Blog #8

So.. I was not feeling that ending at all.

Personally, I have this type of personality where I like being straight forward with people, and vice versa. The way Margaret Atwood ended the book was just a bit too vague for my taste. I understand how she wants toe leave the reader guessing, and making up his or her own mind, but I guess I am just not creative enough to do that in my mind. I guess theres a hope within my own personal thoughts, hoping that Offred indeed DOES make it safely out of Gilead with Nick by her side. Excuse my french, but it would totally suck if Nick basically set her up to be violated by the Eye. I feel as if it would be very out of character for Nick to betray Offred like that.. especially after taking so long to gain one another's trust.

From Chapter 45..." And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light." (295) I'll admit to my own blog that I admired Margaret Atwood's last line of the book. It had a bit of irony to it because by darkness that Offred describes, it symbolizes the mystery that lies ahead of her, and the light, sybolizing her last few ounces of hope she has for herself in obtaining a better life than what she has/had in Gilead. Also it sort of reminds me of that cliche visual the media gives about seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel". Offred must go through darkness to enter the light. In other words, Offred must risk going through the mysterious corners of the unknown, in order to come across the heaven in which she desires to embark on.

Blog #7

In Chapter 45, Offred says with passion, " I know this can't be right but I think it anyway. Everything taught at the Red Center, everything I've resisted, comes flooding in. I don't want pain. I don't want to be a dancer, my feet in the air, my head a faceless oblong of white cloth. I don't want to be a doll hung up on the Wall, I don't want to be a wingless angel. I want to keep on living, in any form. I resign my body freely, to he uses of others. They can do what they like with me. I am abject. I feel, for the first time their true power." (286)

I pulled this specific passage out of the book because I found that the language Atwood uses here very interesting. I noticed how she used the word " doll" when referring to their version of lynching on the infamous wall. Why would she use the word "doll", instead of the word "corpse, which is what they really are. In my opinion I think she uses that word because she feels as if the women living in Gilead are not really people at all. They are not considered living people to her because their lives are controlled constantly, as if they were dolls being controlled by an upper hand. in this case, the upper hand may be considered the Eye. She describes in this passage here that she is not free in this world. She uses metaphore here, and compares herself to an angel's wings that have been taken away. I still do not understand why Offred is so submissive to higher powers here after hearing about Ofglen's suicide. She probably is so thankful for being basically saved from Ofglen's suicide, that she decides to go on somewhat of a rant in front of us readers.

Definition of the word "abject"

http://dictionary.reference.com/dic?q=abject&search=search

Blog #6

I can't help but think that Nick's relationship is quite beneficial to Offred's life right now. In chapter 41, it shows Offred escaping her current reality of her repetitive lifestyle.

Also, I am curious as to why Offred has been so wreckless with herself during this chapter. For example on page 268 she states, " I went back to Nick, time after time, on my own, without Serena knowing. it wasn't called for, there was no excuse. I did not do it for him, but for myselfentirely. I didn't even think of it as givingmyself to him, because what did I have to give?? I did not feel magnificent, but thankful, each time he would let me in. He didnt have to. In order to do this I became reckless, I took stupid chances. After beign with the Commander, I would go upstairs in teh usualy way but then I would go along the hall and down the Martha's stairs and back through the kitchen...." (268)

I believe that Offred is being so careless and carefree with her actions mainly because her life currently lacks excitement. Her affair with Nick, and also the Commander bring her life some passion, and something to take her mind off her life. The slightest bit of excitement is what Offred is looking for. In her two affairs, she probably finds a reason for herself to live. I am sure that she adores the attention from both gentlemen, even though it is very obvious she still misses her unknown husband Luke. I think that the attention that she recieves from teh Commander, and from Nick still do not make up the attention she desires from Luke, who seemed to be the love of her life. I know this because she still seems to have a lot of flashbacks of memories with Luke. If she were content with her life lovers right now, she would not feel she had to think about her past to retain her sanity.

Blog #5

" When I come out he's lying down on the king-size bed, with, I note, his shoes off. I lie down beside him, I don't have to be told. I would rather not; but it's good to lie down, I am so tired. Alone at last, I think. The fact is that I don't want to be alone with him, not on a bed, I'd rather have Serena there too. I'd rather play Scrabble." (254)

In chapter 39, we see the affair between Offred, and the Commander escalate into him renting out a hotel room for them to have sex. I feel as if Offred is somewhat of a tease to the Commander because she does not once say "no" to him. She probably does this because she is affraid of making him angry, or she might just enjoy his company, and she is afraid that he will leave her. It is interesting to me how she describes in this quote above that she is given this freedom with Commander, and she is able to clearly see her true feelings for the Commander. For some reason, she still does not enjoy the sexual intercourse with her so-called "boss", mainly because she has done it before under different, more controlled circumstances. I do not understand why she would want Serena there. It is very ironic that she would want Serena there because she finally alone time with the Commander, yet she does not want to be alone anymore. I am also confused with Offred's feelings for the Commander; I wonder if it is a crush, friendship, or infatuation due to loneliness?


"It's the least you can do."(255) I find this part, when Offred says this to herself very funny because after all of the nice gestures from the Commander, Offred must pretend to enjoy her time with him.

Blog #4

Chapter 34 in the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood was an eye opener for the reason why the society of Gilead was created. It was pretty much created because the males of the world had nothing to want anymore, and also the world of Gilead could protect women from anymore harm. In my opinion I do not think that keeping the women, especially handmaid's sheltered behind these walls because without exposure, the women will know nothing other than their life in Gilead. If Gilead were to be destroyed, the women would be left without any guidance of some sort. I guess it is a nice idea that Gilead provides every woman with a spouse, and someone to have babies with, but the fact that it is not under their control, and they live their lives in a monotonous, cycle, where they have no way out.

What I don't understand, is the purpose of the Prayvaganzas that the women of Gilead attend. How could the "Eye" of Gilead allow for girls as young as 14 years old to get married? I would think that it would be more dangerous emotionally for the girl. On the other hand, I guess this type of system works for the girls getting married at 14 because there is a larger chance of the girls to get pregnant, in a longer amount of time. I mean, isn't that the goal of this entire society?.... to make non-deformed babies?!


*This picture above of a young girl is suppose to depict a young girl getting married off in Gilead at the age of 14 years old... it might be a bit over exaggerated.. haha

Blog #3

So, currently I am a little bit confused about the relationship between the commander and Offred. I cannot really decide whether their relationship is an emotional, or physical one. If it is for company, why would the commander feel he might need the company of a handmaid, and not his own wife? Also, I wonder fi teh character of Nick is feeling any agony at all for helping Offred have an affair-like relationship with the commander... I always thought he had some personal interest in Offred, as displayed in chapter 2 when he winks at her.

A quote I found interesting on page 165:

" Ofglen and I are more comfortable with one another now, we're used to each other. Siamese twins...Now and again we vary the routel there's nothing against it, as long as we stay within the barriers. A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze."

This quote really shows the way Offred thinks of her life. She compares it to maze, where she and the other handmaids are rats, trapped inside of them. There are a lot of places to go within this maze, however it is still confind, and sheltered. Also, it is nice to see that Ofglen, and Offred have bonded more. I feel like it would be really hard to gain someone's trust, and become their good friend without the sight of many words. I guess after realizing, and understanding that they basically are under the same unappealing conditions, there is nothing to do but accept eachother as friends.

Blog #2

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Blog #1

After reading through the first hundred pages of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, I am not afraid to admit that this school book is quite enjoyable to read. The text, and style of writing is easy on the eyes, and pretty easy to understand. However there are some parts in the book that I am uncertain of. I do not comprehend why, and how their society came to be, and also, why some women in the Republic of Gilead cannot bear children, and if they do they are considered more valuable than those who can't. I think that it is rare in their society to find a women who can become pregnant is because of the radioactive affects on people.... but that is just a guess.

Recently, in my American Democracy class we've been studying the way of the Taliban, and how they treat women. I couldn't help but notice a small correlation between the women living under Taliban rule, and the handmaids in this society. They must clothed a certain way, such that their faces cannot be fully seen by other people, and they are not allowed to speak. The Taliban have very little respect for women, and do not really count them as human beings thus, they tend to punish women for speaking over them. In the book the handmaids have this in common. For example, when buying groceries they must point to a picture of the item they want instead of saying their desired grocery.