Read chapters 38-39 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.
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Anna Liang
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre, Symbol, Imagery:
“Several women are sitting in the chairs and on the sofa, with their shoes off, smoking. They stare at me as I come in. There’s perfume in the air and stake smoke, and the scent of working flesh… ‘You want a cig? ‘I’d love one” (Atwood 242-243).
These sentences from parts of the book show a double entendre and symbol. Margaret Atwood shows that the cigarette symbolizes freedom and happiness, which this is also the double entendre behind the meaning. These sentences also show that the Gilead society is flawed. While in the Gilead society all women are not suppose to have drugs and is under strict Eye, the women in the bathrooms of the clubs are sitting casually and they are all dressed up in lingerie clothing, and they are basically on drugs too; cigarette. When Offred is in the Gilead society, women are not allowed cigarettes, but Offred wanted one. When Offred says, “I’d love one (cigarette)”, it shows that she wants to be one of the casual women; it shows that she wants to break away from the Gilead society. These sentences also show another theme; that the Gilead society is not working. “…and the scent of working flesh…,” this part of the sentence shows that there is another double entendre also. “Working flesh” can mean sex and it can mean the power of reproducing. Since Offred says, “…and the scent of working flesh…,” she means that in the Gilead society there isn’t any sight of power of reproducing because all of the men are all too old to provide “working” sperm. These sentences show heavy meaning in Chapter 38.
Semir Pupovic
ReplyDeleteSymbol
"...oblong of purple cardboard..." (241)
This object is a symbol mainly because of its shape. The fact that the purple cardboard has an "OBLONG" shape makes it a symbol. An oblong has is an eliptical shape. In this society, reproducton is very important. The egg is vital to the idea of reproduction, and it happens to be the same shape as the purple cardboard. They are both oblong. This represents the theme of reproduction in this society since it is related to the shape an egg. Since the purple cardboard is in the shape of an egg it exemplifies the theme of reproduction.
Symbolism
ReplyDelete“…lime-green...” (Atwood 241).
The word lime-green is a symbol because it was repeated in chapter 36. Lime-green is the color for rebellion and resistance. This word supports the theme that the Gilead society is flaw. The color lime-green represents resistance which that is what the Gilead society do not want the people to do. The Gilead society tries to brainwash all the people to make them only think about reproducing in population. Lime-green was mention when the woman tries to protest against the Aunt in chapter 38 and was also mention in chapter 36 when the men burn their clothes in Time Square. Lime-green represent resistance which shows the Gilead society is flaw.
Allusion:
ReplyDelete“Whore of Babylon” (Atwood 242)
In chapter 38, Offred meets up with Moria in the washroom, after Moria gives her hug she tells Offred how she “looks likes the Whore of Babylon” (Atwood 242). This is an allusion because “Whore of Babylon” is referred in the book of Revelation, and it’s a character in the last book in the New Testment. The Whore of Babylon is viewed among certain Reformation communities that the Roman Catholic Church. The Whore of Babylon was a figure of evil mentioned in the book of Revelation. The Whore is taken place in the hands of the beast with seven heads and ten horns. It is like a women riding on a breast with seven heads. In the bibilocal book of Revelation it is sayed that “17:4 …And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication…” The Whore of Babylon is reffedd to a mystery because no one knows who she is and the seven heads refer to the seven hills in Rome. The city of Rome was known as “the city on seven hills” because there are seven prominent hills that surround the city. The Whore of Babylon is an evil system, controlled by the Antichrist, during the last days before Jesus’ return. Also Babylon was known for its wickedness and used in the Revelation for evil and corrupted society.
“I almost made it out. They got me up as far as Salem, then in a truck full of chickens to Maine” (Atwood 247). –double-entendre
ReplyDelete“Chicken” is a double-entendre. The chickens can be read as actual chickens as animals, but also chickens as cowards. Moira was courageous enough to escape the Red Center and make it this far. Ironically, she is back where she started. The chickens are like the fearful women from the Red Center. She is stuck in between, unable to do anything about it. This situation exemplifies a different theme. It shows how women cannot support themselves in the Gilead society. They continued to be used by men to lay out eggs, like chickens. You can say that these women are too “chicken shit” to do anything to stop being taken advantage of. Moira can only wait for that man on the ship to smuggle her out. Being a strong, independent woman in Gilead does not get you that far. Moira had no choice but to deal with the chickens at the Red Center, in the truck, and the Jezebels who were afraid of going to the Colonies.
I would also like to say that Jacqueline likes chicken. That is all.
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ReplyDeleteSantos Martinez-
ReplyDelete“The other house was Quakers too, and they pay dirt, because they were station on the Underground Femaleroad” (246). This is a reference to how there was an underground road for women to go in order to leave the Gilead society. This is a reference to The Underground Railroad because it talks about slaves used this Underground Railroad to escape the southern states into the North to freedom. The slaves in this situation are the handmaids because slaves and handmaids were both used for the owner’s need. The slaves were for working on the field and the handmaids were used for reproduction.
Symbol:
ReplyDelete"Jezebel's" (Atwood 249)
Moira says that the Aunts call the club Jezebel's (Atwood 249). The symbol shows that the aunts think the women are now hoe's and they have lost hope in all women. As the women are Jezebel's the Gilead society no longer appreciates them because they are unwoman. When being an unwoman, this shows a women is no longer loyal to be a women as referred to the women in the club. These women are portrayed as Jezebels because of their actions which is having sex. Nevertheless this symbol is reference because of the act of having sex. This also goes against the societies beliefs in women because women are to reproduce only. When these women are having sex for pleasure they also have emotion. In the Gilead their is not to be emotion not even during the ceremony. This shows the Gilead is flawed because of the way the women are described as Jezebel's. A whore in the Gilead is an unwoman, when allowing women to be whores the society is showing it is flawed.
Charlie Perez
ReplyDeleteSymbol - "It still says Ladies, in scrolly gold script" (241).
The gold script is a symbol that shows that the women of the club are of value. Gold is usually a color that is shown to represent that something has value in it. The ladies sign on the bathroom door is in gold print. This shows that the women of this club are regarded as having some value as humans. In the club, the women are able to fill up there desires as mortal human beings. The are able to do almost anything they want, not paying attention to the restrictions of the Gilead society. The secret society of the club nows that the women have the desires they do, so they let them do what they please because the women are valuable to them. This shows that the Gilead society is flawed because the way women are treated is much different. The Gilead society teaches that women are nothing of uses except for being mindless childbearing robots. To have women doing as they please, doing drugs and having sex, is strictly prohibited under the Gilead protocol. This shows that The Gilead society fails at keeping control over everyone, as some escape to go to this club. The Gilead society is a system after all, and every system has it's flaws.
"They gave me clothes, a dress of hers, and burned the Aunt's outfit and the pass in their furnance; they knew that had to be done right away" (Atwood 246).
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre
In this sentence, the word "pass" is a double entendre. Pass means to allow something to happen. What the Quakers burned was the pass for an Aunt. Another meaning for pass is as in the time before-"past." Burning the past is like for Moira to start over again, forgetting the past in Gilead. This shows Gilead is flawed. In Gilead, the aunts want to brainwash the handmaids for them to produce babies. If Moira is to forget about the past in Gilead, them Gilead is not being embraced.
"By this time I'd hit Mass. Ave."
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre
The word 'Mass.' has two meanings because it is an abbreviation for the state of Massachusetts and that can show the location of the story meaning that this takes place in New England. The other meaning is that it could refer to praying inside the church meaning Sunday Mass. This is a flaw in Gilead because it shows how the society tries to get into people's minds. The street sign says 'Mass. Ave' meaning that the society is reminding people to pray everyday and thus brain washing the populace. This is a flaw because it might not work and the Gilead limits the people's freedom to do as they please in Gilead. Brain washing has gone on before in countries such as Italy when Mussolini was in power, he brain washed the citizens through propaganda and this is a similar example in Gilead because it tells people to pray by way of Sunday Mass. It is a flaw because it may not work, the way Gilead wants it to because in Italy the people killed Mussolini latter on and they may try to escape the Gilead because their minds are being taken over by the Gilead.
"Through an archway beyond there's the row of toilet cubicles, also pink, and washbasins and more mirrors" (241) >imagery<
ReplyDeleteThis is an example of imagery because this is the description of the bathroom inside the club. Inside the club there is a bathroom with toilets and sinks, the only other different thing is that there is a cubicle. A cubicle is a place inside a work place that is separated from everything else. This goes to show that the women that are all found in this bathrooms they are all "working", they're job is being a prostitute. All these women go into the bathroom to smoke and relax their feet from their uncomfortable heels. The women also come here to check out how they are looking because when Offred describes it she says that there are many mirrors and that there is a lot of pink all over and there is also a long sofa.
“ I’m a wreck. The mascara has smudged again, despite Moira’s repairs, the purplish lipstick has bled, hair trails aimlessly” (254).
ReplyDeleteImagery/Symbolism
This quote displays imagery and evokes the emotion of pain. Offred’s hair is a mess, her mascara runs, and her lipstick smears. As I read this phrase, I imagined Offred’s face in pain and her make up running. Also, this quote displays symbolism because Offred’s “purplish lipstick has bled”. Purple symbolizes passion. Her passion bled. This shows that Offred had a strong passion and love for her mother. Hearing that her mother was alive made Offred break down into tears and relive the pain she felt when she believed her mother was dead.
This quote displays the theme that Gilead is a dystopia. In a utopia, everyone is happy and everything is perfect. This quote displays the complete opposite. Offred is in extreme pain thinking of her mother and is crying. Also, this shows that the Gilead society is a dystopia because Offred was wearing make up, something forbidden by the society. A utopia has unity and happiness, something that this quote clearly does not display.
“I can’t believe how easy it was to get out of the Center. In that brown outfit I just walked right through. I kept on going as if I knew where I was heading” (Atwood 244)
ReplyDeleteThis excerpt is a prime example of the copious uses of symbolism within chapter thirty-eight. It symbolizes and portrays flaw and failure on the behalf of the Gilead society, as its privileged lack the aptitude to properly monitor and observe civilian behavior, a prime component of social structure. Moira, one of Offred’s limited friends within the Republic is like many others, improperly treated and looked upon. However, what makes her different from her peers, is that she is one of the few women within society to counter and react to authority’s strict grasp, crossing the boundary between student and teacher. She, unlike her Gilead companions “speaks” her thoughts and makes her “voice” heard. An example of this defiant manner is when Moira finally “breaks” and takes Aunt Lydia to the furnace, eventually stripping her of her clothes and tying her up in the process. Now in the possession of the garb of higher power, Moira disguises herself as an Aunt, leaving the mainstream of society, breaking herself free from established custom. While at the club, which is deemed forbidden for all sects of Gilead order, Offred, accompanied by the Commander, spots Moira at the bar. Astonished to see her long-time friend who was thought to have been long dead and gone, Offred tries not to point out the obvious. Under the signs given to her by Moira, Offred heads towards the washroom, where she, after many months, encounters Moira. Stunned that Moira has survived, Offred tries to catch up on the long gap of time between Moira’s sudden disappearance and abrupt finding. While explaining the series of events, in which took place, Moira takes note of the ease of her escape and how surprisingly, no one caught onto her act. This failure to supervise the unexpected links back to one of Gilead’s abundant flaws, as if they were more aware and apt as they were known to be, then Moira would have not have escaped as she had.
“I must be back at the house before midnight; otherwise I’ll turn into a pumpkin, or was that the coach” (Atwood 254)?
ReplyDeleteAllusion.
This is an allusion to the fairytale, Cinderella. In the Cinderella story, Cinderella has a Fairy Godmother that helps her when her stepmom and stepsisters are at the ball. Her Fairy Godmother turns a pumpkin into a coach and her rags into a ball gown. This relates to The Handmaid’s Tale because the Commander gave Offred the clothes to change into. Offred is a Handmaid and wears the red habits. She changes into a purple sequin girdle and goes to the club. Cinderella is not allowed at the ball, and Offred is also not allowed at the club. Cinderella must go home before it strikes midnight because that is when the magic wears off. Her ball gown turns back into rags, her coach turns back into a pumpkin and everything goes back to how it was before. If Cinderella doesn’t leave in time, her stepmother and stepsisters at the ball will find out that she went to the ball without permission. Offred has to leave the club before it’s too late because Serena Joy or the other Officials in the Household will realize that Offred snuck out. This allusion shows that Offred somewhat embraces society because she is worried about getting caught. She knows she has to leave before it’s too late or else she will get punished. Offred is not allowed out of the Household, ever. So she embraces society’s rules even though she broke some rules by sneaking out.
I forgot to mention,
ReplyDeleteAtwood (245) is where my quote was found,
Sorry
James Chen
ReplyDeleteAllusion: "Checkpoints" (244)
The word Checkpoint literally is a place to stop in a journey of traveling. The thing I thought it was alluding to was the underground railroad system in America during the 1800s. The events that Moria journey described similar traits to what the black slaves had to do to escape slavery. Black slaves used the underground railroad system to find their way north. The Railroad system was a series of houses that a slave would hide in, house after house the slave would find there way north to freedom. Moria had stolen a Aunt outfit and left the household. She had come to a house to change clothing so she would not look too specious luckily the people at the home where nice enough. The theme of individuality appears here. Moria was doing something she didn't liked. Sadly she had not choice to stop it, nor did the slaves. Her individuality had motivated her to do things that would naturally be illegal.
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ReplyDeleteImagery- "he's lying on the king size bed, with, I note, his shoes off" (Atwood 254).
ReplyDeleteAtwood's use of imagery signified to me that the Commander is comfortable with Offred. This is because he took off his stern black shoes and revealed a softer side to himself. By taking off his shoes it symbolized that he does not embrace society. In the society men are not to have any contact with the women or show any form of comfort between them. However the Commander is doing so which shows he does not embrace the society.
James an allusion is to a text Only
ReplyDelete"Black comes off." (Atwood 243) (Symbol and Double entendre)
ReplyDeleteFirstly, this short quote has significance/weight attached to it because it is short. Black, as all colors are, is a symbol. In Gilead, it symbolizes the elite class because the Commanders all wear the color. Black is associated with being sinister and mysterious, and it's actually a LACK of color rather a color in itself. Since Offred is associated with the Commander now and has risen in status a bit, she is associated with the color black. However, only her makeup, something thought to be provocative and forbidden, is black. This symbolizes that she hasn't truly risen in rank, as she is still a Handmaid.
The double entendre is that the black makeup comes off, and ironically Offred's name is "Off-RED" and not Offblack. This may show that she hasn't succeeded in really abandoning her status as a Handmaid/taking off the red Handmaid's dress.
The theme supported is that Offred is an individual, and has actual emotions. The reason why Offred's black makeup comes off is because she cries at seeing Moira again. This shows that she has friends, and feelings for her friends. She hasn't completely lost herself nor has she forgotten the people important to her, making her an individual.
“Without his uniform he looks smaller, older, like something being dried.” (Atwood 255)
ReplyDeleteThe word “smaller” is a double entendre. It can mean to be small in size or to be lacking in power, influence, or status. The Commander’s uniform shows his status, which is on the top of the social hierarchy. His uniform is what gives him power and makes some people fear him. Offred was once scared of him because of his status and influence but underneath the uniform, he is more sensitive. This shows that Gilead is flawed because the Commander isn’t really powerful or influential. Only his uniform makes him look like he holds power in the society. Without his uniform, he is weak and has no status.
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ReplyDeleteImagery/symbolism- "There's perfume in the air and stale smoke, and the scent of working flesh" (242).
ReplyDeleteThe description of how the air smells creates an image of stress. As Offred stepped into the bathroom of the club, she smells a mix of fragrances. When reading, I saw that there would be women on the couch, who smoked to try to relieve stress from their job or Gilead. The women have also put on heavy perfume to hide the stench of sweat from working.
The phrase contains symbols as well. Perfume symbolizes beauty. The women are allowed to make themselves smell attractive to catch a mate.Stale smoke represents the relieving of stress. Usually people would smoke when they have worked for a long period of time. The scent of working flesh represents hard-work. When a person sweats, the person worked hard.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteymbol - It was no good calling on the C's to do abortion stuff" (245)
ReplyDeleteMargaret Atwood uses the literary technique of symbols by stating that calling on the "C's" won't be good to call for abortion. This is a symbol because she makes a reference to the religious beliefs of Christianity. Atwood began to mention about how they had religions marked. First, she mentions the Q for Quakers, which is the Religious Society of Friends. Then she states that the C's won't be good to call to perform abortion. It is against the beliefs of Christianity to go along the act of abortion. In Christianity, they expect you to continue with the gift of birth regardless if you did or didn’t want it. Atwood doesn't vividly explain that the C's are Christians. In the Gilead society, certain groups are marked with the first letters of their religion, sect, or any group they are associated with. This mark helps the Gilead society know who might turn out to what. Several examples of this would be the J and the Q. Regardless of the fact that she doesn’t mention Christians, with the biblical background, it is obvious that Atwood meant Christians.
Imagery
ReplyDelete"She is an older woman, wearing a purple caftan and gold eyeshadow, but I can tell she is nevertheless an Aunt" (Atwood 241)
This is imagery because you can imagine the way the woman looks. It shows that the Gilead is flawed because the woman was an Aunt. Aunts work at the Red Center. They are supposed to brainwash the Handmaids into following society. They are the ones who teach the values and the rules of the Gilead and the horrible ways of the past. These women are granted rights other women don't have because they are trusted to be true believers of the Gilead, and make other women true believers. The fact that an Aunt is here in such a forbidden place shows the Gilead is flawed. This house is for having sex for pleasure and not for reproduction-- one of the main rules against the Gilead. The Aunts, the most respected women and the ones who pave the path for the Handmaids, don't follow the rules of society. Since the very people teaching the rules and values of society are going against it, the Gilead is flawed.
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ReplyDeleteVicky Zheng
ReplyDeleteREPOST.
"Jezebel" (241).
Jezebel's the "club" that the Commander takes Offred to. This is an allusion to the Bible because Jezebel is a character in the Bible. In the Bible, Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab. The King wanted landed from a land from a man named Naboth. Naboth refused to give him the land so Jezebel decided to get the land for her husband. She arranged for Naboth to be killed and once he was killed, she ordered her husband to take the land. The Lord was unhappy with this because that was the land that the Lord gave Naboth which is why he refused to give it up. The Lord sent one of his followers, Elijah to tell them,
((I used biblegateway)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Kings21;20Kings9:30-37)
"I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.'
"And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall ofJezreel.' "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."
days later,
When Jezebel heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, "Have you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?" He looked up at the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. "Throw her down!" Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. Jehu went in and ate and drank. "Take care of that cursed woman," he said, "and bury her, for she was a king's daughter." But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. They went back and told Jehu, who said, "This is the word of the LORD that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel's flesh. Jezebel's body will be like refuse on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, 'This is Jezebel.' "
The "club" was probably named after Jezebel because she was a sinful woman. In the club, sinful acts are committed such as the consumption of alcohol, prostitution, lust and others. Since the club's name is "Jezebel's" it probably means that all of those who enter it are considered her people because she persecuted followers of God. The Gilead society is strictly based on the Christian religion where God rules and in Jezebel's, all of the rejects of Gilead and non believers gather. This could foreshadow how all of those who enter the club are going to end up, with nothing but a skull, feet and hands.
Sorry for the extremely long quote from biblegateway.
“I must beware of inertia” (Atwood 254)- Double Entendre
ReplyDeleteInertia is the double entendre in this case. This word exemplifies two separate meanings under the same theme being that the Gilead is flawed. The first interpretation of this word is social inertia. What social inertia means is the resistance of society or social groups due to habit. Offred has a habit of performing the Ceremony with the Commander at specific times, but she is now resisting this change. He has brought her to a night club where he can have sex with her, obviously a change in her habits. Then the other meaning of inertia would be the disambiguation of inertia which is the tendency of the body to stay at rest unless acted upon by another force. Offred says she must “beware of inertia” meaning that she has to make sure that she does nothing wrong with the Commander. She must be aware of her resistance to the Commander. This double meaning shows the flaw in the Gilead. The fact that Offred is being aware of resistance to sex from the Commander shows that she is possibly thinking of resisting him and leaving. She knows she should not resist him and perform the “Ceremony” early. There is a change in the habit she usually performs and is aware that she should not resist it. She does not want to reproduce for the Commander, she is resisting, causing a flaw in the Gilead as she is not following the rules of the changed society.
Symbol:
ReplyDelete"The molting pink feathers are tawdry as carnival dolls and some of the starry sequins have come off." (254).
The symbol pink is repeated in the book. Pink can mean innocence, purity, and feminism. The dress that Offred wears is beginning to lose its beauty. This can symbolize how Offred feels after she goes through a flashback of losing her mother. At this point, Offred feels depressed which is described by the dress. The theme is lack of power because Offred could not do anything to help her mother out. She is losing her feminism, purity, and innocence as she reminds herself of what she has lost. The symbol furthers the understanding of Offred because molting is not permanent because if a bird molts its feathers, then it grows back. Offred could potentially grow back her feathers. She could have a new start with new feathers.
".....As long as you said you were some sort of a Christian" (Atwood 247).
ReplyDeleteThis being said shows that the Gilead Society is flawed. The Society is based around religious views. As Offred says this, it makes you wonder if they care about the Gilead Society. If you dont believe in religious views it symbolizes that you dont believe in the Society that follows the religion. This may be the reason the society is becoming flawed because the religion it is based around is not cared for.
Symbolism-"women in a cat suit with a tail made of orange fake fur is redoing her make-up" (Atwood 242)
ReplyDeleteThe words "cat" and "orange" is the symbol in this phrase. Cats symbolize independence, watchfulness, mysterious, and clever. Orange is a symbol for demanding of attention and energy. One of the women in the women's washroom was wearing an orange cat suit. Her outfit symbolize the women in the bathroom. They are secretive, watchful, and clever. Their outfit demands for attention; just like the symbolism of the color orange.
The theme that relates to this phrase is a flawed Gilead. In Gilead, the role of women is to reproduce and they have to be modest. The women's outfit is everything but modesty. She even put on make-up which is forbidden. The symbolism of cats and the color orange represents the flawed Gilead. Women in Gilead are not suppose to be clever, mysterious, or watchful. Their only job is to reproduce. The fact that they have broken more than one law of Gilead shows that Gilead is flawed.
This shows the symbolism of colors:
http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/colors.html
This shows the symbolism of cats:
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/cat-animal-symbolism.html
Shelly Guan—
ReplyDeleteSymbol—“At least it is only black and white.” (242)
Offred says that Moira’s dress is black and white. In the surrounding context, Offred makes it seem like these colors are a relief. The colors black and white symbolize the power that Moira has.
In the Gilead society, the color black is used to define the Commanders. Moira wearing black shows the amount of power she has. She has more power over Offred because Moira can drink, do drugs, and get all the ladies she wants (249). Moira can also obtain information that is useful from the Commanders. She has been in hide for eight to nine months and has learned a lot from experience (247). The more information known, the more power is given. Moira has power because she knows what happens and how things work. She is powerful enough to kill many in the society (such as almost killing Aunt Elizabeth). Moira also, later, bombs Jezebel’s and kills 50 commanders (250). This is success, not failure.
The color white is literally nothing. It means blank, empty, and plain. This color is a symbol to represent how the society views Moira. Although she has enough power equivalents to a commander, she is nothing in the Gilead society. The society looks down on her and she is just another prostitute. No one pays attention to Moira and doesn’t notice the amount of power she actually has. This also proves that the Gilead society is flawed because the purpose of women is to reproduce. The government has taken away education from women because it was dangerous. In reality, information and knowledge has been passed around. Women have been learning in the Gilead society, and the government fails to notice it. That is how Moira was able to bomb Jezebel’s and kill 50 commanders, stay in hide for eight to nine months, and to escape the Red center.
Juan D. Garcia
ReplyDelete"Here they haven't removed the mirror" (241)
When in the club, and Moira calls out Offred to come to the washroom, Offred notices that there are mirrors in the bathrooms. Offred said that the mirrors here haven't been removed. This shows how used to the Gilead society she is. the mirrors represent freedom. It shows that you are free to look at the world from your perspective. This is why Gilead probably took out all mirrors. They did not want the Handmaid's or anybody else have freedom or a point of view. The Gilead society took away any sort of independence and power from the people living under the strict laws of their religion. This exemplifies the theme of a disutopia and a flawed society that Gilead really is. Gilead takes away all human rights and privileges that a person gets. No Handmaid or any lesser woman gets any rights or freedom and they disagre with it which makes Gilead a flawed society.
LauraAshley Pfeifer
ReplyDelete"All of them wear long dresses, like the ones at the Center, only gray" (249)
In this phrase, gray is a symbol. Gray is a color that represents dullness and makes you think of something with no life. In the Bible, gray represents something that is old. In the context of this phrase, Moira speaks about the Colonies. The women in the Colonies are old being that they cannot reproduce, the reason why they're in the Colonies. The gray color the women wear represent who they are, which is old and unable to reproduce. This shows how the Gilead is flawed because they are sending women who are unable to reproduce away to the Colonies and do work. The work at the Colonies was hard being that they don't feed them much and not given protective clothing when dealing with toxins. The Gilead is a dystopia because they are treating the Unwomen unfairly with unnecessary work.
Imagery
ReplyDelete"They weren't all quakers, some of the men weren't even religious. They were just people who didn't like the way things were going."(247)
The imagery in these two sentences show how flawed Gilead is. Gilead is considered a Utopia, a place where everyone has a role to fulfill and a society that supposedly functions properly. From these two sentences you can see that Gilead is not a utopia but a distopia. The people are not happy and they "didn't like the way things were going". People were risking their lives to get people out of Gilead because even though Gilead was functioning properly, the people were not happy.
"The drapes are the same, the heavy flowered ones that match the bedspread, orange poppies on royal blue, and the thin white ones to draw against the sun; the bureau and bedside tables, square-cornered, impersonal; the lamps; in a vase, buttercups and devil's paintbrushes keyed to the drapes" (Atwood 251) [Symbol]
ReplyDeleteThere are many different symbols in this quote. The first symbol that caught my eyes was the "heavy flowered" drapes which matched the bedspread. Atwood repeats the words "garden" or "flower" this represents fertility. The flower starts from a seed and grows into something beautiful. Another symbol is the royal blue which is the color of the wives. The next symbol are the "devil's paintbrushes", this is a symbol for the Handmaids. When I think of the devil I think of the color red, which is the color that the Handmaid's wear. Showing how this quote has many important symbols.
Imagery: "She is frightening me now, because what I hear in her voice is indifference, a lack of volition" (249).
ReplyDeleteOffred believes that Moira has changed ever since she has had the option to live in the "club". Offred sees that Moira is giving in and that she stopped fighting since she knows that it's as far as she can get. Yet Moira still tries to show that she hasn't changed. This could show that an individual spirit in this society can easily be broken when there is so much strictness. Even with a little freedom and power can make a person in this society become complacent with their goals. Moira is an example because she planned on getting out of the country, but she decided to stay since she liked the atmosphere of the place.
Symbol-“…listening to the distant sounds of water running.” (251)’
ReplyDeleteWhen Offred is in the hotel room bathroom, in a room with the Commander, she locks herself and hears the distant sound of water; water may represent the idea of “life “and how she feels distant from it. Offred is in the Club with the Commander where every woman here is dressed as a prostitute, drinking and smoking; doing all things that are forbidden of them to do in society but doing these things is like “stepping into the past” as the Commander previously said. Going back to a place where Offred has the ability to drink and smoke, she may feel like she’s been brought back to life. Offred may feel “lifeless” because once she’s locked in the bathroom faced in a situation where she’s going to be intimate with the Commander which may help her impregnate but it’s not an idea she agrees with, but she has no choice just as she doesn’t in the Gilead society. The symbol brings up the concept of a dystopian Gilead, it shows that society is “lifeless” and that the people’s old ways were better. In a sense, Offred may desire running toward life for the author’s choice of words of “water running”. Offred may want the ability to choose what she wants or doesn’t want to do. “Water running” exemplifies the theme because it shows the idea that Offred feels lifeless for not having much of a choice when she’s forced to be intimate with the Commander.
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ReplyDeleteJia Wen Cao
ReplyDelete"I wish I had a toothbrush." (254)
Toothbrush symbolizes cleanse and purify. Toothbrush are used for brushing the teeth each morning and night. In this sentence, Offred "wish" she had a toothbrush; this shows that she wants to clean herself from the make-up and clothes. The make-up was messed up and this shows that her identity for being a handmaid is being shown. She wants to clean herself from the make-up because she wants to get return back to her original self. The toothbrush symbolizes cleanse for Offred wish she could be clean from her disguise. This shows she doesn't want to continue to carry on the disguise and wishes to be herself again.
This symbol exemplifies the theme, Gilead is flawed because it shows that in Gilead, people could easily conceal their identity as well as reveal it. In Gilead, no one is allowed to hide their self in disguise and run away. The fact that Offred easily disguised herself and entered a club with the Commander and easily return back to herself whenever she wished to, shows that Gilead is flawed.
"He's stroking my body now, from stem as they say to stern, cat stroke along the left flank, down the left leg.... I lie there like a dead bird"(254-255. - Imagery
ReplyDeleteThis quote is an example of imagery because you can clearly visually the Commander touching Offred passionately and slowly. You are able to see how he slowly touches her body from leg to leg.
The theme exemplified in this quote is that women cannot stand up for themselves and are controlled by men. The Commander is touching Offred inappropriately and slowly, because he wants to have sex with her. Offred, being a handmaid and a women, has little to no say and cannot tell the Commander to stop. The Commander touches Offred inappropriately and Offred cannot do anything about it because she is merely a handmaid and has no say.
The words that shows she is not resisting the Commander's urge to have sex are "I lie there like a dead bird". The words dead bird show she is unwilling to stop the Commander and will not do anything to resist his touching. Offred just lays there letting the Commander touch her without standing up for herself, showing the women in Gilead are controlled by men and cannot stand for themselves.
James, calm down, look at the first block of comments from the first post and look at what Ms.Karvunis wrote to me.
ReplyDeleteRobert. The Posts from Monday?
ReplyDeleteVery well Robert. I guess I'll change my topic to a symbol. The Underground Femaleraod is a symbol for the Underground Railroad. Thank you Robert.
ReplyDelete-Jon Castillo
ReplyDelete"pink"(241) is a symbol when Offred is lounging with the other women in the washroom. Pink is a color which is described as pale red. Knowing that the Handmaid's colors are red it suggests the concept of fading away. the color Pink is all throughout the club. The club is an outcast-ed society to the Gilead since prostitution is forbidden in the Gilead. This shows that the Gilead rules do not apply here at the club which indicates that Offred is fading away from it. In addition the "washbasin" too is a symbol. The washbasin is a sink used to wash hands or small objects. Notice how the outfits the women wear are short or small. The concept of washing is cleaning which can also mean that Offred is washing of the Gilead from her hands because she no longer has to worry about it since washing it off will make it "go away". This is similar to the concept of fading away which symbolizes that Gilead is flawed.
John Cruz
ReplyDelete" ...who's wearing a baby blue laced-up Merry Widows and white stocking." (Atwood 242)
Merry Widows is a double entendre. It is another alcohol drink. This si similar to when Offred referred her self to a White Russian. That is another alcohol drink. Although the White Russian could refer to the government system and compare them to Gilead. The Marry Widow is a drink and a play. The play is a light opera. Light refers to the tempo of the play and music. The title could foreshadow a character in Gilead to maybe be left. The word Widow can be related to Serena joy for she had lost her husband to Offred and other women.
Symbolism:
ReplyDelete"I wipe around my eyes, gingerly with my fingertips. Black comes off" (243)
The color black is a symbol for many aspects of the Gilead society. Black is most commonly associated with power and authority. When Offred is washing off her make up, Atwood describes the process as "black comes off". If black is coming off, Offred in a sense is losing power. When she was disguised as a Wife at the club, Offred had the power to walk by herself, drink, and mingle with other people; all things she is not allowed to do as a Handmaid. The "black" mascara that Offred is washing off is a symbol for the lack of power Offred holds without an alter ego.
Jared Elraheb
ReplyDeleteSymbol: “We ascend in the glass half egg of the elevator...” (Atwood 251)
This quote is a symbol of fertility and a flaw of the Gilead society. An egg symbolizes fertility therefore; the glass half egg would represent delicate fertility that is not lawful. If an egg represents fertility, a half egg would represent only part of fertility and the specified process by which it is done in the Gilead society. A half egg would represent only part of fertility because in the Gilead society, the Commander’s wife must be present at the time of mating. If the Commander’s wife is not there, then it violates the law of men and women not being able to be alone or together in any way in the Gilead. This means that according to the laws of the Gilead society, half of the egg is missing and this is because of the violation of the laws of the Gilead. The “glass half egg” is used by Margaret Atwood to symbolize a flaw in the Gilead society because the way sex is carried out in the “club” does not follow the customs of the Gilead society. Therefore this symbol would only be a half egg to symbolize fertility and a flaw of the Gilead society instead of a full and lawful/ legal egg.
I would like to change the word "things" in my previous post to "actions" as I was thinking about the lesson we learned on language!
ReplyDeleteKen Li
ReplyDelete"I left that old hag Aunt Elizabeth tied up like a Christmas turkey behind the furnace..." (Atwood 244)
This quote is an imagery because it describe how Aunt Elizabeth looks like. Offred is saying this like she really meant even though it is not true. Offred says this because it is the only way to keep Moira interested. Moira is one that is telling the story. The imagery is that Aunt Elizabeth is an old hag and yet she is being tied up by Moira. This shows that the Gilead is flawed because the Aunts are suppose to embrace the society. If Aunt Elizabeth is describe as being tie up by Moira, then that means Moira does not embraces the society since the Aunts represent the society. Some of the Handmaids dislike the Gilead which makes Gilead flawed. This might actually foreshadows what can happen if Offred tries to escape later on. If one of the Handmaids dislike the society's natures and rules that means the Gilead is flawed. Moira basically says that she ties up someone who embraces or represents the Gilead, it means that the Gilead is flawed.
Imagery- "He pulls down one of my straps, slides his other hand in among the feathers, but it's no good, I lie there like a dead bird" (254-255).
ReplyDeleteThe Commander is shoes off laying down on the bed with Offred feeling comfortable but Offred doesn't feel this way, "The fact is that I don't want to be alone wit him, not on a bed. I'd rather have Serena there too. I'd rather play Scrabble" (254). The Commander is simply overpowering Offred at the moment by showing that he wants to be intimate. Even though Offred doesn't show any interest in being intimate, she knows she can't do anything to stop him. This shows the Commander's power. Offred feels she has to repay or owes the Commander for what he is doing for her so decides to let him do as he pleases.
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ReplyDelete"They're very clean minded these days" (248). (D.E.)
ReplyDeletePeiQing Huang
ReplyDeleteSymbol: “black van” (243)
The “black van” that Moira mentioned in her escaping is a symbol for the theme of dystopia. In Gilead, black is the color for the Commanders. Commanders are supposed to have power in the society and that they are clean and pure. However, in this case that Moira uses black, Moira uses it to describe a van that is use for escaping, and said it is the only way out (243). Black used in this context shows that it is not just the color for the powerful and purified Commanders, but also the color for a van that is the only way out of Gilead. This description of the van exemplifies the theme of dystopia. The black in the society shows the Commanders’ power; however, it was also the color of a van that uses to escape the society. The “black van” that Moira mentioned was a symbol showing that Gilead is a dystopia.
So hey guys.
ReplyDeleteI have a different interpretation on Jeffrey's inertia quote.
Inertia is defined as a lack of effort. Instead of Offred being afraid of not doing anything wrong to the Commander, perhaps she is afraid of not trying...sexually. The Commander wanted Offred to kiss him like she meant it, can you imagine his expectations for their sexual encounter without Serena Joy? Offred is afraid that she will just lie there like she usually does, which might lead the Commander to lose interest in her. He is her only ticket out of the household, so she must preform.
teehee sex.
Kassandra wouldn't it be lay because Offred had different meaning to laid, lay, lie.
ReplyDeletePART 2
ReplyDelete"They're very clean minded these days" (248). (Symbol and D.E.)
Besides the real meaning which is showing that the Aunts are very clean and have to do the dirty work after the battle, there is a another meaning to this. After a battle, the Aunts (in other Colonies) have to spend their time cleaning up. They burn dead bodies after the battles. Another meaning to this quote: clean. In the Center where Offred is, the Aunts have connection between each other and rely on other people to get information. This shows that the Gilead society is not “clean” or a utopia because the Aunts also break the rules themselves, yet they punish the Handmaid or torture them with their steel cable as with Aunt Lydia would. Then the word “mind” shows what the policy of the Aunts was: “Start them soon is the policy, there's not a moment to be lost." This meant that the Aunts had to reeducate the Handmaids but to the Handmaid’s themselves, it was brain washing them. Notice how certain words have different meaning based on the class which one was located. Then when it said these days it shows how the society is now, cleaning, reeducating, forced labor, Colonies, Center, etc. Many other people don’t enjoy this and that is why many are attempting to get out there like Moira was telling in her escape.
"row of toilet" (Atwood 241) symbol
ReplyDeleteWhen i seen this i remembered that back in the house hold that they removed anything that can kill someone from the bathroom. Which reminded me of when Moira (not sure correct me if i am wrong)kidnapped one of the aunt and threatened to kill her with the screw for the toilet seat if she didn't give Moira her outfit. The row of toilets synbolizes that hey freedom in the club and they dont have to be watched.
Note:Mrs.Karvunis i didnt have my book because i lost it in school but i found out were it was a like an hour ago so that quote is part of Denise's quote.
Danny:
ReplyDeleteLay is the passive form of lie, so she would prefer to lie than to lay. Lay is kind of like she's already dead.
Also, think about it. Lie can be the present form of lay or it could be the act of telling a lie. So does she prefer to lie about everything?
Deep.
Imagery
ReplyDelete"I left that old hag Aunt Elizabeth tied up like a Christmas turkey behind the furnace..." (Atwood 244)
I think this description is a little weird and different. It lets you imagine how Aunt Elizabeth was tied up but it sounds like a weird description. Moira tied her up like a Christmas turkey. I think Christmas turkey is a little bit weird. Christmas has to do with Christmas. Turkey however has to do with Thanksgiving. I don't understand why the author would put Christmas and Thanksgiving together. I think this quote leaves a funny image in the reader's head. The author probably did this on purpose to further emphasis the theme that Gilead is not perfect.
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ReplyDelete"I wipe around my eyes, gingerly with my fingertips. Black comes off" (243)
ReplyDeleteI interpreted this quote differently from Sarah. Sarah thinks that Offred is losing power. I think that the black that is coming off is supposed to represent the commander. Before this quote, Offred is with Moira. Moira is telling her story. Offred realizes that Moira is changed. I thinks Atwood puts this quote in to show that even though Moira has changed, Offred is still going to be rebellious. Since she is whipping off the black, black being the color which represents the commander. This quote shows how Offred is going to stop giving in to the demands of the commander, and do whatever she feels like. Since she is removing the black.
David Sosa
ReplyDeletesymbol
“the Aunts and even the Center were hardly common knowledge. It was all secret at first, behind barbed wire” (245)
Barb wire is a symbol that represents the wall. This symbol proves that society is flawed. Because Moira mentions that some of the most important aspects of the Gilead society that being the strict reeducation of women into handmaid's in the red center, were not told to the rest of the world, this shows that even those in charge of Gilead knew they were doing something wrong that the general public would disagree on. Because the red center and even the aunts who's sole purpose were to educate women into giving up free will for breeding purposes were not told beyond Gilead, society is flawed. Those in charge of Gilead knew the outside world would look down on this law and so did not mention it. What goes on within Gilead has stayed within society which has been physically separated from the rest of the world by the wall which also contains barbed wire. The barbed wire, or wall has kept the world from knowing what Gilead leaders understand is looked down upon. Because even those in charge of Gilead know there doing something wrong, society is flawed.
Ken posted earlier with the same quote, but I have a different explanation/perspective.
ReplyDelete"I left that old hag Aunt Elizabeth tied up like a Christmas turkey behind the furnace." (244)
The word “turkey” is a double entendre and it shows how Gilead is flawed. A turkey can mean the bird that is traditionally eaten on Christmas or it can be slang for a person who is a failure. The Gilead teaches Christianity in order to create distinction between the current society and the sins of the past. Christmas is also celebrated by Christians as the birth of Jesus Christ, so it is an important holiday to them. Since Aunt Elizabeth is described as a Christmas turkey, she represents a failure to the traditions of Christians and the Gilead. Genesis 1:28 says "Be fruitful and multiply", which is the motto for the Gilead society. Women are only worthy as vessels for reproduction, and if they cannot serve this purpose, they are useless. Aunt Elizabeth is a turkey because she cannot reproduce and is therefore a failure as a woman. This is ironic because the Aunts teach the Handmaids that being infertile is a waste while they themselves cannot reproduce anymore. This shows that Gilead is flawed because the Aunts hold more power over the Handmaids while the Handmaids are the ones that can reproduce.
Brandon Acosta
ReplyDelete"...tied up like a Christmas Turkey behind the furnace" (244).
I really want to say this is an allusion, but "Christmas" isn't in the bible. But it's associated with the birth of Jesus Christ and a time of the year when people come together and show their love and appreciation. That's why this quote exemplifies the fact that Gilead is flawed.
As one sect of Christianity, it'd be expected that the Gilead appreciates the day of this event. Also, being associated with a happy time, happy thoughts and happy events, that's what would be thought when the word "Christmas" is mentioned. However, in this situation, Christmas is used for a description that reflects something negative. A religious holiday reflects rules beng broken, whereas the religion being followed is supposed to help create a utopia in the Gilead. Therefore, the reference is used to parallel the flawed Gilead as Christmas is used to reflect disobediance in the society.
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ReplyDeleteKiara Roman
ReplyDeletedouble entendre
Break (242) – break is an entendre because as worked on before break means ripped, cracked and not working. In the game pool to start you have to break, separate the balls away and make them into the wholes
Painted (243) is also a double entendre. They like to see you all painted up. Here they mean with a lot of makeup. Many times people would use the word painted to show an expression. For example, He has a painted smile on his face. This example shows that by using the word painted it is stating that “he” has a smile that stays on “his” face for a long time.
Baby blue (242) The baby blue is still blue. In this society blue represents/ symbolizes the wives.The woman on page 242 and shakes Offreds hands, is possibly a wife.