Read chapters 34-35 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.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAllusion:
ReplyDelete"For Adam was first formed, then Eve." (211). This is an allusion to the Bible because the quote is stated in the Bible. Atwood alludes to the Bible to show that men is in power over women. God formed men first rather than women first which shows men have power over women.
Bible Concordance:
1 Timothy 2:13
For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
Julio Chen -
ReplyDeleteThis quote exemplifies the theme of power because the Gilead society is based on men having the most power. Women are treated inferior to men. The Gilead society is based on a theocracy system where the law is based on religion. The Bible states that men are the first to be on earth, then the women. This shows power is given to the men because God created the men first.
“It’s hard not to be impressed, but I make an effort…..” (218).
ReplyDeleteThis phrase is a double entendre. The quote could mean that Offred is impressed by the Commander’s appearance. On the other hand, it could also mean that she is impressed by his stature and is beginning to fall for him. Offred is highly impressed by the Commander but makes an effort it to cover it up. The theme that exemplifies this phrase is that Gilead is flawed. Laws are set in order but not followed. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems as though the Gilead society isn’t flawed. When you look closer, however, it is not a utopia. In this instance, Offred is either impressed by the Commander’s appearance or stature, beginning to possibly fall for him .This is against societal rules. Handmaid’s are unable to fall in love with Commander’s. Offred, however, is. This shows that the society is not a utopia. Not everyone is happy and rules are being broken, rather than being followed.
Santos Martinez-
ReplyDeleteAn allusion that is in Chapter 24 is when the Handmaid compares a biblical reading to the ceremony that takes place in the Commander’s home. The phrase is “When the lord said be fruitful and multiply, did he mean this man?” (218). This is an allusion because it makes a reference to the Bible and one of its readings. The theme here is religion because when Offred makes the biblical reference of the Lord and when he says be fruitful and multiply, she thought f multiply in humans as a husband and wife. What goes on in the Gilead is that the Commanders have intercourse with the Handmaid with the wife present in the same room. All the Commanders do this to their Handmaids and wives. When Offred says “did he mean this man?” she was questioning if when God said what he said, he meant by one man because that was what was going on in the religious society.
And for some reason my name here is xemoxkiddx. Please ignore that.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteImagery:
ReplyDelete"Each has a submachine gun slung ready, for whatever dangerous or subversive acts they think we might commit inside. (213)"
This phrase indicates that the Gilead society is flawed. There are Guardians holding submachine guns to control the people. If this society was a utopia (not flawed), there would be no need to carry the guns. The Guardians are holding a submachine gun because there is a possibility of the Gilead society being overthrown (subversive). The people in control of the Gilead society understand that Gilead is not perfect and can possibly turn dangerous or subversive. Therefore, they have Guardians with guns for lookout and to keep everything in order.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSemir Pupovic-
ReplyDeleteImagery:
"His voice is metal-colored, horn-shaped" (218).
This phrase shows imagery because it describes the way the Commander's voice was. Apparently, the Commander's voice is very strong since it is metal-colored. The voice is also horn-shaped, making the voice piercing. The theme exepmlified by this phrase is the theme of power. This is because the description of the Commander's voice is strong and peircing. Among the all the voices around him, it is the Commander's voice that peirces through and is heard the strongest.
“Sometimes though, for the women, they’re for a nun who recants” (Atwood 220)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is a prime example of a symbol within the text residing within chapter thirty-four. It focuses on the flaws within the Gilead society and symbolizes its failure to spread and secure a balanced religion. A nun is a woman who devotes and commits much of her years to a strict religious life. They willingly choose to live their life within prayer and follow the structure and order of belief, securing their place in heaven. They abide by the foundation of Christianity, the founding faith of the Gilead Republic. Gilead culture focuses heavily on the word of the Lord, stressing the importance of God and his miracles. However, even the most loyal of servants to the Lord will quickly disperse, as due to society’s strong ignorance and complacency on the matter, it becomes far too intolerable to pursue. Such a case is seen within Gilead civilization. To recant means to deny or withdrawal a certain belief or ethical code one possesses. It can even go as far as the giving up of one’s religion. When a nun recants, it means that she has chosen to give up her faith and conclude her vow with God, ending her path to salvation. This recantation is a prime example of failure on Gilead’s behalf, as it shows that they are unable to conduct a productive religious following and code, ironically the aspect of study which is the basis of their society.
Symbol:
ReplyDelete"I've read the magizines."(220).
This symbol shows that the Gilead socitey is flawed because of the magazines the Commander read. In the Gilead society nobody is to read or write so as the Commander says he has read the magazines. The Commander has broken the rules and; he does not obey the society. This shows the Commander does not show any sighn of restiction against the magazines, therefore the Gilead is flawed because of the rules he does not follow. When disobeying the law the Commander is not taking the society seriously which shows its flawed.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSymbol: "We know you're seeing him alone" (Atwood 223) This quote shows that Gilead is flawed. Ofglen, another Handmaid, knows that Offred and the Commander are seeing each other, but chooses not to say anything about it. Normally, if a Handmaid was seen with the Commander alone and at night, there would be problems, not to mention a violation of most of the rules in the Gilead society. Ofglen is breaking the rules by not doing anything about this situation. Perhaps Ofglen is helping Offred with her baby, and that's why she doesn't want anyone else to know this. This shows that the society is flawed because many rules have been secretly broken. This symbolizes the beginning of the rules and laws of the society breaking and not being followed, which could lead to the destruction and end to that society.
ReplyDeleteSymbol: "Love" (Atwood 220).
ReplyDeleteI chose this word mainly because it appeared a lot of times. I realized that whenever the topic came up, Offred would remember the meaning of love and what it meant. Offred said that love was abstract and that love was a thing that had to do with affection. It affected a persons emotions. When Offred used "Love" she usually referred to "Falling in Love". When Offred talked about falling, she meant that it was thing where a person just forgets everything and love just seems to take over. Thus not even knowing what goes on and a person just falls.
Allusion- “Notwithstanding she shall be saved by childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (Atwood 221).
ReplyDeleteThis quote alludes to the Bible stating that if women continue to have faith and love along with self-restrain than they will be rewarded with a child. This shows that the Gilead society is flawed because the Commander’s Wife does not have faith or self-restraint. She continues to drink wine with the other wives and therefore is unable to reproduce and have a child. Unlike Offred who is a Handmaid, she has faith and even owns a cushion with the word Faith on it. Although Offred tries to resist, she is falling in love with the Commander. I also think this may be foreshadowing that in the near future Offred will fulfill her duty in the Gilead society and produce a child.
The word "Love" sort of goes with the situations because in the Prayvaganza, the Angels are going to get married to other girls. The marriage was arranged and the Commander believed that the couples were going to live happy lives. Love in the Gilead society is when a household is successfully created without a problem. everybody does their rile without arguing or rebelling.
ReplyDeleteAllusion-"There is balm for Gilead"
ReplyDeleteThis is an allusion I found in bible-gateway. There is a small passage of how the "Virgin Daughter of Egypt" have to go to Gilead and get balm. The passage also mention how the Daughter of Egypt "multiply" medicine in vain or too prideful of her medicine. There was no "healing" for the daughter of Egypt. I guess this mean that she will receive punishment because of her vanities.
“When the Lord said to be fruitful and multiply, did he mean this man?” (218). >allusion<
ReplyDeleteThis is an allusion because Offred doesn’t mean it literally that when the Lord said “be fruitful and multiply”, he wasn’t referring to the only certain men in the Gilead society. God meant all the men of the world. So Offred is alluding to the bible in the sense that god wanted all the men to be able to multiply not only certain men in the society like it’s happening in this society. This also proves and shows the flaws that the Gilead society has. When Offred asks if they meant this old commander, it was showing the theme that the society isn’t fair. It isn’t fair because it’s supposed to be a utopia, a perfect place. When Offred refers to being fruitful she meant the job that the handmaids have in the society. She also explained how she tried to imagine that Commander with his wife and the handmaid all in the same bed trying to be fruitful.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete“She’s holding it, a Polaroid print, square and glossy… ‘You can only have it for minute’” (Atwood 228).
ReplyDeleteImagery/Foreshadowing
This quote is imagery and foreshadowing. Serena Joy brought Offred a picture. This was a picture of Offred’s daughter. When Serena Joy says Offred could only have the picture for a minute, it’s like Offred seeing her daughter again. Offred and her daughter would then be separated again when Serena Joy takes the picture away. Maybe later on, another handmaid would give birth. After a handmaid gives birth, their child would be taken away. This supports the theme that some handmaids embrace Gilead. Handmaid’s job was to produce the babies. If a handmaid gives birth, they would be embracing Gilead, because they are doing their duty.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs the speech from a Commander is being announced, he said, "I will that women adorn themselves in modest apparel...with shamefulness" (221). This symbolizes how women are controlled. In Gilead, the people with most power are the men. The only kind of women that might have the slightest power are the Wives because of their husband. If the Wives did not have a husband, they would not have as much power as they do now. With this, women are degraded to the point where they are told to look "shamefacedness." To the society, shamfacedness is considered being modest. This shows that women are deemed underpowered and controlled.
ReplyDelete"For Adam was first formed, then Eve" (221)
ReplyDeleteThis is an allusion becuse Atwood refers t the Bible. In the Bible,Adam is created first, then Eve is created from Adam. This is a importn phrase because the Commander uses this as a metaphor of the mens status in the Gilead Society. Because Eve was created second,their status in society is lower than men.
Imagery/Symbol- "His voice is metal-colored, horn-shaped." (Atwood 218)
ReplyDeleteI think that this phrase is both a symbol and imagery. The description of the Commander's voice made this phrase an imagery. His voice is described as "metal and horn-shaped". This gives off an image of danger and coldness because of the metal and sharpness". This is also a symbol because it's description is close to something like a knife or something sharp. Perhaps this symbolize his authority; he can hurt people with his words. Anyone who have lower status than the Commander won't be able to talk back.
Citation for the allusion-"There is balm for Gilead."(Atwood 218)
Citation for the Double Entendre- "Falling"
(Atwood 220)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteShelly Guan—
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre: “Falling/ Fell” (225, 227)
In the context, Offred defines the verb “to fall” as “breaking” and “going deeper”. When she uses it in “falling in love” (225), it is used to explain going deeper into the emotion of love. Love is an emotion that builds over time, and the emotion of love makes the relationships go deeper as time progresses. Going deeper means to get more than what was initially given. This is when a person is beginning to fall, or is breaking. When an object falls, it is bound to break piece by piece. Offred calls the women of the past “fallen women” (225). This means that when women were going deeper into love, they were breaking apart. When someone gets what they want, they are never fully satisfied. Women in the past went deeper into the relationship and ended it when they were not satisfied. Women would recycle men when the man is not satisfying (227). So when a woman is trying to satisfy herself by getting the deeper emotions of love, she is also breaking apart because she is losing interest and satisfaction.
This word could display that the Gilead society is flawed because Offred could be comparing how Commanders recycle handmaids. When one handmaid doesn’t get pregnant, the household gets a new handmaid. She is calling women who recycled men “broken”, so she is calling the ethics of the Gilead society “broken”. Gilead also tries very hard to satisfy itself by making a pure society. The more the Gilead society tries to gain satisfaction, the more broken it will become.
"Then she takes the cigarette she's been fiddling with and...(Atwood 206)is a symbol of how the Gilead society is flawed. The word cigarette shows how Gilead is flawed because the cigarette pleasures the human's mind and thoughts by relaxing it. In the Gilead society, women are not allow to have pleasure or any type of pleasure. This shows that the cigarette is a flaw because Serena smokes and she gave Offred a cigarette. When Offred got the cigarette this shows she has the access to the outdoors, the right to read and write, to speak freely, and express emotions because right now Serena is treating Offred as if Offred's one of the wives. This is a flaw because the handmaids aren't allowed to read, write, go outside and express and feelings or emotions.
ReplyDelete"Let Women learn in silence with all subjection." (Atwood 221)
ReplyDeleteThis is an allusion to the bible. In 1 Timothy 2:11 it says that all women shall learn in quietness. On page 221 is explains how the Commander repeats the word all. What the Commander says can mean a lot of things. Beginning with breaking the quote down first. All women, this includes all women such as the Ecowives to the Commanders wife. These women are to learn. In silence could perhaps be in Gilead only, no outside influence. subjection means laws or under a rule. So now with that all said women are to learn in Gilead, and under Gilead's rules. As the story proceeds Offred only learns with on Gilead. The things she is learning about may not be what Gilead wants but that just shows how Gilead is slowly being corrupted. The other women that do embrace Gilead such as Aunt Lisa learn in silence. Theme would be somewhat political. Political because the Commander is giving orders to the women.
Charlie Perez
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre - "Saved by childbearing, I think" (221).
This phrase is a double entendre because it shows a different meaning in the view of religion and the Handmaids. In the Christian sect that the society follow, they are taught that god will give them salvation if they are fruitful and provide their society with children. Children ensure the future of the GIlead society. The Handmaids are taught that childbearing is their ultimate goal in life. In the view of the Handmaids, child bearing was their only means to be "saved". In their sense of the word, it means that they wont be sent to the Colonies and they can continue life in Gilead. Th Handmaids have to make sure that they have a child, so they could be saved from becoming Unwomen. The theme shown in this phrase is Social Hierarchy. This shows social hierarchy because it shows salvation in the different perspectives of those of the GIlead. The lower class Handmaids see childbearing as a salvation from the Colonies. The Higher classes see Childbearing as a salvation for Gilead and of the souls of the Handmaids.
Imagery
ReplyDelete"I sit at the table, eating creamed corn with a fork. I have a fork and a spoon, but never a knife. When there's meat they cut it up for me ahead of time, as if I'm lacking manual skill's or teeth. I have both, however. That's why I'm not allowed a knife."(228)
Explanation
The imagery in this quote shows how flawed Gilead is. The public is supposed to believe that Gilead is a perfect place, a utopia. However, the actual citizens are depressed due to the situation they are in. Offred is not given a knife because the officials of Gilead realize that the people are not happy and are willing to end their lives to get away from the troubles of Gilead. Officials can not take the chance and give the handmaids knives due to the chaos that would ensue if the handmaids were given power, an ability to end their lives or the lives of others.
"We've given them more than we've taken away, said the Commander." (Atwood 219) [Allusion]
ReplyDeleteThis quote is an allusion to a popular phrase in the Bible: "...The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away..."(Job 1: 20-21) This allusion, in the original Biblical context refers to God's power in Chrisitianity and how God's judgement is final and unquestionable. This theme of power is similarly expressed in The Handmaid's Tale, as the elite classes, led by the Commanders, make the decisions in the Gilead. However, the word choice in the Commander's quote sweetens up and makes the Biblical phrase less harsh. This is to convince those who doubt Gilead that laws regarding the young girls are righteous. The followup of the quote also involves persuading doubters, whether existant or not, that the arranged marriages established for the girls are the solutions to past "problems."
"The marriages are of course arranged. These girls haven't been allowed to be alone with a man for years; for however many years we've been doing this." (Atwood 219).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is and allusion to the Medieval era because to have an arranged marriage was a common idea in the Medieval period. This idea is also oppression of women because the women are not free to choose the man they want to be witch as with Offred. An arranged marriage is when the families decide who gets married to whom against their will of choice. This quote is a flaw to Gilead because women have no freedom to chose what they want as is the case in Iran because in Iran the women wear veils and in Gilead as the book states "twenty veiled daughters" (Atwood 219). In today's society Iran has flaws such as these because in a modern society, women should have freedom and Iran is a country that prevents women from showing their faces. In today's society everyone has freedom so it is pointless to keep women as property as in Iran and in the Medieval era. To keep a person as though they are property is a flaw because it would be like pushing the clock back on history to the time of slavery and as the U.S has learned, to keep people as property is a flaw to society.
Ken Li
ReplyDelete"Colonies" (Atwood 220)
The word "Colonies" is an allusion because it alludes to global history. In the beginning, colonies were set up for the colonizing countries to gain goods. The colonizing countries send back product that does not satisfy the people in the colony. This term basically goes along with the women in the Gilead. The Unwomen are the unsatisfied goods. The Unwomen are sent to the colony because they cannot have babies. Women that cannot have babies are consider as useless to the Gilead which is the same as the colonizing country. Therefore theme in this word is that the Gilead is flaw because of women who cannot have babies are sent to the colony. This shows how unfair the society is to the Unwomen. Women are being treated inequality in which their rights are being abuse as well.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Prayvaganzas" (Atwood 220) -Symbol
ReplyDeleteAtwood uses Prayvaganzas as a symbol to represent how Gilead society is flawed. "Prayvaganza" is a neologism. The word does not exist in real life, but it represents a real life concept. Religious infatuations are criticized by this one word. Gilead society is strict to Biblical traditions, and the Eyes will murder and humiliate anyone who does not fulfill their Biblical duties. The society can no less be described as brutal. Yet, Prayvaganza is such a innocuous name for an event held by people who murder others constantly.
This is shown in all sects of Christianity. Each sect seems to have the time to advocate the destruction of anything they do not agree with. Oftentimes, they want a bloody, satisfying end to whatever they hate. However, amongst themselves, they celebrate their own beliefs peacefully.
It is a ridiculous name for a ridiculous society. Gilead is flawed because they are too blinded by their hatred for anything not religiously moral to notice that the idea of a Prayvaganza is uncharacteristic to what they usually do. Gilead society is two-faced. On one side, they are bloodthirsty and violent. On the other, they have such joyous occasions like the Prayvaganza!
In short, Gilead society is just as hypocritical as Christian societies in real life, but they kill whoever would try to stop the ignorance amongst themselves. A hypocritical society can never be successful. Eventually, their actions would contradict their beliefs in a more obvious way. Gileadeans bask in their own ignorance, and they are oblivious to the truth. Gilead is logically flawed.
Ken Li
ReplyDeleteThe way "Colonies" shows that Gilead is flaw is by showing how the women's rights are being abuse by the Gilead. Even if a women cannot have a baby, they should not be treated inequality as women who can have baby. The Gilead only favors women who can reproduce which the other women's right are being abuse. This shows that the Gilead is flaw. The Colonies represents women's rights abuse. When a woman's rights is abuse, therefore the Gilead is flaw.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMaureen McCarthy
ReplyDeleteSymbol: All
"with ALL subjection... All, he repeats."(221)
This word is a symbol because the man repeats the word all to show emphasis. When a word is repeated in a book, it must have some sort of extra meaning to it. In this case, the word 'all' signifies the women of the Gilead and their will to be a subject of society. When the man repeated it, he wanted every inch of every woman to give themselves to society and showed it through his emphasis. Subjection means to be a subject of something, so the man wants the women to give themselves away fully to the Gilead. The fact that it is repeated means that the man does not trust the women to listen to him. This shows that the Gilead is flawed. The Gilead is made of conformity and having no independence, especially for the women and Handmaids. If the women do not all subject themselves to the Gilead, it means they still have individuality. It shows they still have their emotions and opinions to hold onto, and they are not true believers in the Gilead. They are not loyal because they do not want to give up all their emotions and bodies to the Gilead. The Gilead needs women to reproduce. If the womens will to be subjected is flawed, the functioning of the Gilead is flawed too.
Symbol- “...I imagine these Angels and their drained white brides…ignominious failures, cocks like three-week-old carrots, anguished fumblings upon flesh cold and unresponding as uncooked fish” (222)
ReplyDeleteIn this section, the Angels cocks are being compared to three-week-old carrots, I see this as a symbol because the “three-week-old carrots” represent the men’s inability to reproduce. Offred is insulting men and their inability to reproduce so she calls them failures for not being able to do what puts them in power above women in the Gilead society. The theme exemplified in this phrase is Gilead being dystopian, containing a flaw within the society for the men’s inability to reproduce. Men are expected to fulfill their duty by impregnating the Handmaids but because of their fail to fulfill this, Offred refers to them as “ignominious failures” at the same time making fun of them by comparing them to useless carrots. The word choice exemplifies this theme because of Offred’s comparison of cocks to expired, useless carrots and in a way she can be referring to the idea that the men are useless for not being able to reproduce showing the flaw Gilead holds for the men’s inability.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDouble Entendre
ReplyDelete“So tall and changed. Smiling al little now, so soon, and in her white dress as if it for an olden-days First Communion” (Atwood 228).
This phrase represents a double entendre because it could mean, by the white dress, that her daughter is pure and innocent, yet she is considered an unbaby. The color white symbolizes purity and a cleansed soul in Christianity, the religion that this entire society is possibly based off of. This is also ironic, how she is wearing a white dress but is an unbaby. The other meaning to the phrase can be alluded to Christianity. As a girl, to most first communions, a girl would wear a white dress to show that she is freed of sin and is pure, ready to join the community of other Christians, which is the point of the first communion. Offred’s daughter was dressed in a “First Communion” type of way, ready to follow the Gilead society basically, but she is an unbaby. This is also ironic because white should symbolize that the women are ready to wear red and be a handmaid, joining the community, but her daughter is not and will not as she is an unbaby.
Imagery- "flag waved from a hill top in rebellion"(Atwood 222)
ReplyDeleteThis phrase is an imagery that gives an emotion of freedom. The "flag of rebellion" gives the message away. In the Gilead society, a word mention of rebellion can get a women a ticket straight to the Colonies. Writing is also forbidden. The image of how the flag waved in hill top gave the Handmaid a feeling of freedom. The theme that's exemplified in this phrase is the flaw of Gilead. Rebellion and freedom is considered forbidden in Gilead society. This imagery shows the flaw in Gilead because this imagery shows an individuality.
Theme exemplified in the allusion-"There is balm for Gilead."
The theme that's exemplified in this phrase is power. The Daughter of Egypt "multiply in remedies/medicine" in vain. She was vain and result in being unable to heal herself, so she was punished. In Gilead society, Handmaids were only good for reproduction, they weren't allowed make-up. Make-up are considered as vanities. The phrase exemplifies power because this shows that Handmaid having little power.
Hey Sally, it's "There Is a Balm in Gilead"(218) not for Gilead. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteimagery- "Then there's a long prayer, about unworthy vessels, then a hymn" (Atwood 218)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is an example of imagery. You are able to think about the people of Gilead slowly praying without paying much attention or interest into what they're saying. You can visually how the people praying don't seem to have much interest in their eyes as they pray about what Offred calls "unworthy vessels".
This quote shows how the Gilead is flawed. Although the society is based on the Bible and its teachings and readings most people don't seem to care or have strong interest for it. Most of the people in the society don't care for the extreme beliefs of the Bible and just do the rules and laws so they don't get killed.
The quote shows the Gilead is flawed by refering the prayer to "unworthy vessels". Offred doesn't even care to know who she is praying to and feels it is not important. Offred and the people of Gilead feel praying is boring and they don't even respect who they are praying, insulting God. The lack of interest Offred has in praying shows how no one cares about the Bible's teachings and that people in the Gilead do it so they won't be punished and killed.
Evan Rucker
ReplyDelete"There is a balm in Gilead" (Atwood 218)
This is a reference to the Bible (Genisis chapter 37) in which Joseph carries a balm from Gilead (hill of testimony, Genisis 32:21). A balm is similar to an ointment, and the balm of Gilead is supposed to heal anything. The fact that Moira instead says "There is a bomb in Gilead" (Atwood 218) is ironic because instead of saying "balm" which is for healing she says "bomb" which is for destruction, the polar opposite of healing. This shows how the society is flawed.
Additionally, in the poem "The Raven" Edgar Allan Poe says "is there a balm in Gilead?" The balm is a metaphor for hope, for him to heal his emotions. The fact that the raven replies "Nevermore" implies that his hope is false. It is possible that when this is said in "The Handmaid's Tale" it is a reference to this, and is stating that all the hopes, aspirations and morals of Gilead are flawed.
-Jon Castillo
ReplyDelete"She means the part about sobriety. It is safe to talk again, the commander has finished the main ritual and they are doing the rings, lifting the veils. Boo, i think in my head. Take a good look, because it's too late now. The Angels will qualify for Handmaids, later, especially if their new Wives can't produce." (Atwood.221)
The Wives are drunk and the Handmaid's are taking the opportunity to talk. This shows Gilead is flawed since the Handmaid's are breaking the rules as they talk. When Offred said"the Angels will qualify for handmaid's" she meant that they will not be such a high rank since their wives can't reproduce since they are too old.This shows Gilead is even more flawed since the Angels or the Commanders Wives no longer embrace the Gilead purpose because they can't Reproduce although they are a high rank in the society.
PeiQing Huang
ReplyDeleteImagery:"Weep" (227)
Weep is an imagery that readers can picture while reading. I think this verb exemplifies that Gilead is flawed. In chapter 35, Offred said she was weeping. When you weep, you must have tears. When you tears, that means you are sad or not happy with something. Offred lives in the society of Gilead, and from the middle of her recalling of memories, she just weep. This shows that she is sad because the society is not perfect as it is supposed to be because Offred is tearing about it. If Gilead is an utopia, then Offred won't recall for memories and will just live happily with the rest of her life. However, she thought back of how life used to be in the pre-Gilead society, and she weeps. Offred weeping is an image that Atwood created to show that the society of Gilead is not perfect, and it is flawed.
James Chen
ReplyDeleteDouble Entente:
- "Balm/Bomb" (218)
- "There Is a Balm in Gilead"(218)
- "There Is a Bomb in Gilead"(218)
Both balm and bomb are pronounce almost the same way. Balm is known to be some sort of substance for soothing or remedying a irritation. Bomb, on the other hand is known to be violent and powerful weapon of mass destruction. Both words can be seen as polar opposites, but they sound fairly the same. The phrase was "There Is a Balm in Gilead"(218) and "There Is a Bomb in Gilead" (218). The Commander said Balm and Offred said Bomb. Since the Commander, for the most part, accepts Gilead for what it is, he sees Gilead as a good thing, and he used the word balm. Offred at the moment doesn't accept society and thinks of Moria who rejected society and used bomb. The theme of accepting and rejecting society appears here. The reason being is that, two almost identical sentences have opposite meaning. Both having to deal with how, one feels about society. This obviously supports the idea that Gilead is flawed, since everyone isn't truly accepting the way things are.
NOTE - I realized that sally used the same word, but she decided to explain how this word was a Allusion. Oddly, Sally also included extra info, which made this blog very confusing for me. THANKS SALLY.
Allusion - "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was the transgression." (221)
ReplyDeleteThis is an allusion to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In the story, Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat the forbidden apple, which was against the rule of God. This shows that in the Gilead society, the woman is seen to be going against the law of the society. The women in the Gilead society tends to be misleaded which leads to the transgression. The quote is said by the Commander who also says that "Adam was furst formed" (221). That qoute further explains how the men overpowers the women.
One more thing, although it is a bit off topic. I looked into what i said in class regarding the four horseman of the apocalypse. I'm not quite sure about the Handmaids, but the colors of the Commanders and the Marthas make sense. Rita, one of the Marthas is dressed in pale green, the color of the horseman of death. This is appropriate because Rita is essentially dead on the inside. The Commander is dressed in black, the color of the horseman of pestilence. This is also appropriate due to his feelings of emotional deprivation.
ReplyDeleteI am unsure, however, about the Handmaids. The veil is white, the color of the horseman of conquest. The irony of this biblical figure is that he is portrayed to be a man of purity and righteousness, hence the color white, and yet still brings about the apocalypse. Perhaps the fact that the Handmaids also wear read, the color of war, has something to do with it. The white symbolizes purity, and yet the red may mean that something more evil lurks beneath the surface. It could be a metaphor for how Gilead is flawed, that there is evil hidden in their morality.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAllusion
ReplyDelete"LIke a White Russian, drinking tea in Paris, marooned in the twentieth century" (227).
This alludes to thrre thing: A "White Russian", "tea in Paris", and "the twentieth cenury". Atwood clearly uses this to draw some kind of bcorrelation between these three things. A White Russain is another name for a cocktail. It is made from vodka, coffee and cream, all of which are things forbidden in the Gilead society. However, she is referring to a person. This can mean that it is simply a russain, or it is someone who perhaps holds the essence of liquor or intoxication. Paris is known for being the, or one of the, cities of love. When I researched for tea in Paris I didn't come up with any glaring correlations. Aparently there are many places to get tea in Paris. Marooned means to leave, or alienate, on an island. In a way leaving one to their own fate. The last piece of this quote is saying that the White russain has been abandoned by the twentieth century and perhaps even lost in time because of it.
I think Atwood alluded to these three things to show more of Offred's development. The reference to the cocktail may signify some sort of intoxication. I say it is from the past because Offred is talking about being a refugee. If it is of the past, then it is showing some sort of blissful trance because of the life she was able to lead. Paris I believe is referenced to show that love does not exist. Which it hardly does when someone is drunk say from a cocktail? Not only tha but it doesn't exist now in Gilead which is what Offred was trying to convey to the commander. Marooned by the twentieth century is referenced to show that Gilead is flawed because its laws were put into affect due to the fact of the troubled times. This sentence is comparing both the old and new society of Gilead. It shows how Gilead is flawed and aslo how Offred is becoming an individual by comparing these societies to once things that came so easily to her in her past.
LauraAshley Pfeifer
ReplyDelete"...the Commander has finished the main ritual and they're doing the rings..." (221)
In this quote, "rings" are a double entendre. At this point, the young women are getting ready to become Handmaids. The rings that are given to these young women could have two meanings. Rings could represent elegance and riches. The other meaning of rings is basically a promise or commitment to something/someone. When someone is married, they both are given rings to show their commitment. In this case, this double-entendre would show how the Gilead is flawed. The Handmaids of course do not have elegance, they are only wanted for babies. The Handmaids commitment would be to the Commander who is not truly someone to be committed to. These rings basically mean nothing because the Handmaids aren't elegant and really have nothing to be committed to except their job.
"In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point"
ReplyDelete-Friedrich Nietzsche
Just figured I'd leave that there.
Jon Castillo
ReplyDelete“What we’re aiming for, says Aunt Lydia, is a spirit of camaraderie among women. We must all pull together. Camaraderie, shit says Moira through the hole in the toilet cubicle. Right fucking on, Aunt Lydia, as they used to say.”
Aunt Lydia said that the Gilead ask for the women to be good with each other (definition of camaraderie). When Moira responded she said "shit" . In addition Offred said the toilet cubicle. Cubicle is a small dormitory or room and Toilet was put there to reference shit or poop[excuse my french]. These words are suggesting that the Gilead is a dump or a "shit hole"(I'm sure you guys understand the term). Atwood also included the word "Fucking" in Moira's response which is informal language that has multiple meanings. This word emphasis's the theme that the Gilead is flawed since it is informal talk used to describe the Gilead by the Handmaid's. In addition the Aunt could not agree more which shows she too is flawing the Gilead.
"We've given them more than we've taken away..." (Atwood 219) [Symbol]
ReplyDeleteThis is a symbol representing the Commander being able to give the women a chance to produce. The Commander believes that even though the women aren't free anymore he has still given them so much. He believes he has given them a chance at having a child and living a structred life. He continues by saying "Don't you remember the singles' bars, the indignity of high school blind dates?". This leads me to believe that he wants them to become grown women instead of living the high school years. By saying that the Commander has given them more, it is symbolizing the power he has to take and give freedom to the women.
My pervious blog was wrongi didnt read correctly on what I had to post so this is my real blog.
ReplyDelete"I try to imagine him in bed with his wife and his Handmaid, fertilizing away like mad, like a rutting salmon, pretending to take no pleasure in it(Atwood 218) is an imagery. This quote is an imagery because Offred is using her brain and her imagination trying to imagine the Commander having sex with no pleasure. Offred gives details on how and what the Commander is doing by images in her head. This is imagery because Offred is giving details on how the image in her head looks like. She is using her thinking of how the Commander is doing and what he is doing. The word imagine gave it away. The word Imagine is to is to have a picture mentally. This is where imagery comes from. Imagery comes from imagine. Therefore this quote is an imagery because imagery means the formation of mental images.
"Right fucking on, Aunt Lydia, as they used to say" (Awtood 222)
ReplyDeleteThis phrase contains a double entendre. When reading this, I obtained two meanings. It can mean fucking on as in people are having sex or it can also mean someone continuing to do something. This language Atwood is using shows that the Gilead Society revolves around certain actions. In this society, reproduction occurs without pleasure and would be mentioned as "fucking" which shows little emotion compared to "Sweet loving" which she does'nt say that can mean it is being enjoyed.
Imagery
ReplyDelete"I wipe my sleeve across my face..." (Atwood 227).
This phrase is imagery because the reader can picture Offred wiping her sleeve across her face.
When Offred sees her daughters photo, she weeps. Offred weeping shows she shed tears. Since Offred shed tears, she wipes her sleeve across her face, thus weeping shows her emotions. Handmaids can not show their emotions. Since Offred weeped, she did not follow the rules of Gilead. This shows Offred is an individual. Offred stands as an individual since she sees her daughters photo and weeps.
The phrase "I wipe my sleeve across my face" exemplifies Offred as an individual. Offred weeps and clears her tears with her sleeve. Offred tearing shows her emotions, she misses her daughter. Offred missing her daughter shows she is an indiviaul. Offred is not part of the "utopia" of the Gilead because she did not follow the rules in the Giled. Offred showing her emotions excludes her from the society of Gilead and proves her to be an individual.
Danny Perez
ReplyDelete"Start them soon is the policy, theres not a moment to be lost."
Symbolism:
ReplyDelete“…far back behind the glob shinny surface of this photograph.” (Atwood 228)
The theme this phase exemplified how the Gilead society is flawed. The Handmaid and Commander’s Wife are not allowed to have any possession of magazine, documents or picture. When Serena Joy showed Offred the picture Offred’s daughter proved that the Gilead society is flawed. Serna Joy represents the strict rules of the Gilead and she, herself, broke the rules by showing Offred a restricted picture. This was not allowed in the Gilead society since they have a strong belief on censorship. The word choice Atwood used to describe the picture was glob shinny surface.” This was how normally picture felt and seen like during their times. Ultimately, the Gilead society is flawed the moment Serna Joy showed Offred the picture.
Juan D. Garcia
ReplyDelete"The Commander looked at me with his candid boy's eyes" (220)
This is an example of imagery and it is also ironic. Margaret Atwood describes the Commander's eyes as candid as a boy's. Candid means honest and sincere. This is how the Commander managed to keep his face thought the "ceremony". However, Gilead is supposed to be such an honest and good society that the Commander is having an "affair" with Offred that the society is being flawed and is not working out the way it is supposed to. This is the ironic part and it is a satire to the Gilead society. The society which is supposed to be pure and honest and good, is actually full of lies, and is not keeping up with religion and their culture.
Danny Perez
ReplyDelete"Start them soon is the policy, there's not a moment to be lost."
PART 2: Sorry I had to take this as quickly as possible before anyone else.
In this phase it shows a double entendre and how the Gilead society is flawed. This quote shows how the Gilead society works in the household. The Aunts must reeducate the Handmaids as quickly as possible. In other incidents when new women enter the Center, they were taken away of their possessions and they get dressed as the other Handmaids, red dress and white wings. The Handmaids are required to do other task like prayers, get grocery, etc. Then there is the Ceremony which must be done on timely basis. The Handmaids must get pregnant as quick as possible because they have a limited amount of time before they are declared an Unwoman. However when Offred was having sex with the Commander, Serena Joy was holding down Offred to make sure no rules are broken. When the Commander was done, he just left and that was it. To increase the chances of getting pregnant, Offred had to still lie down, but Serena Joy told Offred to get out quickly as if Serena Joy already had having sex. This shows that the Gilead society is flawed because Serena Joy is not enforcing the fact that the Handmaids must increase their chances of getting pregnant faster but she doesn’t because the moment was lost (increasing chances of reproduction).
Another instance where Gilead is flawed is with Offred visiting the Commander. She isn’t supposed to visit him because it is breaking a regime. Offred while seeing the Commander more often is noticing that she could use him as a way of escape. She thought of ways of to making the Commander falling for her. However she has limited chances. One wrong move and Offred could be sent to the Colonies. This shows that the Gilead society is flawed because of Offred using the Commander as a plan of escape.
Jared Elraheb
ReplyDeleteSymbol: “In the point of the washroom cubicle someone unknown had scratched: Aunt Lydia sucks.” (Atwood 222)
This symbol symbolizes a flaw within the Gilead society. Aunt Lydia is a character that teaches the concepts and enforces the rules of the Gilead society. By someone writing “Aunt Lydia sucks”, this means that what she’s teaches “sucks” and symbolizes a flaw in the Gilead society. If the followers within the Gilead society feel its teachings suck, then they feel the Gilead society sucks and this would make them non- believers. You can already recognize that someone feels the Gilead “sucks” because they have written on a washroom cubicle and writing is forbidden. Therefore, this symbol represents a flaw within the Gilead society and its teachings.
"Now there's space to be filled, in the too warm air of my room" (224) (symbolisim)
ReplyDeleteThis is the opening sentence to chapter 35 after Offred is confronted by Ofglen. Ofglen tells Offred that her and the other Handmaids know she has been secretly meeting the Commander. At the end of chapter 34 Ofglen tells Offred to find out any information she can, this puts Offred in a difficult situation. The room in this line is symbolism for Offred and her decision on whether or not to report the information she finds out or keep it confidential, ultimately the decision on how she will handle her power. "The space that needs to be filled" is Offred's emotions. To some extent when she is with the Commander, Offred is able to feel things beyond mutuality but at the same time Offred desires to escape Gilead and can use her relationship with the Commander to her advantage. The line "Now there's space to be filled, in the too warm air of my room" is a symbol for Offred's decision because she feels empty and does not know which path to follow in order to "fill" herself up.
Jia Wen Cao
ReplyDelete"So. More waiting. Lady in waiting: that's what they used to call those stores where you could buy maternity clothes" (227).
This is a symbol: "Lady in waiting", because it shows that a woman in maternity waits. In the Gilead society, the Handmaid's job is to reproduce, and once they are in maternity, they are "waiting"; they wait for their result. The result is their future. Women in the Gilead society wait for their future. They can't predict what's going to happen, so they wait. "So. More waiting." shows that there are more than one waiting. This shows that Handmaid's not only wait when they are in maternity, they also have to "wait" for the Commander. The Commander is also a factor for the women's future. The women have to wait for their turn with the Commander in order to give birth and move on. The word "wait" is used multiple times, in the chapter before, everyone in the courtyard "wait" for the Commander to enter (218). The word "wait" symbolizes an aspect of the Handmaid's life.
The theme this symbol exemplifies is culture. It's the way Handmaid's live. They wait for their future. This occurs everyday of their lives in the society.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOnly part way through but Denise and Sally, you used one already used. Robert, an allusion must be a reference toward a written literary text, not time period. Some of you are lost on symbolism.
ReplyDeleteLady-in-waiting and Aunt Lydia sucks are double entendres. What are their dual meanings? Look at the context.
ReplyDelete"This way they're protected, they can fulfill their biological destinies in peace" (219-220).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is a double entendre. It does mean that women protected and are capable of having children in Gilead, but it also means that they have to. The Commmander says "biological destiny" which means that that's all a woman's body is for, to have babies. Although the quote says "they can," as if the women had an option, it actually means, "they must."
Although the Commander phrased it like that, it actually means, "we hook women up with random men so that we can make more babies." The Commander chose to use to words "protected," "fulfill," and "biological destinies in peace" to justify what the Gilead society was doing. By doing so, he gave the quote a different meaning which makes the quote a double entendre.
Vicky Zheng
Evan- Any reference to the text? That is the assignment. Can you find a point where Atwood channels Nietzsche's exact words making it an allusion?
ReplyDelete"...and our soft voices die. He doesn't even have to raise his hands." (Atwood 218) This quote is a double entendre. The double entendre of this quote that one even when they were able to talk they didn’t because she says our soft voices meaning they were talking in a low voice. The other meaning of this quote is that they were scared to even raise their voices when they have to or thy will be punished. The second part is a symbol because the commander didn’t have to do anything for everyone to be quite which symbolizes power and authority.
ReplyDeleteWould love for you to move on beyond curse words as we did a pretty good job deciphering their use today in class. Although, I do like John's pun. No pun intended. Who gets that?
ReplyDeleteBrandon Acosta
ReplyDeleteI know Ms.Karvunis said the early bird gets the worm, but my interpretation is different than Alice's.
"I try to imagine him in bed with his wife and his Handmaid, fertilizing away like mad, like a rutting salmon, pretnding to take no pleasure in it" (Atwood 218).
This is an example of imagery because of the reference of the fertilization being like a rutting salmon. If the process is being compared to a salmon, I imagine roughness and lots of movement. Th imagery shows the effort of this Commander.
Both themes are exempified in this example of imagery:
Offred is an individual- This shows Offred as an individual because the society is supposed to be filled with women that reproduce and hve no emotions. This would cause all of the women to be the same. However, Offred doesn't abide by this rule, and therefore, she still has emotions and imagination. As an individual, she allows herself to fantisize and reconstruct in her mind. The theme is exemplified as a result.
Gilead is flawed- The example shows that Gilead is flawed through the imaginative cremony of Offred. The ceremony is supposed to be without emotions because each person is just dong their part. However, in the example the Commander is enjoying his part of the ceremony, blemishing the goal and roles of the society. The Gilead must be flawed if a major part in the goal is flawed, and it is, so as a result, the theme of the Gilead being flawed is exemplified.
P.S. I'm not doing the part about Aunt Lydia "sucks", but if I had to assume about the double entendre Ms.Karvunis is hinting to, she definitely means the "suck" as in not appealing and not skilled, and then the "suck" that has to do with oral sex. Someone think about that! You're welcome.
"There Is a Bomb in Gilead."(218)
ReplyDeleteThe quote shows how the Gilead society is far from a utopia. The quote was spoken by Moira, who changed what was supposed to be hymn: "There Is a Balm in Gilead." Balms are used for healing purposes. The Balm in Gilead would mean that the Gilead heals anything which would impose that the Gilead is a Utopia. Since Moira would say "There Is a Bomb in Gilead", it shows that the Gilead is not a Utopia since she is not happy with the Gilead and instead of healing, she is basically dying by replacing balm with bomb.
"When the Lord said be fruitful and multiply, did he mean this man?" (218)
ReplyDeleteThe quote is an allusion to the bible. Gilead is based on the moral principle that sex was only meant for populating and nothing more. The quote exemplifies the fact that what Gilead is based on comes from the bible itself. God said to populate and that is exactly what society in Gilead works towards.
Genesis 9:7 (New International Version)
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."
Symbol: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (221).
ReplyDeleteThis goes back to the idea that woman are inferior to men. The Commander is speaking at this point and says this right before he states, "For Adam was first formed, then Eve" (221) which also proves that men come before women. Especially in the Gilead society, women are not granted anymore rights like they once were. This phrase is basically stating that women aren't allowed to teach or have any type of authority over man, but are required to listen and have no type of say. This phrase represents power. In many instances, men have more power than women and are allowed to do more than women. Here in the Gilead society, the Commander, a man, is in charge. Women are separated into different roles and are used by the society according to their role. Men aren't as highly separated or mentioned as much in the story as women. Women aren't allowed to have any type of education and to many people, women who play certain roles such as the Handmaids are considered meaningless once they give birth or aren't able to reproduce any longer.
Anna Liang
ReplyDeleteImagery: “...grunts and sweating, damp furry encounters; or, better, ignominious failures, cocks like three-week-old carrots, anguished fumblings upon flesh cold and unresponding as uncooked fish” (Atwood 222).
This sentence is very important, it not only reveals the thoughts of Offred, but also represents how the Gilead society is flawed; the Gilead society is unsuccessful. Offred is showing her feelings of the Gilead society. The sentence shows that Offred is saying that the way the Gilead society’s working in reproduction is not working. Offred describes how almost all the Commander or men who had power, had all become old, and have no power to produce sperm anymore. So no matter how hard and how much “grunts and sweating” the Commanders and men do, it will still be a huge fail, “ignominious failures”. This sentence shows that the main reason of the failure of the Gilead society is the men, not the women; whom were blamed for not reproducing and having unbabies. The Gilead is flawed, and is unsuccessful.
david sosa
ReplyDelete“start them soon is the policy” (219)
This use of word choice refers to fourteen year old girls being placed in arranged marriages. The fact that the words “start them” are used makes the ordeal seem as if it were school or something positive. The word start is generally a positive word used for starting a race or starting homework so when it is used for the forced marriage of a teenage girl to a coveted solder; the marriage is made to seem positive with the word start since the girls must be married at a young age according to Gilead society. Forcing young girls to marry proves that Gilead is flawed since it is going against ones will and simply morally wrong.
Imagery: "They still unearth a few these days, dredge them up from underground, where they've been hiding, like moles." (220)
ReplyDeleteAtwood uses imagery to show the flaws in the Gilead society. The Gilead is supposed to be Utopian; perfect, flawless, the ideal society. If a society is truly perfect, then
everyone would accept it. This is not the case with the Gilead, because the nuns have to be "dredged" from hiding. "Dredge" means to remove something powerfully, usually with a machine, from the earth. If the nuns have to be forcefully removed from hiding, then the nuns do not believe that the Gilead is perfect. Since there are people who do not agree with the Gilead and try to hide from it, then the society is not a true Utopian society and is therefore flawed.
Symbol "White winged eye"(Atwood 218)
ReplyDeleteThis is a symbol. When ever this description pops up, something
happens that shows that Gilead is flawed. The first time we see it is
when a perpatraitor was convicted and pressed against a van with this
symbol. Now when we see it in chapter 34 we don't really see anything
physical, but the commander gives a speech. When he is talking about
all of the good in the Gilead, Offred is replying with all of the
corrupted in the Gilead. We see this when Offred says that the Gilead
is a bomb, when the commander just said it was a balm.
The white winged eye is also used as a symbol to represent power.
Both of the times we have seen it the people around it are high up on
the social hierarchy in the society of Gilead. This theme is
exemplified when Atwood gives further description of the white winged
eye. White is a color that is used to show purity or freedom. An eye
is used to show that someone is watching you. How can you truly have
freedom if someone is always watching your every move. This shows that
the white winged eye is also a double entandre. These are my findings
about what the white winged eye is.
Kiara Roman
ReplyDeleteAllusion
“a nun” (220) A nun is a member of the community of a religion. They devote to not get married and to stay fresh and non fruitful.
In biblegateway.com there was many sons of nuns. For example Joshua son of Nun, or Hoshea son of Nun. Joshua son of Nun was Moses' helper. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+11:28&version=NIV
Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+13:16&version=NIV
double entendre
Metallic (218)- Unpleasant, having the characteristics of metal, genre
Symbol
Love (220) Love is the word to show how someone feels, especially when a person says "I love you" to another person. That person is telling that other person how they feel. When I think of love i always picture a heart. Love can symbolize the passion someone has towards another person.
Stephanie-
ReplyDeleteNice research. Marooned is the double entendre/symbol as well. Marooned means stranded but also a hue of the color red. There is White, Maroon, Russian implies communism which was abandoned or marooned, and tea time in Paris which is a leisurely activity many Europeans accept as a ritual daily- tea time. Paris is the city of love and also the White Russian is a drink. This one line is so rich with double entendre, symbolism, imagery and word choice. Kudos.
“In the paint of the washroom cubicle someone unknown had scratched: Aunt Lydia sucks. It was like a flag waved from a hilltop in rebellion.” (222)
ReplyDeleteThis is imagery. By writing “Aunt Lydia sucks”, Gilead is flawed. Saying that “Aunt Lydia sucks” shows that Offred isn’t the only person who dislikes Gilead’s teachings. Using the word “sucks” shows that the person does not respect Aunt Lydia and Gilead because it is an informal word. Since other Handmaids dislike Aunt Lydia, Gilead is flawed. Also, by saying that “Aunt Lydia sucks”, it shows that the Handmaids have emotions as well. To dislike is a feeling a person has.
Sorry, Ms.Karvunis, I must have forgot about what allusions are.
ReplyDeleteI would think my post is actually a symbol becasue and arranged marriage is a symbol of control and oppression in Gilead becasue the women are not free to do as they please.
ReplyDelete“I lit a cigarette” (Atwood 224).
ReplyDelete- Symbol
The cigarette is a symbol because in the society now, they are not allowed to smoke cigarettes. Offred is remembering the time when she was trying to leave with Luke and her daughter. Offred smoked a cigarette because she was nervous about crossing the border with forged passports. When she was smoking, she felt happy. The cigarette is a symbol that society is flawed because Offred is remembering what it used to be like when she smoked. Now in the Gilead society, Offred is not allowed to smoke and she is not happy. Offred’s emotions are not being happy. Offred is a Handmaid and she is not supposed to have any emotions. Since Offred has emotions, it shows that she is a human being.