While reading chapters 17-22 tonight, feel free to post any questions or comments on whether or not the individuals in the HOUSEHOLD embrace or dislike the routines of the Gilead.
Consider: If they are embracing the rules, is the society successful? What happens to the individual? What happens if the individual accepts the society but is not happy?
Does the individual count?
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Robert Glass
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Offred does not like the Gilead society becasue the book states "I believe in the rsistance...There must be a resistance" (Atwwod 105) and this shows that she wants the rebels to come for her. The resistance is fighting Gilead and to want them shows that she does not like Gilead. When you want your countries enimies to come, it shows that you have a dislike to your country, in this case it is Gilead. She also wants a message as the book states "It's this message... that keeps me alive" (Atwood 106) and this shows that she only wants Luke to love her becasue the message speciffied is to be from Luke. She feels that this message is what will keep her alive from the society she lives in.
She is also afraid when Nick comes becasue they both start to shake when they are close to each other. The individual does not count becasue if it did then Offred would be free to do what she wants and she could have the people she wants to have, such as Nick. If the individual counted than she would have had a say in the Ceremony with the Commander and Serena Joy.
ReplyDeleteNice ideas, Robert. Isn't it interesting how much more we are learning about Offred after we learned of the HOUSEHOLD Ceremony and TV time? Why? Is this on purpose?
ReplyDeleteI think the Republic of Gilead is successful because the individuals are all dutiful and fulfill their given roles. Those who disobeyed were promptly killed or removed in some way. Most members of the Household [secretly] disagree with the routines of Gilead. They keep rage inside them and seldom express their dislike for the routines, such as when Offred resorts to using butter to soften her skin as she is not allowed hand lotion. "I look for the put of butter..." (Atwood 96) Offred and Nick both so illegal things at night, shown when Nick ventured out at night to look for Offred. Nick, too, shows a lack of loyalty to the society. "He too is illegal here." (Atwood 98)
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, the Wives continue to show their contempt for routines in society, particularly the mating Ceremony in which they are to witness intercourse between their husbands and Handmaids. "For them, things are bad enough as it is." (Atwood 96)
In the Republic of Gilead, the individual is not valued at all, and conformity is the accepted norm in the society. The society's survival is based upon unity among all members doing their duties, with no deviances. Therefore, the individual's grivances are disregarded as well.
Offred's story is now what will be the main focus of the story becasue now it will be either she gets pregnant or not, that should be the primary focus of the book form now on with side issues in it.
ReplyDeleteI was typing quick and there are some spelling mistakes in my first post, sorry.
ReplyDeleteIn a way the society is succesful but it reminds me of Stalin's Soviet Union becasue there is censorship in the movies that the Handmaids would watch, "...but they don't want us to hear what the Unwomen are saying." (Atwood 119). By covering up words that are said is a form of Censorship and this is to help control the Gilead Society. As we all know The soviet Union collapsed and it is likely that the Gilead Society will collapse too eventualy becasue all dictatorship governments fall which Gilead is becasue censorship is always found in a dictator run government.
ReplyDeleteFor some strange reason, I feel that Margaret Atwood is trying to say that the society thinks what they are doing is a good thing. In reality the "good thing" in life only happeneds to you when you are happy and you can continue on with life. What is happening in the book is Offred following the rules when she doesn't want to. Offred is not happy since in chapter 16 she said "I wish he would hurry up" (94). This is probably what she says about her life because her life is based on these rules that she dislikes. She really gave in society and is content with with society and she accepts it.
ReplyDeleteKiara, Offred does not say that she wants The Commander to Hurry up, it was Cora who said that line.
ReplyDeleteOHH really sorry I misunderstood then !
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ReplyDeleteI remember in class we were wondering why some women who aren't fertile (Serena Joy) didn't have to go to the coloniesand the reason would be that she most likely had a baby before. In chapter 21 it says "She will never be declared Unwomen. That is her reward" (Atwood 127). This shows that if you have at least one child you will stay and that is why Serena Joy is still in Gilead.
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ReplyDeleteFrom a overall perspective of Chapter 17 - 22, I thought about what the individual has done and I conclude that the Gilead society is unsuccessful. The idea of censorship and human right abuse in the society of Gilead would eventually be corrupted and the individual would regain their rights. The rituals of only reproducing can only last so long until more and more people believe that God made humans to do than just reproduce. One example of an individual who was tired of the strict rules of Gilead society is Moira. She ran away by striking Aunt Elizabeth and took the Aunt's clothes and run away (131). Slowly, individuals would realize that the society of Gilead violates too many human rights. Comparing to the past, Moira must had not like the present so she thought of wise strategies to get herself out of the society. The Gilead's society would eventually fall apart just like Hitlers, during World War II, ideas of human right abuses.
ReplyDeleteI agree John, this is like the second World war
ReplyDeleteACtually, Kiara was right, Robert. Offred did say she wished he would hurry up and get the Ceremony over with.
ReplyDeleteI was reffering to pg 81, my mistake.
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