Read chapters 36-37 and:
- Identify one use of allusion, symbol, imagery or double entendre in these chapters
- Type the word or phrase, label what it is, and its page number
- Explain how it is either an allusion, double entendre or symbol
-***Explain which theme is exemplified in this phrase or word***
-***Explain HOW this word choice exemplifies the theme***
YOU MAY NOT USE THE SAME CHOICE AS SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BLOG. THIS MEANS "The early bird gets the worm!"
YOU MUST USE PROPER SPELLING, GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT.
A few people repeated another's work. This is ok if there is a different perspective only. Try to move beyond the F word.
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Imagery:
ReplyDelete“It’s a juvenile display, the whole act, and pathetic; but its something I understand” (Atwood 236).
This quote is imagery because Atwood described the event as youthful. The central courtyard is beginning to crowd up with people that are going on a date. This phase exemplifies that Gilead society is flawed. The people in the Gilead society are meeting up to have an illegal party. The people are not supposed to be dating with each other but the individuals keep it a secret to not tell anybody about this meeting. The word choice Atwood uses is the word “juvenile.” This word described the event and the people that are meeting up in the party. Juvenile is use to show the party and dancing is just an act.
Anna Liang
ReplyDeleteImagery and Diction:
“…stony-faced young men tossing things onto the flames, armfuls of silk and nylon and fake fur, lime-green, red, violet; black satin, gold lame, glittering silver; bikini underpants, see-through brassieres with pink satin hearts sewn on to cover the nipples. And the manufacturers and importers and salesmen down on their knees, repenting in public, conical paper hates like dunce hats on their heads, SHAME printed on them in red” (Atwood 230).
This sentence shows imagery because Margaret Atwood relates back to Offred’s pass life. This sentence shows that this would not be prohibited in the Gilead society if women were wearing see-through shirts and any sign of skin that is showing. This sentence shows that women who were transparent shirts should be “shameful” and the men too, because if it was in the Gilead society it would not be allowed. There is diction used on the word “shameful”. This sentence can also show the Gilead society as being flawed because the Commander was not supposed to have any women’s garment, when they were all supposed to be burned (Atwood 230). This shows that no one respects the Gilead society, even the highest rank whom has suppose to be one of the culprits to have made the laws of the Gilead society. This also shows that the Gilead society is flawed because Offred has been reminiscing about her past life, when she is not supposed to. Offred is suppose to be serious and is suppose to “love” the Gilead society.
Double entendre:
ReplyDelete“Tonight” (Atwood 229)
In the book the word “tonight” is a double entendre, the reason that it is a double entendre because it has two meanings for it. The two meanings it has that it shows freedom and emotions. In the chapter 36 Offred goes to see the Commander in the night and he wants to take her out to the central courtyard and she agrees to go with him. The word “tonight” shows how she is escaping and she is going against the rules and having freedom for the first time. When Offred is leaving she says how “feels air on my almost-bare skin” (Atwood 233). This shows how she is having freedom by leaving the household and feeling free. The word “tonight” also shows how the Gilead society is flawed because she is having emotions for the Commander and thinking about her past life. “I tried to catch his eye” (Atwood 232). This quotes shows how Offred wants the Commander to like her and she’s doing everything as possible for him to notice her that night.
Imagery:
ReplyDelete"He's standing by the fireplace; in his hand he's got an almost-empty drink" (Atwood 229).
This sentence is imagery because Offred describes how the drink is almost-empty. When people look at a drink, they can say it is either half empty or half full. Looking at a drink being half full shows the person is optimistic. Looking at the drink being half empty shows the person is pessimistic. This is because it is preferred to have full than empty. This quote supports the Gilead society is not accepted. Offred, being in the Gilead society views the drink as almost empty. This meant Offred had pessimistic views.
"All he has is lipstick, old and runny and smelling of artificial grapes, and some eyeliner and mascara." (Atwood 231)
ReplyDeleteSYMBOLISM
This quote hold symbols within it because it mentions mascara, lipstick, and eyeliner. These are symbols of women of the night or can also be known as Jezebels. These are sex symbols because prostitutes typically wear things that are provocative and sexy. The items of a prostitute would be the lingerie that the Commander had for Offred and the makeup is also a characteristic of a prostitute. This is a flaw of Gilead because it was supposed to be abolished when Gilead was formed. It is done under handed and shows how Gilead does not have total control over the society. By Offred putting these sex symbols on, it shows that she doesn’t follow Gilead and that it is flawed because these items were destroyed before Gilead took a stronger grip and the fact that they are still around shows that there is corruptness in Gilead because these items came from a black market.
“What do you think of our little club” (Atwood 236).
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre
The word “club” is a double entendre because there is more than one meaning to this word. “Club” as an object is a heavy stick that someone can use to hit or be used as a weapon. “Club” as a place can be where people socialize.
The Commander says “our little club” as if the club is nothing big, minor. This shows a flaw in the Gilead society because the Commander is breaking more serious rules by going to this “club”. He initially just had secret meetings with Offred to play Scrabble. The rule that he broke then is not as serious as the one now. He is going to a “club” where people socialize and drink. Drinking and socializing is forbidden in Gilead. There are a lot of people in this “club” where they also break the rules. If everyone in the society started to go to this “club”, then the society would be unsuccessful. No one is going to follow the rules and try to reproduce anymore. Society will soon fall apart and that’s how the “club” that they are going to can also be a weapon to overthrow the Gilead society.
Semir Pupovic
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre:
"new" (236)
In the book, the word "new" is a double endentre. It has two different meanings in two separate parts of the book. On page 236, the word "new" means that a person is a new rental (Whore). Offred was a new rental in the club. However, in the begining of the book when Offred came to the house for the first time, Serena Joy called Offred the "new" one. In this case the word "new" meant the new handmaid. Offred was the new handmaid in the household, and therefore was considered the
"new" one.
Julio Chen:
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre:
"What is the significance of it here, why are rabbits supposed to be sexually attractive to men?" (239).
The meaning of rabbit has two meanings. A rabbit can be the animal or can symbolize high reproduction rate since rabbits have a high reproduction rate. The Teutonic deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility. Her symbol was the rabbit. The Commanders may find a women dressed in a rabbit suit to be sexually appealing because the women will produce a baby for the Commander since the rabbit means high reproduction rate. The theme of the word rabbit promotes the utopia of the Gilead society because the Gilead society has the ideology that women should give birth to many babies. This is shown through the rabbit dresses that the women use to attract the men.
John Cruz
ReplyDelete"...hear his voice, adjust my face..." (Atwood 229)
This is a double entendre. Adjusting a face means shifting the face. Another way to look at it is by saying shifting your mood. If your happy you’ll have a smile on. If you adjust your face you’ll have another expression on. When Offred heard the Commanders voice she adjust her face, changes her mood, and makes it to whatever she wants the Commander to perceive. Adjusting ones face can also mean to literally adjust to face so it can be perceive different and never return the same. Similar to plastic surgery. The face will never be the same. Although in this situation of the book, its highly uncertain that Atwood wanted us to think she had plastic surgery. Similar to the White Russian reference. Offred wasn’t saying she was a drink. Offred wants to tell the reader she changed her face expression she so she can meet the Commander's expectation of their meetings.
"Japanese" (236.
ReplyDeleteThe word "Japanese" is a symbol that signifies how the Gilead is flawed. The symbol shows that their is cultural diffusion going on. As Offred is in the night club; she see these group of Japanese people at the party (236). This shows that the society is not keeping out foreigners and that the laws are being broken by letting them in. Therefore the Japanese symbolize an escape or a way out of society. Nevertheless this proves the Gilead fraud because no one is allowed in or out the society. This symbol is another reason that proves the Gilead society has another side toward it.
James Chen
ReplyDeleteSymbol: "Red Brick" (233)
The symbol of red means handmaid, and basically accepting being a handmaid. Oddly, the hotel that the Commander had brought Offred to was a fairly new red bricked building. I thought this symbolized some sort of dander or violation to the handmaid code. Although leaving the Household was not legal they still did it. The building its self doesn't have anything to deal with handmaids. It consisted of only men and exotic women. Some women where prostitutes, and most prostitute houses have the red light lit, but this whole hotel was in red. After reading the rest of the chapters, another ex Handmaid was in the building, Moria! The red could have symbolized Moria. The color red outside of the household, in other words an escape handmaid.
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ReplyDelete“I clutch the sky-blue cape tightly around me, as a good Wife should” (Atwood 232).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is one of the profuse symbols within chapter thirty-six. It symbolizes the failure within the Gilead society and shows it’s tolerance for “adjustments” within the social structure. Offred is categorized under possibly the lowest echelon of Gilead order, the Handmaidens. She carries out her function with only one responsibility, which is to reproduce and help society’s decreasing populace once again reach standard heights. Being endowed with this valuable purpose within Gilead culture, Offred is often limited within choices and is habitually curdled under society’s strong grasp. That is until she called upon by the Commander. At first, unsure of his true motives, Offred soon realizes that she is quickly becoming his new beau. Now understanding her strong influence upon the Commander’s actions, Offred begins to use her significance to receive items that once flourished within society’s past, but now are forbidden within its present. She is given lotion, magazines from the time before and even the ability to form words and read, something which to her seemed unfeasible. This social imbalance rapidly becomes out of hand, as Offred is beginning to see the perks of this social shift. This once simple ritual of touching the forbidden is now a role-playing game, allowing her to taste the unknown. This truly becomes apparent, as Offred is taken out by the Commander, disguising herself in the garb of Serena Joy. The quote above provides the assumption that Offred no longer considers herself a mere Handmaid, but rather a Wife, a title that for so many years, seemed just out of reach. It symbolizes her acknowledgement of this role change of sorts and that she accepts and embraces this new lease on life, a behavior and attitude, which under normal circumstances, would not be tolerated. Therefore Gilead is flawed, as it allows classes to be shifted, allowing for the forbidden to be experienced.
Symbolism - “a round fountain spraying water in the shape of a dandelion gone to seed” (Atwood 234).
ReplyDeleteThis quote supports the idea of symbolism because the dandelion shaped fountain represents what the Gilead society is trying to succeed, even though the fountain is located outside of the society. Dandelions are a type of flower, and when they are gone to seed it means that they are ready to be blown away and grow back. When the dandelion is fully grown it symbolizes that the reproduction of a child can proceed. Unlike the flowers in the Gilead society that die out, the fountain indicates that it will continue to grow, hence the “gone to seed” part. Also a statue is made of stone and will never die out like a regular flower would. I believe that this shows the Gilead society is flawed because some of the women can not reproduce which is why the flowers die out. However outside of the society the dandelion fountain represents that women are able to reproduce freely.
“The Commander has hold of my right hand, as if we’re teenagers at the movies” (121).
ReplyDeleteThis is a double entendre. The word “hold” could mean two things. It could mean that the Commander is holding Offred’s hand out of love. It could also mean that he has a “hold” of her, as in power. The Commander is not holding her hand but has a hold of it, meaning that he is gripping it or has a tight grasp on it.
Also, this displays that the Gilead society is flawed. This is because the Commander is holding Offred’s hand. In the past chapters, we learned that the Handmaid and the Commander cannot touch. Offred and the Commander, however, are holding hands. Since this is against the societal laws, it shows that the society is flawed. If the society was flawless and a utopia, everyone would follow the rules and would be happy. In this quote, it is obvious that both characters are unhappy and are breaking the rules of the society.
This quote could also have the theme of power. The Commander “has a hold of my right hand” (232). As I said before, the Commander is gripping her hand and has a tight grasp on it. Atwood does not using the word holding hands, she specifically uses the words “has hold” to display the Commander’s power over Offred.
Double Entendre: “Without the Commander’s arm to steady me I’m off balance” 240).
ReplyDeleteIn the club, Offred starts heading towards the bathroom. She describes how she is off balance without the support of the Commander. This is a double entendre. The basic meaning for this phrase is how Offred cannot walk straight because she is not used to the high heels. Usually when women do not wear high heels, it takes time for them to get used to it. Since Gilead, Offred has worn the flat heeled shoes assigned to Handmaids.
The deeper meaning to this phrase is how Offred would not be where she is now without the Commander. She would still be performing her role as a Handmaid without breaking any rules. The Commander is bringing her back on balance. This means that the Commander is balancing her back into the past society and her old life. Before Offred was with the Commander, she was straying from her old life and towards Gilead. When the Commander brought Offred to the Club, she is able to see and go through the old life in the past society.
“At first glance there’s cheerfulness to the scene. It’s like a masquerade party; they are like oversized children, dressed up in togs they’ve rummaged from trucks. Is there joy in this? There could be, but have they chosen it?”(235). >imagery & symbol<
ReplyDeleteThis is an example of imagery because Atwood is describing “The Club” as a masquerade party because everyone is dressed up in costumes. This can also be a symbol because it represents the freedom that everyone in the society if Gilead want to have but they can't seem to have or find in Gilead. This quote shows imagery because it appears to be a very happy and cheerful place, a place without rules and something that would have existed before Gilead. This is a symbol because Offred asks a question, she asks if this place can actually be a place of joy or not. Then she says that it might be but it might be a place they the Commanders have chosen themselves to be a place of joy and pleasure from them.
Imagery-"...unwinking, like the shells of beetles: black, polished, inscrutable."(Atwood 233)
ReplyDeleteThis phrase describes the observation of the Commander's shoes. This is an imagery because the emotions of mystery and the impression of emptiness is in this phrase. This imagery describes the Commander; similar to his shoes, the Commander is also inscrutable and a mystery. Offred didn't know what the Commander really wants. This imagery also gives out an impression or an image of a shield. This shield protects the the Commander being too expressive. It's like the "shell of a beetle" that protects the beetle.
The theme that exemplifies the phrase would be power. Offred said that to want is a weakness in Gilead and is consider as individuality. Offred is anxious in figuring out what the Commander want from her; this knowledge would give her power. The phrase about the Commander's shoes being inscrutable reflects the Commander. The Commander being "inscrutable" is a strength of him that helps him protects himself in Gilead. Similar to Offred presenting herself differently in society, like a mask, this sentence/phrase also refers the same thing as Offred's mask.
“I’ve been here before: with Luke, in the afternoons, a long time ago.” (Atwood 234)
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows symbolism. The hotel that Offred is in was a hotel where Offred often secretly met with Luke while Luke was still married. They met secretly because they weren’t supposed to do it. Now, Offred is there again and she not supposed to be there either. Handmaids are not allowed out of their house but Offred does it anyway. This shows the theme that Gilead is flawed because Offred leaves her house with the Commander, which is forbidden. They go to a place where there are all things forbidden in Gilead.
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ReplyDeleteKen Li
ReplyDelete"Nature" (Atwood 237)
Nature is a double entendre because it means the characteristic of a person and the elements that surrounds us. If it is use to talk about a person's personality, nature would be use to say that personality is more of a characteristic or a habit of that person. When it is use to talk about wildlife and our surrounding, the nature would be more of our surroundings and the elements in it.
It is use to shows that the Gilead is flawed because it talks about both Offred's personality and her surrounding.Nature represents both Offred's emotions and surroundings. Offred dislike the surroundings and also her nature is beginning to come out. Everyday, Offred has to stay in the Gilead and cannot get out of there. Also Offred is beginning to show her emotions which it is forbidden in the Gilead. Since Offred cannot hold back her natures which is her emotion and also that she dislike living in the Gilead. Offred's natures is forbidden and yet Offred dislike her surrounding which is also consider as nature. Therefore, the Gilead is flawed.
Symbol: “That one there, the one in green, she’s a sociologist. Or was” (Atwood 237-238)
ReplyDeleteThis signifies symbolism by the fact that another color was mentioned, to a sociologist, someone who studies societies. The symbol was the color green, referring to the color the sociologist was wearing. This can symbolize that she is like a Martha, who also wear green, although dull. Green represents nature, spring, hope, youth, but could also signify witchcraft and devilry in English folklore and in religions, green signifies the devil. Green and also being a sociologist, easily pulls away from everything the Gilead society is trying to build. Green also symbolizes envy, an emotion the Commander is feeling in this chapter. He envies the woman in green because she stayed in “The Club” while he took his role in the Gilead society, a flawed society that he leaves and rejects it by going to “The Club.” This symbol relates to the theme of how the Gilead society is flawed, and how their Commander goes outside to a club where there are woman who are there to not reproduce, they have no role but to please men in “The Club.” The green sociologist symbolizes the opposite of the Gilead, an outcast, someone who wasn’t put in for her title and color.
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ReplyDeleteShelly Guan—
ReplyDeleteSymbol- “We glide together through the darkening streets” (232)
In previous chapters, the word “night” is used many times. Offred tends to do a lot of her thinking at night because that is when she is alone. She can escape the Gilead society mentally. As the streets darken, this means that the night is coming and Offred escapes once again.
Darkening represents escaping in this context. When it’s dark, nothing can be seen. It’s the perfect time to roam around, escape, and be who ever. This is probably the first time Offred has escaped the household. She has been waiting for a chance like this. She is free from the household for this one night and she can take advantage of this. The darkness also represents being corrupted. Usually dark colors are associated with being evil. Villains are evil. In the Gilead society, what Offred and the Commander are doing (leaving the household together) is considered going against the rules. Since they’re breaking the laws, they are considered villains.
This symbol, “darkness”, shows the lack of power that Offed has and the power the Commander owns. The Commander has the power to arrange an escape from the household for Offred. It’s illegal to smuggle a Handmaid outside of the household with no real duty. It’s also illegal to be with a Handmaid alone. The Commander has the power and authority to break these laws and get away with it. Offred, on the other hand, does not have the choice to leave the household or not. The only power she has is the control of herself mentally. Offred’s only power is mostly ignited once a day during the nighttime (the dark). The darkness symbolizes Offred’s lack of power because she can only do this once a day at night. Offred’s power is not amazing because it is only to herself as an individual and she can only do it once a day.
Imagery: "He is demonstrating, to me, his mastery of the world" (236)
ReplyDeleteI believe that this quote shows the power of the Commander. The commander got passed all of the checkpoints and he managed to sneak Offred into the club. He has the luxury of breaking the rules by going into a club that is forbidden by the Gilead society. Even a club is forbidden, especially when the club has girls that are dressed in a slutty way that sows skin (I didn't know how to describe the way that the girls were dressed. Sorry). The commander shows Offred that he knows people and he shows her that he has gone wild with power. He's breaking rules, and he is letting Offred have a taste of his power. Offred believes that the Commander is corrupt with power that he doesn't even realize what he is doing is wrong.
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ReplyDelete"...the occassional see-through negligee..." (Atwood 235) (double entendre)
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows a double entendre, "negligee." A negligee is a loose article of women's clothing intended for wear at night. Negligee comes form the French "neglected", but also sounds like "negligible". 'Negligible' means that something/someone is unworthy of mention or notice, or insignificant. This refers to the article of clothing itself, or lack thereof. Some prostitutes at the club wore negligees, as described by Offred. Since these articles of clothing are meant to be worn at night, and night is associated with sex, it is apparent that these womens' purposes are to sexually satisfy their patrons.
The theme supported by this double entendre is that the Gilead is flawed. This is because the Gilead's rules are restraining to such an extent that sexually repressed [higher-ranking] males resort to prostitutes to fulfill their desires. The fact that prostitutes even exist in this society is because those women would rather be "working girls" rather than be Handmaids or be sent off to the Colonies. The contrast between the usual dull clothing expected to be worn and the enticing clothes worn by the prostitutes show how much some women distance themeselves from Gilead. Therefore, this simple article of clothing tells a lot about how flawed the Gilead is.
Symbol-"Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason,it's part of the procreational strategy. It's Nature's plan" (Atwood 237).
ReplyDeleteAt this point in time, The Commander is beginning to explain to the curious Offred about this so called "club" that they are in. Offred begins to see plenty of women dressed in ridiculous outfits that she believed would be for a play or what was once worn in the past. The Commander says this phrase as if it is what is meant to be since nature is involved. According to him, the amount of women there shows how large the choices are for men to get women to reproduce or procreate. It is only nature's doing which goes back to how inferior women are to men. Here there are more choices for men to choose from giving them all the power. The women are the ones revealing themselves in a sexual manner which makes me believe that all these women are prostitutes. It is similar to the Gilead society for it seems that even here, an escape from the Gilead society, has the same overall idea. The women are here being used and it is all due to the fact that nature wants to make things easier for women to reproduce.
"He slips around my wrist a tag, purple, an elastic band, like the tags for airport luggage. "If anyone asks you, say you're an evening rental" (Atwood 233) [Symbol]
ReplyDeleteThe "tag" is a object symbolizing the power that the Commanders have over the women. Offred compares it to being like "airport luggage" which doesn't have much value. The tag shows that the women are being rented which represents power of the Commander because it is as if they are saying "she's mine". Purple is also important in this context. Purple is a mix of red and blue, it also shows power or dignity. I find it interesting that the tag is purple because it shows the power that the tag has over the women. Another important part is that the Commander says "evening rental". A word that is continuously repeated is "night" and evening is another word representing it. Night is also when they have sex. Showing how the "tag" is an object symbolizing power because of the color of the band and the time in which it is used.
"I'm still shy in front of him, about my body" (Atwood 231).
ReplyDeleteThis phrase shows that the Gilead Society is flawed. Why would Offred be shy about her body in front of the Commander? In the Gilead Society, reproduction is what should be done. Offred is pttuing on an outfit that was given to her. She should not be changing in front of the Commander. When she says she is still shy in front of him about her body this shows that this is a natural occurence. This is a flaw in the society because they are obviously meeting with eachother and Offred is naked in front of the Commander and soemthing is going on between them. They are pleasing eachother and in the Gilead they should be reproducing for the society and not having sex for pleasure.
Charlie Perez
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre - "Easter" (239).
The word Easter is a double entendre because it symbolizes the day Jesus rose from the dead, and when Moira rose from the dead in the eyes of Offred. Traditionally, Easter is celebrated by certain sects of Christianity as the day Jesus rose after the dead three days after his crucifixion. In this part of the story, Offred finds Moira in a rabbit costume. This is related to the Easter bunny, who is popularly used in western culture to represent Easter. When Moira dissapeared, everyone in Gilead thought she was dead. No one could believe that she was still alive after escaping. This is where Moira "resurrects" to Offred. This also related to Easter because Moira was a sort of savior like figure to Offred. Jesus was a savior figure to the Christians. This shows that Gilead is flawed because Moira had escaped alive and well. The society was made to be impenetrable, but Moira proved the social structure to be wrong.
Double Entendre/Symbol- “ A gin and a tonic” (238)
ReplyDeleteThe drink that Offred says she wishes to drink ; gin and tonic has a double meaning. “Gin” is a drink but it is also referred to as a spirit. A spirit can mean two things, the drink or a religious being as well. “Tonic” is a medicine and medicine is used to heal a person when they’re sick; the gin and the tonic represent the idea of Offred’s healing spirit. The idea of spirit falls under the belief of Christianity but its ironic how the drink keeps you holy, the drink Offred chooses has a double meaning; gin=spirit; drink and religious being as well. This double entendre and symbol show the theme that Gilead is flawed; Offred is supposed to be holy but she drinks with the Commander at the club, it is forbidden because she’s not supposed to in order to increase her chances of being impregnated. But as well it shows a flaw in the Gilead society because of the irony in drinking a gin and tonic, drinking keeps you holy; Handmaids aren’t supposed to drink but Offred does and it’s helping her stay “holy” which is part of society’s beliefs.
Double Entendre: “Tonight I’m taking you out.” (231)
ReplyDeleteThe word “out” is a double entendre and it shows how Gilead is flawed. To take someone “out” can either mean to take them out as if on a date or to kill them. Either definition is something that is not legal in the Gilead. People in the past went on dates and the society was not as controlled as the Gilead. There were no “checkpoints” and people did not have to stick to a certain schedule. In the Gilead, the Handmaids are only allowed to walk with each other in pairs on daily walks to the town. The Wives are allowed to visit other Wives while the Marthas stay at home. The Commanders, Guardians and Angels all do their own jobs separately from the women. These are the set routines for the groups of people in the Gilead. There is no time or place where people are allowed to “go out”. The Commander, however, breaks the rules and sneaks Offred out. This shows that the Gilead is flawed because the past society still exists in the present. The Gilead society is supposed to be a break from the violent and shameful society of the past, but instead, the Gilead and the past are interconnected.
To “take someone out” can also mean to kill them. When the Commander says he wants to take Offred out, it doesn’t mean that he plans to kill her tonight. Instead, “out” could be foreshadowing the fate of Offred. Since they are doing something illegal tonight, the Commander could be killing Offred by putting her in a position where she would be killed for participating in. The hotel that the Commander and Offred go to is also against the Gilead. The Gilead supposedly destroyed everything sexual and racy. The hotels, however, are full of people drinking, women dressed provocatively, and sex. This is what the Gilead sought out to obliterate in the first place. Since the hotels still exist, the Gilead failed to destroy everything and is therefore flawed.
"He brings his hand out from behind his back. He's holding a handful, it seems, of feathers, muave and pink"
ReplyDeleteSymbol
Pink Feather=Pink Feather
Symbolically, a feather represents to move more freely in life. The Symbolically, the color pink means good health and life. Putting these words to describe Offred's dress shows her transition from the handmaid to the commander's arm candy. Offred has gained freedom from her recent outings with the commander. She can wear dresses, read, and go to clubs. Something that even I can't do.
Double Entendre : "I can stare, here, look around me, there are no white wings to keep me from it. My head, shorn of them, feels curiously light; as if a weight has been removed from it, or substance" (Atwood 234).
ReplyDeleteThe quote is a double entendre because the word "light" in the quote could stand for two things, weight and clarity. Offred, sneaking out of the house, wearing the clothing of the wives feels a sense of freedom and defiance. Not being forced to wear the clothing of the handmaids gives her a sense of power and defiance making her feel weightless and clarity.
This quote shows the Gilead is flawed because Offred is given partial freedom by not wearing the clothing of the handmaid. She dresses like a wife and has a sense of power and liberation. She then feels free by not having to wear the red clothing with the white wings on her head and is able to see anyone she wishes. Offred defies the rules of the society by looking at people when she is not allowed to. The Gilead is flawed because Offred manages to dress as a wife and look at people when she is not allowed, giving her a sense of freedom.
The words that show that the Gilead is flawed are "there are no white wings to keep me from it". Those words show that the clothing of the handmaids that she used to wear, kept her from looking at people. Now that Offred has dressed like the wives she is given more power and freedom to do what she wishes, showing the Gilead is flawed because Offred, a handmaid, sneaks out and dresses like a wife. Now that she isn't wearing those white wings she is given more freedom to look anywhere she wants to, showing the Gilead is flawed because anyone could sneak in as a wife.
Symbolism- "It's a winter cloak, not a cotton summer one"(233)
ReplyDeleteWinter cloaks are very heavy, so it must mean there is something heavy on Offred. When something is heavy on one's mind, it means that there is something bad they are thinking about. This is like the saying if someone forgives you for something a 'weight' is lifted from your shoulder. This shows Offred is guilty for something because there is an unnecessary weight on her. When she was wearing the cloak, she was sneaking out of the household and into a checkpoint. Since there is a weight on her when she is passing, it shows she was guilty for what she is doing. Since Offred is guilty, it shows emotion. The Gilead does not want her to have feelings because it is all about conformity. By having feelings, it shows individuality which goes against the Gilead. Since Offred is being an individual and does not follow the rules of the Gilead, the Gilead is flawed.
LauraAshley Pfeifer
ReplyDelete"You'll need to paint your face too; I've got the stuff for it. You'll never get in without it" (231).
In this phrase, the face paint the Commander wants Offred to wear is a symbol. The face paint is a symbol of someone having "lost" their identity. The Commander wants Offred to wear this face paint so that they are both able to go out that night. This shows how the Gilead society is flawed because the Commanders were not allowed to be with the Handmaids. This is a flaw because the Commander is breaking the rules of the Gilead society. If commanders are breaking the laws, the Gilead society is not a utopia, it is a dystopia. Offred has basically lost her identity because she is only valued for her ability to reproduce. Offred is not viewed as anything more, thus the face paint truly representing her having no identity.
“I have never been this close to his feet before” (Atwood 233). Double-entendre
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows how Offred is progressing as an individual. As Offred is lying on the floor of the car, she is close to the Commander’s feet. This can also be interpreted as she has never felt so inferior to him. Of course, as a Handmaid, she will always be inferior to the Commander. Lately, though, she has felt empowered. She tries to play around with his emotions making him be more grateful to be around her (231). Being so close to the Commander’s feet is her finally submitting to him. She has realized that she has no power over him in this situation. Once, Offred could not even think about having the doctor help her out of Gilead. Now, she is hidden in a car, wearing illegal attire and has makeup, which is considered vanity. Offred has never been so dependent on the Commander before this moment. She has been trying to get away with more and more crimes against Gilead custom. Being at the Commander’s feet is a firm reminder that she has to pace herself. Offred is learning to keep her place, yet defy rules at the same time. She once again has to enjoy the little pleasures and try not to take advantage of people who could hurt her.
Santos Martinez-
ReplyDelete“Girls dressed for Easter, in rabbit suits” (239)
This is a double entendre because one way of looking at this is a regular girl dressed in a bunny suit because they were celebrating Easter and decided to dress up for it. However, the other side of this phrase is a bit more sexual. The girls dressed in bunny suits can also be girls dressed as playboy bunnies. Since they are in a so called club, there will be some women dressed up as playboy bunnies because the suits they wear are sexually attractive, just like the suits that the women in the club had to wear.
Jia Wen Cao
ReplyDeleteHis hat is on straight, he's sitting up straight, his neck is straight, he is all very straight." (232)
(Double Entendre)
The word "straight" is a double entendre. Straight can describe Nick's posture or his sexual orientation being straight. Nick having all his postures straight shows that he has power and respect. Even though he is just a Guardian, he is close to the Commander. Nick helps the Commander carry out duties. The word straight, being Nick's sexual orientation shows that Guardians don't become homosexual even though they are forbidden to touch women. Nick on the other hand is different from other Guardians, he touches Offred sometimes and this also shows he is "straight". This word is a double entendre because it has two possible meanings.
This word exemplifies the theme Culture. Guardians lived their lives forbidden from the reaching of women. They are to show respect and pride when guarding and protecting society. They stand in straight postures each day for that is their role, and they are straight and interest in women even though they never touched one. This word shows the life of a Guardian.
Vicky Zheng
ReplyDelete"His hat is on straight, he's sitting up straight, his neck is straight, he is all very straight. His posture disapproves of me, or am I imagining it?" (232).
Nick's "straightness" is a symbol. It represents disapproval, as mentioned earlier in The Handmaid's Tale, when Nick's hat is on straight, Offred is suppose to say in her room in the ordinary way (154). Since everything about him was straight, it shows extreme disapproval to the idea of Offred going to the club with the Commander. The quote also shows imagery. By reading the quote, you can see how uptight and serious Nick is feeling towards the situation. He doesn't want Offred to go which is why everything about him is straight, not just his hat, to show extreme disapproval. As Offred walks out of the car, Nick and her finally look at each other. "Is it contempt I read, or indifference...?" Offred sees that Nick either disapproves of the situation and is slight disgusted by it or that he is indiffent towards it and doesn't care. Either way, it shows that Nick is not pleased or at least that he is not as content with the situation as the Commander is. The quote could be revealing hidden feelings that Nick has for Offred, this could be why Nick doesn't want her to go to the whore club. He would much rather have her stay at home.
Imagery
ReplyDelete"It's a garment, apparently for woman there are the cups for the breasts, covered in purple sequins" (Atwood 230).
Imagery is a literary technique where a reader has the ability to create mental images from the details given by the author. In the sentence above, a reader can picture the garment with cups to support breasts as well as purple beads surrounding the garment.
The Commander has garments that are not allowed in the Gilead. Women garments that were provocative were burned. Since the Commander has garments that he is not supposed to have, he is not obeying the Gilead. The Commander is not obeying the Gilead because he was forbidden garments in his possession. Since the Commander is not obeying the Gilead, then the Gilead is flawed. The Gilead is flawed because the people that are part of the society do not follow the rules.
Imagery - "Oval-sided glass elevators slide up and down the walls like giant mollusks" (234)
ReplyDeleteThis is an imagery because Atwood gives the elevators a specific shape. As noted throughout the novel, the circle/oval have been an important shape. Symbols that are used with the shape of an oval are eggs and eyes. The shape of an egg is on oval, and the shape of the glass sided elevator is an oval. Also, the shape of the Eye is the size of an oval is looked upon its side. So, Atwood uses the literary technique of imagery by mentioning the shape of a circle/oval throughout The Handmaid's Tale.
Juan D. Garcia
ReplyDeleteSymbol:
"The Commander has a key to the door, which is plain and gray and flush with the wall, and I think mad of steel" (233).
The key that Margaret Atwood describes in this quote mean something more than just a key. It is a symbol for a flawed and dull society. Since the Commander had a key, he is in power of the Gilead society.The key represents that you are in charge of what goes in and out. However, the color gray makes his power seems dull and boring. The color of the key makes the Gilead society seems like a flawed and a boring society that does not work. the Commander holding the gray key is like him having power over a disutopian society which is boring to the people in Gilead especially Offred who wants to escape.
"There's a fountain in the middle of it, a round fountain spraying water in the shape of a dandelion gone to seed" (234).
ReplyDeletewe established today in class that water is a symbol for life. This is through the fact that when a women gives birth, her water breaks. I is also because we cannot survive without water. We are also made up of 75-80% of water.
Dandelion, simple enough is a flower, which we have time and time agian said stands for fertility.
The shape of the fountain is round. Like a cycle of birth and menstruation. Eggs are round. Ovaries are round.
Gone to seed, I suppose, is refering to being fertile and having the ability to reproduce.
All of these symbols are in the hotel, or the club. where the commander brings Offred. This can signify that sex happens here and could be where some women get pregnant. I assume this because not all of the commander's can reproduce, yet it is blamed on the handmaids. If the handmaid's have a place where they can get pregnan, they can fake it as he commanders. This shows how Gilead is flawed because it is not taken into account that men are also infertile. It punishes handmaids if they cannot reproduce. It is also flawed because the men need this club to satisfy unquenched needs. Gilead cannot satisfy the fact that they still liked certain aspects of the old Gilead society.
Jared Elraheb
ReplyDeleteSymbol:
“He stands up, then, surprisingly, takes my hand and kisses it, on the palm. Then he moves off, heading for the bar.” (Atwood 238)
This quote is a symbol because the Commander symbolizes something beyond himself, a flaw in the Gilead society. The Commander is supposed to set an example and enforce the laws of the Gilead society for its followers. But, the Commander in this chapter does not represent his role in the Gilead society at all. The Commander is with Offred at a “club” that represents everything illegal and forbidden according to the laws of the Gilead society. In this quote, the Commander kisses Offred’s hand and then moves off to get her “a gin and tonic” (Atwood 238). Therefore, the Commander is symbolizing a flaw in the Gilead society because his actions are breaking all the rules by kissing Offred’s hand and getting her alcoholic beverages which are extremely forbidden in the Gilead society.
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ReplyDeleteShelly Guan--
ReplyDeleteI'd like to edit my earlier post.
The word "darkening" is not a symbol. It should be a double entendre.
Brandon Acosta
ReplyDelete"He smiles down at me" (240).
The physical movement "down" is a symbol.
It's a symbol representing inferiority of one person. The person who is down below another is inferior. This statement represents the Commader's feel of power over Offred and his enjoyment of it.
This exemplifies the theme that the Gilead is flawed because of the Commander's superiority over Offred and his happiness about it. Role-players in the Gilead aren't supposed to feel emotions towards their associates, but that's not the case in the situation. The Commander is looking down on Offred; he has complete control over her and he's smiling about it. He's not supposed to feel anyting towards Offred, but he does, and he feels that his position is over her which he enjoys.
"It's like walking into the past" (215). (simile, double entendre).
ReplyDeleteSymbol
ReplyDelete'"Nature demands variety, for me. It stands to reason, it's part of the procreational strategy. It's Nature's plan." (Atwood, 237)'
I think Nature's plan symbolizes one of the first steps towards the destruction of the Gilead society. The Commander refers to the "club" as part of "Nature's plan". "The Club" is an illegal activity going on through the Gilead society where officers gather together to meet other people. The fact that the Commander refers to an illegal gathering place as "Nature's plan" suggest that Gilead is starting to break apart. Not everyone is following the laws and when people do not follow laws, a society is not going to be as successful. The officers as well as the Commander and Offred are part of the people who rebel against the Gilead laws and therefore will contribute to the breakdown of the Gilead society.
PART 2
ReplyDelete"It's like walking into the past" (215). (Simile, double entendre).
This quote is not only a simile but also a double entendre, showing the Gilead society is flawed. Offred once in a while thinks about the past and how she got into the Gilead society but it’s really the actions that reminded her and the Commander of the past. For instance, every time Offred enters into the room of the Commander, he says a greeting to her. That isn’t allowed in the society because a woman can’t talk to the men or see them. The Commander breaks the rules. In other instances, Offred and the Commander would play Scrabble, a game of the old and young, now forbidden. Then there is the magazines and hand lotion. Walking into the past thought out the book is breaking rules and that it is trying to say. However at the same time it is showing how society used to be, women showing too much skin, rape, sex, love, etc. Since Offred forgot some of these customs, she feels lost but she knows them but she forgot the feeling about them. Walking into the past might show that Gilead is flawed but at the same time showing Offred how society used to run.
"Without the Commander's arm to steady me, I'm off balance" (240) (double entendre)
ReplyDeleteI know Winnie previously commented on this but I have a different perspective.
At this time Offred is traveling to the wash room at the club the Commader had brought her to. She has a hard time walking because she is wearing heels which Offred is not used to. The double entendre in this sentence is specifically the word "balance". When something is balanced two opposing forces cancel each other out to become equal, similar to the relationship between the Commander and Offred concerning power. However, if Offred is walking a lone, she ultimately holds all the power. "Balance" is a double entendre in this sentence because it is contradicting the "balance" or natural flow of the Gilead society in that there has been a shift of power to Offred, a Handmaid, who is merely supposed to be used for the purpose of reproduction.
Symbolism: "He slips around my wrist a tag, purple, an elastic band, like the tags for airport luggage. (Atwood 233)
ReplyDeleteThis quote has multiple meanings in it. He slips around my wrist. If you change the "p" in slips, it becomes slits. So the new sentence would be Double Entendre: "He slits around my wrist. The tag is also purple, which is the color of deoxygenated blood. Atwood is showing us that Offred wants to kill herself really badly. This is a form of suicide. Another meaning of this quote is the fact that the commander is putting this tag on Offred, which is like an elastic band. In other words, it is more like a leash. This shows how he has complete control over Offred. The final part of this shows how men are making this society a dystopia. The commander is not even supposed to socialize with Offred, let alone treat her like airport luggage. When you are flying somewhere, they throw your luggage, and treat it like garbage. This is how the commander is treating Offred right now.
Pei Qing Huang
ReplyDeleteSymbol: “pony whip” (231)
In chapter 36, the Commander was giving Offred a surprise. This surprise was that the Commander is bringing Offred out, but Offred need to dress up. When the Commander gives Offred a sexy garment, Offred was wondering what else would he have (230). Offred thought in her head, “Does he have a pony wipe, hidden behind the door” (231)? Pony wipe is supposed to be a weapon to the ponies that are not following directions. However, it could also be a tool that’s use by women to be somehow attractive to men. This symbol exemplifies that Gilead is flawed. The Commander in the Gilead society is supposed to be high-class and pure. However, Offred’s Commander has a sexy garment for Offred. Not only that, the Commander having the sexy garment causes Offred to think that he may also have a pony wipe behind his door. This shows that the society of Gilead is flawed because even the Commander is breaking the rules of the society. The Commander that is supposed to be pure and clean in the society is thought to have a sexual toy behind his door. The symbol “pony wipe” shows that the society of Gilead is flawed.
Jon Castillo
ReplyDeleteSymbol.
" Young men tossing things onto flames, armfuls of silk amd nylon and fake fur,lime green, red, violet; black satin, glittering silver; bikini underpants, see-through brasseries" (Atwood.230)
This is a symbol since color is referring to the Handmaid's the Marthas', and the Commander. "Lime green" represents the Marthas' because that is their color, red is the Handmaids color, and black is the Commander's color. When something is burnt it is eliminating trace or existence. Offred brought up the clothing to show that the Handmaid's, the marthas', and the Commander are like material things. This shows that Offred suggest that just like clothing, they too will get out dated. For example, fashion changes and the Fashion refers to the Gilead. Offred will be free when the Gilead gets out-dated.
David Sosa
ReplyDeleteSymbolism
“His hat is on straight, he’s sitting up straight, his neck is straight, he is all very straight” (232)
The multiple times the word straight is mentioned in the quote above marks straight as a symbol. Straight is a symbol in this particular incident and it helps show that society is flawed. Because Offred had dressed up in an indecent outfit and was heading out with the Commander, therefore breaking a law of society, it is ironic to then add that Nick who was an accomplice and helped the Commander with his plot to go out, is straight. Straight generally represents rightfulness and correction. The word straight is used in slang to represent rightfulness, for example people would say "I've gone straight ever since I got out of prison" or "I'm straight I swear" Nick is refered to as sitting straight and straight would mean being rightful and being correct but in reality Nick is breaking the laws of society by helping the Commander go on and take out Offred. A male and female cooperation is prohibited by law and yet Nick takes part in this act and helps drive the two to there designated area. Because Nick is not straight at all and has cooperated with the Commander and Offred's breaking with the law, society is flawed since even the Commander being the highest authority in Gilead breaks the laws.
Kiara Roman
ReplyDeletedouble entendre
excitement (229) it is an entendre because excitement could mean sexually or mentally. For example when a person says I want excitement out of our marriage. It’s mainly about sex and how the people are not enjoying it and need a boost. Another way to use “excitement” is when someone is very excited about something else, for example, I have so much excitement in me; I can’t wait for my birthday. They are used very differently some similarity just one is used to express sex and the other just emotion.
symbol,
“cloak…light blue” (232) The cloak is light blue and it represent the Wives because of the color. Light blue also has some white in it which makes the blue look more pure.
Feathers (233) feather are what on the bird. The feathers can symbolize a bird which means life. So the feathered dress may make Offred look more alive than with her red dress.