions.
"I said she didn't have that problem herself anymore, since she'd decided to prefer women, and as far as I could see she had no scruples about stealing them or borrowing them when she felt like it. She said it was different, because the balance of power was equal between women so sex was an even-steven transaction. I said 'even Steven was a sexist phrase, if she was going to be like that, and anyway that argument was outdated. She said I had trivialized the issue and if I thought it was outdated i was living with my head in the sand" (172)
ReplyDeleteThis makes me question whether Offred was lying to herself about the realities of Gilead to make living there more bearable?
Moira raises a great point when she mentions the lack of power balance between the citizens of Gilead, specifically the women, and those in authority. I remember in an earlier part of the book, while having sex with the Commander, Offred said that it wasn't rape because technically it was her choice to sleep with him. However, right after she finishes with him, she discusses how there was a lack of passion and romance during their intercourse and even mentions how she misses that with Luke. It is evident that the Commander is the one gaining in that transaction while the women are left to feel trapped and absolutely scarred. Moira, on the other hand, is everything Gilead's leaders fear in women. While the others think it is their choice to take part in the conceiving of a child, she is aware that the women are giving life to society, while it takes life away from them without giving anything back. When she states that Offred was 'living with her head in the sand', she is hinting that Offred, like all of the other women, have been brainwashed to not see the atrocities of their living situations. With realizing this comes the power to oppose the corruption and take control of her own life, as she sees fit.
I really like this observation because it raises attention to the deeper flaws of the republic of Gilead- I feel like while there are many typical patriarchal standards and other conformities like that, there is a lack of balance that even the leaders seem to be unable to distinguish, and when the people living in this society recognize this, it gives them power to rise above their oppressors. I think this is a really important argument that is in a way more difficult to get at, and I think you explained it really well.
DeleteFortune Ndombo
ReplyDelete“Woman can’t add, he said, jokingly. When I asked his what he meant, he said, For them, one and one and one and one don’t make four.
What do they make? I said, expecting five or three.
Just one and one and one and one, he said.” (186)
My Initial Thought:
I am as confused as Offred, what does he mean by this?
Response:
When analyzing the meaning of this saying, I believe that the Commander is saying that women don’t realise the obvious. Women are forced to manipulate and watch over each other, the society's way of keeping them separate and against each other, or at least their attempts to. This distracts women, weak-minded ones unlike Offred, from adding everything up and coming to their own conclusions. This Gilead’s way of keeping things the way that they are. I can only imagine what would happen if more women like Offred and Ofglen were to band together instead of being torn apart by Gilead-believers. Now, I wonder if by saying this the Commander realises that women are kept in the dark and oppressed. Again I question if the Commander is really aware of how sexist his response is, I would assume not since he said this “jokingly”. Even though as a whole this new society is ridiculously sexist, I believed that the Commander was not completely immersed in the rules of Gilead through previous chapters. However, this does not mean that he does not realise or take advantage of his power. If only the women would realise their true power and take advantage of it as well.
"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 enslave she was sadly mistaken. Men were not just going to go away, I said. You couldn't just ignore them"(172).
ReplyDeleteIn this quote, Offred describes Moira’s escape and her character as a foolish way of trying to get out of this society that they are in. By Moira escaping she believes that she is free, however, Offred says how Moira is only "loose" from this society due to her escape. By ignoring men, Moira is just ignoring the fact that they control this society.In a way she is creating this imaginery utopia of her own. It is interesting that Moira believes that she can just ignore men because unlike Offred, she is lesbian which shows us the different types of perspectives that women have on men in this society.
While I understand what you're saying, and I agree with part of it, I believe that a large part of Moira saying this stems from revenge, as opposed to her avoiding/ignoring the society that they're in. Maybe she believes that the best way of going about the issues in their society is getting rid of what she believes caused it, which is men.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"I'll say I dropped the tray on the way out, she said. 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. I smiled at her. I hope nobody heard you, I said."
ReplyDeleteCora technically lies for Offred, but it was to her advantage too- so why does this bring so much pleasure to Offred if its not intended for her benefit?
I think that there are multiple reasons that Offred was pleased by this interaction. There is a huge lack of humane interaction between people in this society, and even a small type of bond with a peer can make her feel less alienated than normal, and sparks hope for a small part of what her life used to be like. Another thoguht I had was that no matter who it's directed to, or who it's intended for, a lie is a form of defiance, no matter how small. So when someone like Cora, who is oppressed but at the same time has much more power over Offred commits a small defiance like this that benefits the both of them, there is an element of confidence and personal connection that she must long for- and again, sparks hope for past normality. This is similar to the interaction Offred has with Ofglen on pages 168, 169, and 171. When it comes to her realization that there is a group of other women that do not believe in faith, she becomes happy, excited and filled with adrenaline to the point where she cannot rest. This foreshadows a pattern of defiance leading to defiance throughout the book, and could influence some sort of a revolution, even in small steps.
"I said she didn't have that problem herself anymore, since she'd decided to prefer women... She said it was different, because the balance of power was equal between women so sex was an even-steven transaction" (172)
ReplyDeleteMoira saying this directly shows the already obvious difference in power within the patriarchal society that they live in. It shows that the mindset that men are dominant is also shared by the women in that society, or at least the handmaids. This makes sense considering the patriarchal idealisms that are drilled into their heads as handmaids. In addition to this, you can consider Moira's being gay a further act of rebellion. Throughout the story, Moira is seen as a rebel, and while being gay isn't a choice, it further supports her ideas that she doesn't belong to the men. Her stating that sex with women is even expresses her ideas towards the society that they live in.