7. “I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance. If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off.” (Page 39):
In Atwood’s novel, the Gilead culture denies women rights; women have no control for themselves the way they used to. Atwood depicts Offred as thinking of her situation as a story. It was Offred’s coping mechanism. That way, she can go through her life’s motions pretending that she has control of the ending. It helps her accept the horrible things that have happened to her.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Handmaid's Tale (pg. 33)
6. “Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary.” (Page 33):
Atwood depicts Offred as she looks at the white figures hanging by the red wall remembering these words spoken by Aunt Lydia. Atwood uses this quote to reflect the power and control of a totalitarian government. Offred remembers the old ways; however, she is told that she must learn the new ways. The new ways are controlled and violent but she is told that she must adapt and find these things to be normal. In order to do this, one must make themselves emotionally numb. Atwood depicts Offred’s struggle to adapt to this new system and consider torture and current practices normal or ordinary.
Atwood depicts Offred as she looks at the white figures hanging by the red wall remembering these words spoken by Aunt Lydia. Atwood uses this quote to reflect the power and control of a totalitarian government. Offred remembers the old ways; however, she is told that she must learn the new ways. The new ways are controlled and violent but she is told that she must adapt and find these things to be normal. In order to do this, one must make themselves emotionally numb. Atwood depicts Offred’s struggle to adapt to this new system and consider torture and current practices normal or ordinary.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Handmaid's Tale (pg. 9)
5. “She puts on her veil…but nobody much cares who sees the face of a Martha.” (Page 9)
The women who work in the households are called “the Marthas.” In the Bible, Martha was a woman who served Jesus; she was known for her hospitality. Since there are not very many woman referenced in the Bible, Martha does stand out as a female of the time. Atwood weaves Biblical references into the development of The Handmaid’s Tale. “Marthas” in the Handmaid’s Tale serve others. Marthas were women who were either unable to conceive or past the time in life when they could have children. They were not woman with any social rank. They were servers, but we are allowed to know their real names too. The Marthas are not threatening to the totalitarian state, and they have an accepted, assigned role in the culture.
“Martha.” Bible History Online. 20 April 2010.
The women who work in the households are called “the Marthas.” In the Bible, Martha was a woman who served Jesus; she was known for her hospitality. Since there are not very many woman referenced in the Bible, Martha does stand out as a female of the time. Atwood weaves Biblical references into the development of The Handmaid’s Tale. “Marthas” in the Handmaid’s Tale serve others. Marthas were women who were either unable to conceive or past the time in life when they could have children. They were not woman with any social rank. They were servers, but we are allowed to know their real names too. The Marthas are not threatening to the totalitarian state, and they have an accepted, assigned role in the culture.
“Martha.” Bible History Online. 20 April 2010.
Handmaid's Tale (pg. 9)
4. “At the bottom of the stairs there’s a hat-and-umbrella…black, for the Commander, blue, for the Commander’s wife, and the one assigned to me, which is red.” (Page 9)
Atwood again uses color to give her story context. The people’s stations are defined by color. Black is for those in control and who have power. Blue is used to define those with secure status. Red is used for the women who are of child bearing years. It’s interesting that she uses red for women like Offred because red is recognized in current times as a passionate color and a color of love (hearts, lipstick, ads in women’s magazines). However, women like Offred were being schooled not to be passionate or to allow love to cloud their duties so it becomes startling because the reader begins to associate red as symbolic of fertility which was their purpose.
Atwood again uses color to give her story context. The people’s stations are defined by color. Black is for those in control and who have power. Blue is used to define those with secure status. Red is used for the women who are of child bearing years. It’s interesting that she uses red for women like Offred because red is recognized in current times as a passionate color and a color of love (hearts, lipstick, ads in women’s magazines). However, women like Offred were being schooled not to be passionate or to allow love to cloud their duties so it becomes startling because the reader begins to associate red as symbolic of fertility which was their purpose.
Handmaid's Tale (pg. 8)
3. “I am alive, I live, I breathe, I put my hand out, unfolded, into the sunlight. Where I am is not a prison but a privilege….” (Page 8):
Offred is trying to come to terms with the life that has been assigned to her. She will keep her thoughts to herself, and she will recognize the blessings of her situation. She values her life even as she is frustrated by her situation. Atwood reveals Offred’s character with these words and show Offred to be a strong woman.
Offred is trying to come to terms with the life that has been assigned to her. She will keep her thoughts to herself, and she will recognize the blessings of her situation. She values her life even as she is frustrated by her situation. Atwood reveals Offred’s character with these words and show Offred to be a strong woman.
Handmaid's Tale (pg. 8)
2. “…their red shoes, flat-heeled to save the spine and not for dancing. The red gloves…wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us.” (Page 8):
Atwood uses color in the book to define characters and to depict the totalitarian state. Women in Offred’s station wear red, and they cannot be mistaken. Later in the book we learn that Offred’s daughter is now being dressed in white. The reader is able to discern that children will grow up without any reference for a different life; they will most likely accept what is presented to them as being normal and real. Offred has a memory of what life used to be like, and she can also remember being able to make her own decisions about clothing.
Atwood uses color in the book to define characters and to depict the totalitarian state. Women in Offred’s station wear red, and they cannot be mistaken. Later in the book we learn that Offred’s daughter is now being dressed in white. The reader is able to discern that children will grow up without any reference for a different life; they will most likely accept what is presented to them as being normal and real. Offred has a memory of what life used to be like, and she can also remember being able to make her own decisions about clothing.
Handmaid's Tale (pg. 4)
1. “In this way we exchanged names, from bed to bed: Alma. Janine. Delores. Moira. June.” (Page 4):
This quote is taken from the first section of The Handmaid’s Tale. The first section serves as a foreshadow to the main themes of the novel. The first section deals with darkness, control and fear. This line also foreshadows the storyline that the novel will follow. The names listed are characters throughout the novel that Offred knows and suffers with. With these lines, Atwood is able to provide the reader with a sense of what the women experience at being required to behave in a certain manner and the little victories that they feel when they are able to communicate their true names in secret. Handmaid’s Tale depicts the struggles Offred goes through in addition to these young women.
This quote is taken from the first section of The Handmaid’s Tale. The first section serves as a foreshadow to the main themes of the novel. The first section deals with darkness, control and fear. This line also foreshadows the storyline that the novel will follow. The names listed are characters throughout the novel that Offred knows and suffers with. With these lines, Atwood is able to provide the reader with a sense of what the women experience at being required to behave in a certain manner and the little victories that they feel when they are able to communicate their true names in secret. Handmaid’s Tale depicts the struggles Offred goes through in addition to these young women.
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