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Bad Religion - Frank Ocean - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMpypbtrcCg

In Frank Ocean’s 2012 song “Bad Religion”, Ocean uses the song to express anguish and pain from an unrequited love. Ocean uses the theme of religion, as well as societal pressures of the time, as a metaphor for chains stopping him from loving the man that he wants to. This relates to “The Handmaid’s Tale” because, just like in Ocean’s song, Offred faces a system that stops her from loving who she wants to love. In the song, Oceans sings, “Ooh-hoo, this unrequited love To me, it’s nothin’ but a one-man cult.” When Ocean says this, he emphasizes how he isn’t able to love because of this system put in place. In “The Handmaid’s Tale”, Offred isn’t able to love who she wants or even be able to have relationships with any man who is not the Commander.

Snow White - Laufey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeG3jPeeMec

Laufey’s single from 2025 titled “Snow White” is a song about the struggles of being a woman in our modern world. With lyrics like “A woman’s best currency is her body, not her brain”, Laufey highlights the objectification of women in society. They are often not seen as actual people, with men often reducing them to symbols of sex or pleasure. This connects to The Handmaid’s Tale’s overall theme and setting of the oppression and objectification of women. Offred, along with most other women in the book, is not seen as a person anymore but instead, objects, means of fertility, or, in the case of unwomen, trash.

Sign of the Times - Harry Styles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4ooNx77u0

The hit single from 2017, “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, is understood to be inspired by two different things: a mother passing shortly after childbirth and the political and economic state of the world at the time. In Styles’ song, he says in the chorus “we’ve never learn, we’ve been here before”, which talks about how humans have not learned from the past, repeating mistakes from before. This relates to The Handmaid’s Tale because, as seen in the book, mistakes of the past have been repeated and expanded upon. The oppression of women, as in the past, is expanded upon in the worst way possible in the book.

A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4

“A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke is one of the biggest songs of the 20th century to carry a message about social change and provide commentary on society at the time. While the song talks about societal reform in a more racial sense, it still applies to any and all groups being oppressed, no matter the reason. I believe this song in particular connects to Offred and her society. Offred is depicted very heavily to be a resilient Handmaid. Although she reluctantly follows her duties as a Handmaid, she stands firm in the belief that one day, she will see her family again and society will change. She states multiple times in the book that the thought of seeing her daughter again is often the only thing keeping her going. Offred’s mindset throughout the book is often an embodiment of this song.

What Was I Made For? - Billie Eilish - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8VLC9nnTo

In Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For,” she explores themes of self-exploration, questioning one’s identity, finding her place in the world, and being objectified. Eilish says, “Takin’ a drive, I was an ideal. Looked so alive, turns out I’m not real, just something you paid for. What was I made for?” This song alludes to the larger meaning of feeling not as a person, but as a doll. This relates to how almost, if not all, the women in “The Handmaid’s Tale” feel. Offred often says how she feels like less than a person, just something to be used to make babies. She’s been stripped of her freedom and her self-autonomy.

Petals (Hole): https://youtu.be/sB5n6wnT61w

Petals by Hole, for me, gives the lasting theme and impression of a woman stripped of everything that kept her feeling human. Listening to it again immediately made me think of Janine (Ofwarren). The chorus of Petals is “Tear the petals off of you, make you tell the truth. Tear the petals off of you.” This evokes imagery of taking someone’s livelihood, reducing them to nothing. In chapter 20 of the Handmaid’s Tale there is a line Offred uses when describing Janine in labor- “Inflated but reduced, shorn of her former name.” (pg 117) Janine, a shroud of a human, someone who (at this moment in the story) has supposedly won the social game of Gilead, who has completed her mission and fulfilled her purpose. In verse two of the song, there’s another line that says, “They will make you so, so cynical. The fire burns the flesh, destroys the best in me that’s old.” I felt like this part had a vivid connection to the way Offred talks about losing her memories of the “before” world, and how she seems to float in between worlds. She doubts herself, and others and it is clear to the reader, who is not shrouded in the fog of Gilead to see that everyone living in it has been brainwashed to accept without question.

Call the Doctor (Sleater-Kinney): https://youtu.be/m3cWY4fliPM?si=O90njTHB_00fx2pW

Call the Doctor has many lines that I feel parallel Offred’s thoughts of Gilead- for example, in the first verse “They want to simplify your needs and wants to sterilize you” This line made me think of how Gilead erodes the handmaids to all be the same, with no individuality so it’s easier to not think of them as people. Another line from the song is “This is love, and you can’t make it” This line connects to Gilead because I feel like a major theme of the book is discussing what “real” love is and what forms it can take. You can’t force love, nor can you suppress it- as is obvious in some of Offred’s more provocative inner thoughts, distance does make the heart grow fonder. This song is also special because, like many Sleater-Kinney songs, the choruses have two voices who are singing/chanting two different messages at the same time. This creates an effect that I think is similar to how I feel reading Offred’s inner thoughts when compared to the things she says out loud.

Shimmer Like a Girl (Veruca Salt): https://youtu.be/EKEYB-y-2_Y?si=ieRc-Fz2RM5FJOv8

The main choruses of this song have the repeating part “Shimmer, sparkle, glitter shimmer while you can.” These lines made me think of how handmaids are viewed in Gilead. They have three chances to get pregnant before they are cast aside and banished from society. The lives of handmaids in Gilead are dictated by their physical abilities. If they are not able to have children, they are no longer relevant. Shimmer like a woman while you are still young, fertile, pretty, desirable. Useful to the continuation of society.

Dramamine (Modest Mouse): https://youtu.be/dXBEuQwy5NU?si=wZCMXjgbhZ6zMI4w

One of my favorite lines of Dramamine is, “We kiss on the mouth but still cough down our sleeves.” I think this line has a really good connection to how Offred discusses many of her relationships with men throughout the book. This could describe her complex relationship with the commander, who makes her kiss him goodnight after each of their secret meetings and wishes she was genuine, or her relationship with Luke in the before times when she expressed concern about her locked band account and job and he didn’t seem to mind her being more or less his property. She says, of that time, that she hadn’t wanted to be intimate with him that night and wasn’t able to pinpoint exactly why. I think this line describes a lot of the performativeness of Gilead, but also of society before. The entire first verse of Dramamine -“Traveling, swallowing, Dramamine Feeling spaced breathing out Listerine I’d said what I’d said that I’d tell you And that you’d killed the better part of me”- makes me think of Moira, especially in the part of chapter 38 where Offred is disappointed by the fact that Moira seems to have accepted her role in this society. Offred says, “She is frightening me now. Because what I hear in her voice is indifference, a lack of volition. Have they really done it to her then, taken away something- what?- that used to be so central to her?” Offred is okay with knowing that, between the two of them she is the one to give up and take her place but the fact that Moira, a character so full of spunk and determination, has been worn down, defeated by the system, is discouraging to her. Finally, at the end of the song, there are these noises that feel like a record-scratch type of breaking out of the rhythm of the song. This reminds me of Offred’s little rebellions in Gilead, her ways of breaking herself out of the droning never-ending loop of the Gilead society.

Song about an Angel (Sunny Day Real Estate): https://youtu.be/ETtXtl-VXcY?si=7zK-RZK7I1dyYLwb

Song about an angel by Sunny Day Real Estate uses a ton of biblical imagery, particularly the image of angels. Similarly, Offred uses a lot of references to angels in the thoughtshots when she thinks about her daughter. The first verse of the song goes, “So I say, still awake Sleep, close my eyes An image of your face Traced in white sand” And I feel that this entire paragraph actually parallels the multiple parts of the book where Offred lays in her room and lets memories of her daughter consume her. The entire song feels like it’s waiting for someone, just as Offred waits for her daughter, Luke, Moira or someone else to come break her out or at least remind her that there’s still other things out there, beyond Gilead.

I HAVE NOTHING- WHITNEY HOUSTON

The first song I chose is “I Have Nothing” By the late Whitney Houston. My reasoning behind why I chose this song is that she deeply expresses her yearning for love and intimacy. The song is all about wanting love and not wanting to lose it. This is a huge part of Offred’s emotional battle. Whitney sings, “I won’t hold it back again, this passion inside, Can’t run from myself, there’s nowhere to hide.” This line reminds me of how Offred feels trapped not only physically, but also emotionally. In a world where love is seen as dangerous and forbidden, she wishes for love and care but knows she is unable to get it. She has nowhere to go due to the fact that her being locked down in Gilead, so she has no distractions to help her run from her emotional distress. So just like in “I Have Nothing,” Offred has her emotions torn between fear and longing. She desires love and intimacy, but she knows how much it hurts to lose it. Whitney Houston truly captures that feeling.

FREEDOM-KENDRICK LAMAR & BEYONCE

This song has a deep connection with the book’s big themes of oppression and the battle for control over justice. “Freedom” is all about fighting back against a controlled society and not letting the chains of oppression break you. In the song, Beyoncé sings, “I’ma keep running, because a winner doesn’t quit on themselves.” Which really reminds me of Offred’s quiet, yet strong determination to survive Gilead, even why it tries to take everything away from her, including the future she desires. In a world where women have no rights or independence, she still holds on to her memories, her emotions, and her sense of self. Even though she can’t openly rebel, her small acts are still impactful. Like secretly meeting with Nick and taking control of her memories from her past life, shows that her spirit has not been crushed. “Freedom” captures that energy of a brave spirit. Both the song and the book demonstrate that even in the most oppressed environments, people still find ways to resist, hope, and liberate.

ELASTIC HEART-SIA

Sia’s song “Elastic Heart” connects incredibly well to the book and the life Offred lives in Gilead. She sings about surviving brutal emotional pain and refusing to break. Even after being torn apart, it is still standing tall and willing to break through. In the song, she sings, “I’ve got thick skin and an elastic heart,” which fits Offred’s silent strength. Even though the wrath of Gilead takes away her name, freedom, and her sense of identity, she still hopes to persevere and does so by taking the first steps to hold onto herself inside. The phrase “Elastic Heart” represents having a strong heart and being unbreakable. It’s also what keeps Offred going; she refuses to snap under the pressure of Gilead, and the leaders like the Commanders or the Aunts who have physical and mental control over her. Sia singing, “You did not break me,” is a representation of what Offred would say in response to the system that tried to break and erase her. In all, this song embodies Offred’s spirit to survive and fight to come back.

THE NIGHT WE MET- JAMES HURON

I chose this song because James Huron sings it in a very detailed way that paints a great picture for me. The deep meaning of the song is based on looking back on the past and feeling the pain of losing something you can’t get back. When Huron sings, “I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you,” it reminds me of Offred’s feelings with her daughter and Luke. The man she dreamed of being her husband and having a family with. But those memories also haunt her, knowing that Gilead took away all of her possibilities of a good future. Offred uses these memories the same way James uses these lyrics. Holding onto love, identity, and meaning in a world attempting to erase them.

THE SOUND OF SILENCE- SIMON & GARFUNKEL

“The Sound Of Silence” captures the kind of fear that lives in Gilead. Which is a quiet and controlled terror where the women and even men are scared to speak the truth. The lyrics, “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening”, describe how Offred and the other citizens live in constant fear. Silence becomes a necessary device for them to survive. Like Offred, the song represents being in a place surrounded by fear. The song also sings, “And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made”, which connects how Gilead uses religion to demonstrate it as a weapon to control people, taking advantage of their obedience to the religion they present. But Offred’s silence isn’t a reflection of weakness. It’s forced by the system. Like the song represents, showing how fear can be spread through a society until everybody knows how to hide their voice.

Alewife - Clairo “Alewife” is a song about reflection on a really challenging time in the artist’s life. It was a time when she was incredibly depressed, even to the point of attempting to commit suicide. Offred considers committing suicide several times throughout the book. One time in particular stands out where she describes how she could do it: “I think about the chandelier too much, though it’s gone now. But you could use a hook, in the closet. I’ve considered the possibilities.” (Page 195) After constant pressure from the rigid and controlled life she has to live, Offred wonders whether it would be better just to be dead then in her current situation. She even mentions that she has “considered the possibilities,” implying that she has thought about committing suicide several times before. In Alewife, Clairo explains that her friend’s actions were the reason she didn’t succeed in her suicide attempt. This makes me wonder if Offred has anyone in her life that would do the same for her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBjmnqewTeo

Someone New - Hozier “Someone New” by Hozier, has a completely different vibe from the previous songs. It is much more upbeat and lively, however the lyrics connect to the Handmaid’s Tale. In the chorus, Hozier says “I fall in love just a little, oh, a little bit every day with someone new.” Offred loving someone is essentially banned in Gilead, however she previously loved Luke, and later falls in love with Nick. While I believe Offred’s love for Nick is real, I also think that their relationship is a rebellion to the system she has to live with. Hozier also says, “There’s an art to life’s distraction To somehow escape the burning wait, the art of scrapin’ through.” Nearly the entire story, Offred is trying to escape her reality, like many others. Her reflections are one way to do this, and I think that they are a huge reason that she doesn’t go crazy even with all the pressure that is on her at all times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPJSsAr2iu0

What was I made for? - Billie Eilish In “What was I made for,” Billie Eilish reflects on her struggles in finding a purpose in the context of expectations from society. Some main points of this song are body image issues and finding herself in a society centered around male gaze. This shows connection to the struggles that many women must consider in Gilead. “There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law.” (Page 61) While men are considered to be more than their bodies and are able to attain actual power, women are judged on whether they can reproduce or not. This is essentially the only thing that gives value to a woman in Gilead other than her ability to provide pleasure. This narrative is pushed from every angle in Gilead, causing Offred to consider the contrast between her role as a handmaid and her identity as an individual throughout the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8VLC9nnTo

Sun Bleached Flies - Ethel Cain This song’s dark and melancholic tone reflects the reality of Gilead, and Offred’s position in it. It seems as though there is no one who can actually help Offred. Gilead is also a society built on a distorted version of Christianity, said to be built on ideals from the old testament. Similar to Offred’s situation, “Sun Bleached Flies” emphasizes Ethel Cain’s relationship with God, saying “God loves you, but not enough to save you.” Similarly, Offred has a conversation with God in her head during one of her periods of reflection: “I feel very unreal, talking to You like this. I feel as if I’m talking to a wall. I wish You’d answer. I feel so alone” (Page 195) It is not made especially clear that Offred feels betrayed by God in this scene, but it is clear that she feels alone, and wishes God would help her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ecmtqd7LE

Fable - Gigi Perez Fable is one of the songs that I think encompasses this story the best. It brings up themes of grief, finding purpose, and religion, which the Handmaid’s Tale clearly also does. Showing the theme of finding purpose, Gigi Perez says “Someone to tell me we’re not born to be mules in this.” The handmaids are similarly “born to be mules” in Gilead, valued by their ability to fix a problem and nothing more. This song also relates Offred’s feelings of religious (and non-religious) guilt. “When I lifted her urn. Divinity says, “Destiny can’t be earned or returned.” I feel when I question, my skin starts to burn. Why does my skin start to burn?” Her “skin starting to burn” is reference to Gigi feeling guilt after questioning her beliefs, something the Offred similarly struggles with throughout the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiCJGXnEtIQ

PROCESS DOCUMENTATION — in this box, include evidence of your mind at work: brainstorms or partial drafts in your class notebook, rough drafts of artwork, typed stream-of-consciousness while you listen to potential playlist songs, etc.

List of potential songs from my notes app: Billie Eilish - What was I made for? Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license Taylor Swift - The Man Hozier - Take Me to Church Lorde - Glory and Gore Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out Lana Del Rey - Born to Die Ethel Cain - Sun Bleached Flies Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? Radiohead - No Surprises

Moira

                     Katy Perry - Roar 

I chose this song as a choice to describe Moira because it shows her process through the different aspects of empowerment, defiance, and resilience. As quoted, “I don’t want her to be like me. Give in, go along, save her skin. That is what it comes down to. I want gallantry from her, swashbuckling, heroism, single-handed combat, something I lack.” (chapter 38, pg. 249). This shows that June sees resilience in her own friend. I feel like that in the latest chapter, we got to learn that Moira is a constant fighter who will find ways to let her voice be heard, no matter what she goes through. In some moments, she might be able to be silenced, though that doesn’t last for long. This is relatable to Katy Perry as she said in the song, “ You held me down, but I got up…” Representing that no matter what one person could do to her, she will still fight.

Serena Joy (The commander’s wife)

K. Michelle - A Mother’s Prayer

I chose this song for Serena Joy because she shows that she has a mother mentality. You can see that she really wants a child to be able to protect, love, and cherish. As quoted in the song, “ ​​the first time I saw you I knew my life had changed, I would have been dead and gone, but I found purpose when I brought you home, and even though I’m not there to tuck you in every day.” This just resembles how I imagine Serena Joy as a mother. She has shown in several ways that she would do anything to have a child. Even if that meant she would have to get pregnant by Nick. “As she quoted that he was the “safest possibility,” showing that she really just wants to get the process over with so she can be able to just live a simple life with her child.

The commander

Power and control - Marina and the Diamonds

I think it’s obvious why I chose this song. It just seems to me like it mostly just talks about the commander and his true thoughts about everything. As quoted in the song, “We give and take a little more/ Eternal game of tug and war…” This alone just expresses his relationship with Offred; it shows that he constantly tries to make it seem like he is giving to her just to take away more. He just has all these different power schemes and is only doing these things for the feeling of having power over others. As quoted, “better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse, for some.” ( chapter 32, pg.211) This just shows that he only cares for himself and bettering his life for himself because being able to be a man in his position is a sense of control for him. It’s a better way of life for him to be able to feel good about himself.

Nick (the driver)

The Man - Taylor Swift

Even though Nick is just the driver throughout the chapters so far, we get a few hints about who he is. In the song, Taylor Swift said, “ I’d be a fearless leader/ I’d be an alpha type.” This shows the smartness and how secretive Nick actually is. Through June’s eyes, we get to see how Nick and silently showing how he feels and what he might be truly capable of. As quoted, “ His posture disapproves of me, or am I imagining it? And if so, does this make him angry, lustful, or envious or anything at all?” (chapter 36, pg.232) I think this is just a subtle way of showing it. It just gives a little view of what power Nick might actually have because he is not only a man, a is a worker for a commander and sees the ins and outs of his life. So, if he really wanted to outsmart the commander, there is a chance he probably could and get away with it, because who knows, Nick could be more than just a driver.

June (Offred)

Bury a friend - Billie Eilish

This song by Billie Eilish, to me, describes the truth behind June’s thoughts. I think it helps understand how her mind gradually changed throughout the book, up to what we recently read. As quoted in the song “ I wanna end me…” It’s a sense of how Offred feels since she started to feel like there is no way out of where she is at in the moment. June once said, “ That’s one of the things they do, they force you to kill, within yourself.” (chapter 30, pg.193) This saying that the world that was made around her at his point was made to force women to break themselves down on the inside and not be who they usually are. Their normal is no longer normal for them, and they are forced in this life of dissociating themselves from who they truly are. At some point, they are just birthing machines made to only produce one thing, which is babies, after tha,t they have fulfilled that, they no longer matter.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V0d5EaTOo7ScPWpyz0y4SCGK_8DmznNYA9RaEkSjokk/edit?usp=sharing

Love used to be a weird concept to me. I never understood how, in the movies and stories, people could find this perfect person for them, that they would have no issues and live a lavish life until they died. It just felt too unrealistic and untangleable. It made me think that maybe I wouldn’t find my person. I felt that I was just too much and that no one would want that. I would be too loud or too pushy. I felt like I was just an unbalanced person, and no one would want that. In The Handmaid’s Tale, love is a topic that is brought up throughout the story. “We believed in it, this downward motion: so lovely, like flying, and yet at the same time so dire, so extreme, so unlikely.” (pg 225) Offred tells us how people used to think about falling in love. When she mentioned how unlikely it was, it reminded me of how I thought. I thought of falling in love as something that would happen and would be hard to achieve. Offred and I had different views, though. She believed in it, and I had no faith. It shows how love can be shown to people, impacting their views of it.

How I have seen love in the media also didn’t help me. Once I had gotten access to the internet, it showed me a different side. I showed me how women would feel and do when they fell in love. “We were revisionist; what we revised was ourselves.” (pg 227) Similar to into the book, women would change themselves. In the book, the way that Offred said this felt like it was something that had to happen. It was a basic thing to do, and I feel like that is similar to the real world. It isn’t as common as it used to be, but there are still people who change who they are for the person they have fallen for. Being shown this in shows and movies doesn’t help. We see how it made it a common thing to be done in the book, and we see how it is in the real world. With the internet, it also showed me how much people would worry about things once they were in a relationship. “Likely you would think at these times: What if he doesn’t love me?” (pg 226) The amount of worry people have is something that will linger on for years. People will always worry about whether their partner is loyal to them or not. In the book, Offred shows us how these thoughts might manifest and, in a way, how it can impact you. I think that I will experience this. It is something that almost everyone will. The thought of whether they still want you and what they might do if not will always exist. In some way, I can say I relate to it now. I have had my doubts in whether or not my partner still loves me. It is an overwhelming feeling. You don’t know what to do with this. If they don’t, how can you confirm this? You don’t want to ask them straight forward, as it can show that you doubt them and hurt them. I just didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing. I know for sure that the thoughts that Offred showed us will always exist in people, even in me.

With the older that I have gotten, I have started to see love in a different light. I have finally seen the relationships around and saw that they had inperfections. I have even been in one myself. No relationship is going to be perfect. There will be problems and issues, but that is human. Being imperfect is normal. What I have also seen is that not everyone will have just one love in their life. You can love one person at one time and then another later. “Luke was not the first man for me, and he might not have been the last.” (pg 227) Offred says how she wonders if she would have fallen in love again. If Luke was her last love. In the real world, people do exactly what she was thinking. People often don’t end up with their first love. They can have two, three, four, I could go on and on. It is just natural to fall in and out of love. You will eventually find that one you will love for the rest of your life, but it may take time. I know that it is a process that will take its time with me.

Love has changed for me over the years. Once something I thought wouldn’t happen to me did. I had gotten to fallen in love and figured out how it felt. Love is something that can come in many forms. To some, love is family and friends, and to others, it is the one they think will be with them forever. Now knowing how love is to me, I know that I will fall in love again and again, until I find the one. Like Offred, I will have the wonder if the person I am going to be with is the last. But unlike her, I will hope that this is the one.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1483hs48DcEB2he2IG31Tvdel8zYv1l9qgxhHvOltrxI/edit?usp=sharing

Creating this playlist is so powerful, it’s imaging the sound of resistance in a world built on silence. Music represents freedom, individuality, and memory, all things that women like Offred are denied. The five songs I chose capture moments of longing, rebellion, and survival that echo through the novel.

Running with The Wolves by AURORA

When Offred says, “We were the people who were not oin the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. It gvave us more freedom”(Pg. 57), it reminds me of the wild, defiant spirit in this song. AURORA’s lyrics “Running with the wolves tonight” feels like Offred’s secret self, the part of her that refuses to be fully tamed by Gilead. Even through her body is controlled, her thought still run free. The wolves represent a natural freedom that Gilead has tried to erase. The rhythm of the song builds like the pulse of Offred’s quiet rebellion a reminder that even within “the blank white spaces” there’s life, emotion, and resistance trying to break through.

Caged Bird by Alicia Keys

Offred reflects that “We lived in the gaps between the stories” (pg. 57 ), and that perfectly connects to Caged Bird. Keys sings, “Right now I feel like a bird, caged without a song,” which mirrors the trapped lived of the Handmaids. Their stories don’t get told, they exist in those “gaps,” between what’s written and what’s allowed to be said. Just like the song, Offred can’t sing or speak freely, she’s constantly watched and silenced. But even in her cage, she dreams of flight: “But I know I’ll fly away someday.” That dream of freedom keeps her alive. In Gilead, hope is dangerous, but its also necessary. This song feels like the sound of Offred’s inner voice, quiet but unbroken.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

When the Commander tells Offred, “Better never means better for everyone…. It always means worse for some” (pg. 211), he’s practically describing this song’s entire meaning. The lyrics, “Welcome to your life, there’s no turning back,”sound like what the citizens of Gilead might be told when the regime takes over. The Commanders created a system that benefits themselves under the excuse of mortality, and everyone elsepays the price. The line ¨Helpy me mae the most of freedom and of pleasure”connects to the Commader’s hypocrisy when he sneas Offred to Jezebel’s he’s enjoying ”freedom” while she risks everything. This song exposes the truth behind Gilead’s fake righteousness, that control, not faith, runs the world.

Control by Halsey

Offred finds the Latin message scratched into her closet “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum,” (pg. 146) and it becomes a secret anthem of strength. Halsey’s “Control” feels like that message turned into music. She sings, “Im bigger than my body, I’m colder than this home,” which echoes Offreds’s feeling of being trapped inside a body that isn’t hers anymore. The line between sanity and rebellion blurs for her as she tries to maintain control in a place where she has none. Like Halsey battling the monster inside, Offred’s fight is both mental and emotional. She can’t shout her anger, but it simmers under every quiet thought. The Latin phrase Isn’t just graffi, its the voice of every women in Gilead saying, “We’re still here.”

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

Offred admits, “I want to be held and told my name. I want to be valued, in ways that I am not.”( Pg. 97) That longing connects deeply with The Night We Met.” The song’s lyrics, “I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you,” sound like her memories of Luke and their lost life together. The slow, haunting melody feels like remembering lovethrought fog, its there but fading. The song also reflects her complicated relationship with Nic, where love ans survival blur. In Gilead, love is rebellion, it means clamin something human in a place designed to erase humanity. When Offred reaches for those memories, she’s not just missing Luke, she’s reaching for the part of herself that Gilead can’t take. This song captures that ache perfectly.

Each of these songs I choose gives sound to the emotions Margret Atwoods leaves unspoken fear, love, rage, and hope. The Commanders may erase women’s voices, but they can’t erase rhythm or memory. When Offred remembers the past, it’s like a song playing in her head, something that connects her to who she used to be.

Running with the wolves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06ht9MyJLT4&list=RD06ht9MyJLT4&start_radio=1

Caged Bird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9_9XbUvfrA&list=RDj9_9XbUvfrA&start_radio=1

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCdLKXNF3w&list=RDaGCdLKXNF3w&start_radio=1

Control

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so8V5dAli-Q&list=RDso8V5dAli-Q&start_radio=1

The night we met

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12qi7K_RKfOGFJAtrnxmeGF33CA9WgnvDne-tIN3mpWE/edit?usp=sharing

Chapter 19: I chose this chapter because its following chapter 16 where the birth ceremony took place, and 17 where she imagines making love to Nick then envisions his body dead following their failed escape. The rest leading up to 19 is her lying in bed and reliving her past trauma and events of Gilead. Chapter 19 kicks off with Offred dreaming of catching her daughter in a hug before the thought of it sends her into a wave of sorrow; she then wakes up in bed with her mother holding a tray of breakfast. She is stuck in a dream sequence which is making her relive these moments especially during the aftermath of experiencing extreme trauma.

While this might seem like just your usual chapter there is a lot to unpack. The silence and sleep is broken by a birthmobile arriving to take Offred to a birth. Janine is expected to give birth and have her baby. During the ride to the commander’s house Offred wonders if she will give birth to a child with birth defects. This was one of the more confusing parts of the chapter but it shows the effects Gilead has on their person and how many ways that this birth can turn out. Though there are times in the text where they make questionable comments. The birth seems somewhat ritualistic in a sense, women are praying, in the text it states “what will Ofwarren give birth to? A baby, as we all hope? Or something else, an unbaby, its heart or no arms, or webbed hands and feet?” They speak of the possibility of a baby born with a disability as if it is a demon dreaming of an unbaby and wondering if they would be born with webbed feet or a pig snout.

I thought this was note worthy because it shows that they have more or less lost their grip on reality. They treat their day to day life in a cult like fashion and they are showing signs of starting to give into their environment. The lack of the previous normal they once had led them down the path of adapting whether they previously tried to fight it or not. They believe that 1 of 4 women have been poisoned by toxins and environmental pollution and that women outside poison their bodies or get their tubes tied calling these types of women Jezebels, scorners of God’s Gifts. In a classroom Aunt Lydia shows them a graph of how the birthrate has fallen over the course of history, eventually falling under the “line of replacement.” Aunt Lydia said that women who didn’t want to breed were lazy sluts. She claims that childbirth in Gilead is in contrast to the old days, because birth then was entirely natural. When women were not allowed drugs to sooth their pain, because it’s better for the baby, and because god wanted women to suffer in childbirth. The birthmobile eventually arrives at Ofwarren’s Commander’s home and the handmaids are told to go in. Offred imagines the Wives sitting around talking about their Handmaids, calling them sluts and complaining about their uncleanlyness, then chapter ends. The whole point of this chapter is to show us the reality of life in Gilead. We get a look into how skewed and diluted the media they are fed really is.

The soundtrack of love in a locked Room by(Jay Dutton)

Even though there’s no music in Gilead, if Offred had a playlist similar to mine, emotional r and b the kind that feels like love and quiet rebellion all at once. In the handmaids tale. Chapters 35-39 show offered shifting from fear to need.

She starts seeing Nick in secret,loses trust in the commander, and begins realizing how much of herself she’s already had to bury to live. These songs by drake, jhene,pnd,future and rod , capture the mood and emotion of her life where even love feels like resistance.

Feel No Ways by Drake this song perfectly matches Offred’s growing disconnection from the commander. By this point she realizes her relationship with him isn’t love- its control dressed up as kindness drake says ¨ I had to let go of us to show myself what I could do”and that line shows how offred tries to emotionally separate herself from the commanders manipulative power.¨He was not a monster,to her mind he was the only man she was allowed¨, p 231) This line shows how Gilead traps her into confusing captivity with comfort. The song’s distant, drifting prod sounds like the mental space offred enters when she with him lowkey , polite,pretending. She’s done giving emotion to someone who sees her as property the song by drake becomes the sound of her detachment the moment she stops trying to please him and starts thinking for herself again

Jhene Aiko’s Triggered shows Offred’s emotional reaction to her secret connection with Nick. Aiko´s voice is soft but angry and full of lots and lots of heartbreak and I think thats how offred feels when she first gives in to desire again she’s been silent for so long that the rush of emotion almost overwhelms her. ¨ I tell him my real name, and feel that therefore I am known¨

That moment is like an emotional rollercoaster its not just identity its memory its rebellion which is a recurring things for offred and kind of matches the song Jhene’s Line ¨”You were my muse, now your just just a trigger¨ reminds me of how love in Gilead is dangerous its both healing and painful in my opinion. You can tell that Offred wants to feel something again even though every touch could get her killed the song fits her perfectly because it’s about reclaiming emotion after being told to look away from it and love might leave you triggered

partynextdoors come and see me. This song’s dark late at night vibe tone feels like the secret meetings between offred and Nick that Serena joy arranges. The lyrics describe sneaking around for connection Come and See me for once¨ which matches how Offred and Nick’s relationship is built entirely in whispers and shadows

¨The Fact is I no longer want to leave.¨(p 252) That line hits hard. Offred knows she’s trapped but being with Nick gives her the smallest sense of peace. “Come and See me¨ isn’t romantic in the usual way; it’s lowkey, desperate and quiet which makes it even more powerful. She not chasing romance, more of something that keeps her alive.

Heart On ice by rod wave is a really good one especially based of the artist Rod wave music is about pain and emotional scars all of which define Offred by the end of these chapters heart on ice represents the part of her that has to shut down feelings just to keep moving.

I am a national resource ( p 236) that quote shows how she’s been normalized to a lifestyle of her body not being her own. And rods beautiful bar ¨Put my heart on ice cant let it show captures her emotional numbness to her world every time Offred shows her feelings she could risk a major punishment or heartbreak so she hides her heart just like she hides her thoughts her memories.

These songs tell the story of a woman who has to fight quietly to stay herself. R&B fits because its intimate it lives in emotions that Gilead erase from the norms and emotions such as love pain desire Offred may not be able to listen to music but if she could her playlist would sound like these songs feel no ways shows her rejection of control triggered and come and see me reflect the danger of loving in secret wait for u captures her longing for freedom and heart on ice shows the numbness she has to build to keep from surviving

Together these songs become a voice for what she can’t say aloud they turn her silence into sound proof that even in the most craziest world emotion can be still resistance

It was a random weekday when I got a text the day before from a friend who I’ve known for a long time but haven’t talked to in a while. He texted me about if I wanted to go to the gym with him. I was pessimistic about it because I wasn’t sure how it’ll turn out. But, I went along with the plan and signed up. Right after school the next day I met up with him and began our first day at the gym. As I kept going, I started to like going to the gym and the control I had with my body. I was able to control the intensity that I trained at and freedom I had with my own body. However, in The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood the main narrator Offred, has the opposite from me. Offred has no control or freedom over her own body. Reading through The Handmaid’s Tale reminded me that being able to make choices for my own body is a privilege that is not guaranteed for everyone. Being in the gym has taught me that control over your own body is not just physical, but also mental. Every choice I choose from the weight to intensity shows that I am in charge of my own body. In contrast with Offred every aspect of her life under Gilead’s ideology is for one purpose and that is to give birth to the children of the Commander. As stated in the novel, “It’s true, and I don’t ask why, because I know. Give me children, or else I die. There’s more than one meaning to it” (55). This shows Offred’s value as a handmaid, which is her ability to give children or die. Her understanding that she doesn’t ask why, shows the forced meaning Gilead gives to handmaids. Though she says that she will die if she doesn’t have children, it can also be the human meaning that she will feel like she has died because Gilead will strip Offred of everything that makes her human, showing the mental control over her body. Depending on how I felt or how my body felt I rested or adjusted my workouts to adapt to how I was feeling. On certain days I felt like eating fast food and cheating on my diet. This showed me the autonomy I had with my body outside the gym. In Gilead, that autonomy is stripped away. “I used to think of my body as an instrument, of pleasure, or a means of transportation, or an implement for the accomplishment of my will” (73). This quote shows Offred’s past experience with the body before Gilead. Her body as an instrument of pleasure showed that she could experience and enjoy life freely. With her body being a means of transportation this shows her independence. Offred’s implementation for her own will shows how she could act on her choices and desires. Showing the autonomy she has on her own body in her past. Now under Gilead’s rules, her body is no longer hers, being owned and regulated by Gilead, used for a sole purpose of reproduction. As I continued to progress in the gym I realized my body has changed and I started to care about myself. For Offred, she is no longer able to care for how her body looks. “But we weren’t supposed to care about our complexions anymore, she’d forgotten that” (55). Showing how Gilead has taken away individuality and self expression over their bodies. Imposing strict control over women’s own bodies and even their thoughts, deciding what they should value. “We are containers, it’s only the insides of our bodies that are important. The outside can become hard and wrinkled, for all they care, like the shell of a nut.” (96). This quote furthermore shows Gilead’s control over these handmaid’s bodies and how they directly change the value of handmaids like Offred. Under Gilead’s rules these handmaids had to change their values on their bodies, showing that even when the outside of their body was hard and wrinkled, only their insides were important. This control under Gilead’s rules highlights the psychological impact that follows without being able to have control over your own body which then forces you to lose identity and individuality. Reading The Handmaid’s Tale changed how I viewed personal freedom and the importance of my body. My experiences in the gym showed me my control over my body and my ability to shape my own life. Offred’s loss of bodily autonomy shows how devastating it can be when the freedom and control over your body are taken away. This novel has made me realize that true power is having the ownership of your body, your actions, and your identity.

Sanctuary Or Cell?

When making this piece, there were two key things that came to mind. The wall for me is one of the most significant aspects of the entire story. We hear about the restrictions from other places, but we rarely hear about the restrictions that the wall has. When we hear of the wall in the story, we may think that it is a way to protect the people, but for me, it’s the opposite. The wall is used as a way to oppress the people of Gilead and to keep them in. It is also meant to serve as a warning of what they can and cannot do. 
I also believe that this scene is one of the key scenes from this story, and definitely one that can be visualized the most often. As it is a very big reveal, and is noticeable throughout the story. So I wanted to make sure that I was picking an important scene, where readers made a big realization, and many made a big connection. 
When I went to draw, I wanted to show how they were being oppressed. That’s why I chose to draw the birds on the outside of the wall, showing that the birds are free while the people inside the walls are not necessarily free. When I drew the hanging people, I wanted to draw them similar to prisoners. Showing how they were hanged to make an example, just as it's done in prison. My main goal with this piece was to showcase how the inside of the wall is basically a prison, and everything that happens within it is just as it would happen in prison. 
The handmaids are drawn in a way to be leaving the scene, while still slowly observing the people hanging from the wall. This is meant to showcase that they know they are in a prison, but they also know that they cannot do anything about it. I believe that this view was very powerful since it showcases how oftentimes humans may know that something is wrong or askew, but they do not have the power to do anything about it.
The eye is one of the ideas I wanted to add to the scene; it is meant to represent how they are always being watched in every situation. Similar to the idea of  “Big Brother” and how he is always watching. I wanted to show how they are always being watched in Gilead by the eye from the sky. Just as there may be “Eyes” anywhere around them, they must always be careful of what they say and do. 
This scene signifies the reality of Gilead; for some, it may be a job, and a place of power, such as how the Commanders could represent the Warden in a prison, while the Angels could represent the prison guards. The handmaids and others would be considered the prisoners; they are kept under strict control. The eye is meant to signify cameras basically, and how they are always being monitored while they are in this prison. This was my main goal behind this piece: I wanted to showcase how Gilead, in all actuality, is just a prison, meant to keep them in, and they will never be free like the birds outside.   

Sanctuary Or Cell?

When making this piece, there were two key things that came to mind. The wall for me is one of the most significant aspects of the entire story. We hear about the restrictions from other places, but we rarely hear about the restrictions that the wall has. When we hear of the wall in the story, we may think that it is a way to protect the people, but for me, it’s the opposite. The wall is used as a way to oppress the people of Gilead and to keep them in. It is also meant to serve as a warning of what they can and cannot do. 
I also believe that this scene is one of the key scenes from this story, and definitely one that can be visualized the most often. As it is a very big reveal, and is noticeable throughout the story. So I wanted to make sure that I was picking an important scene, where readers made a big realization, and many made a big connection. 
When I went to draw, I wanted to show how they were being oppressed. That’s why I chose to draw the birds on the outside of the wall, showing that the birds are free while the people inside the walls are not necessarily free. When I drew the hanging people, I wanted to draw them similar to prisoners. Showing how they were hanged to make an example, just as it's done in prison. My main goal with this piece was to showcase how the inside of the wall is basically a prison, and everything that happens within it is just as it would happen in prison. 
The handmaids are drawn in a way to be leaving the scene, while still slowly observing the people hanging from the wall. This is meant to showcase that they know they are in a prison, but they also know that they cannot do anything about it. I believe that this view was very powerful since it showcases how oftentimes humans may know that something is wrong or askew, but they do not have the power to do anything about it.
The eye is one of the ideas I wanted to add to the scene; it is meant to represent how they are always being watched in every situation. Similar to the idea of  “Big Brother” and how he is always watching. I wanted to show how they are always being watched in Gilead by the eye from the sky. Just as there may be “Eyes” anywhere around them, they must always be careful of what they say and do. 
This scene signifies the reality of Gilead; for some, it may be a job, and a place of power, such as how the Commanders could represent the Warden in a prison, while the Angels could represent the prison guards. The handmaids and others would be considered the prisoners; they are kept under strict control. The eye is meant to signify cameras basically, and how they are always being monitored while they are in this prison. This was my main goal behind this piece: I wanted to showcase how Gilead, in all actuality, is just a prison, meant to keep them in, and they will never be free like the birds outside.   

There’s something quietly powerful about the way Offred and Nick’s relationship unfolds in The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s not loud or dramatic, it’s secret, desperate, and full of constant tension. But it’s also one of the few moments in the novel that actually feels human. What stands out most to me is how their relationship becomes more than just physical—it’s emotional survival like a dependency. It’s rebellion disguised as intimacy.

When Offred says, “I tell him my real name, and feel that therefore I am known” (pg 270),This line shows that In a world where her name has been stripped away and replaced with “Of-Fred,” the smallest act of revealing her true identity becomes revolutionary, a step way far out of her comfort zone. It’s not just a love story, it’s her reclaiming her humanity, one whisper at a time. That moment reminds me of what it’s like to open up to someone and feel truly seen, especially when everything around you feels uncertain or controlled. I’ve had times where I felt boxed in; by expectations, by what I “should” be doing,and the people who made me feel safe enough to just be myself were the ones who helped me breathe again. Offred’s relationship with Nick carries that same sense of relief and exclusivity.

Earlier in the book, she reflects, “I want to be held and told my name. I want to be valued, in ways that I am not; I want to be more than valuable” (pg 112). That line connects deeply to the way people crave genuine connection, not because it’s convenient or transactional, but because it makes them feel alive. In Gilead, every interaction is scripted;the Ceremony, the greetings, the rules. So when Offred chooses to be with Nick, she’s not just breaking the law; she’s breaking out of the system emotionally and giving into her humanity. That’s what makes their connection powerful, it’s not rebellion for the sake of chaos, it’s rebellion for the sake of feeling human again.

I think about that a lot in my own life, the idea of small, private rebellions. For me, it’s not against a government, obviously, but against the routines or expectations that sometimes make life feel mechanical. Such as maintaining a productive but spontaneous schedule to allow for unique experiences and opportunities. There’s something freeing about doing something that’s just for you, something genuine. That’s what Offred’s moments with Nick represent. They’re the cracks in Gilead’s perfect surface, where real emotion seeps through.

Atwood doesn’t romanticize their relationship either. There’s a line where Offred admits, “Neither of us says the word love, not once. It would be tempting fate; it would be romance, bad luck” (pg 272). That makes their relationship feel more real and grounded. They both know what’s at stake, but they still take that risk because the alternative, succumbing to the numbness is far worse. I think that says a lot about what people are willing to risk just to feel connected. Even in my own experiences, the moments that mattered most weren’t the safe ones—they were the ones where I let my guard down and risked being honest, even if it meant things could go wrong. Everyday we must push ourselves slightly out of our comfort zone ensuring that we don’t settle with the next best option.

Another line that stays with me is when Offred describes the feeling of being with Nick as “a small joy, like a promise” (pg 275). It’s the kind of fragile hope that doesn’t need to be spoken out loud. That reminds me of how sometimes, even in stressful or uncertain times, you find little pieces of calm with someone who understands you. It’s that quiet reassurance that you’re still alive, still yourself, even if the world around you feels chaotic. That kind of peace doesn’t erase the fear—it just makes it bearable.

In Gilead, intimacy itself becomes an act of defiance. The government controls everything—language, clothing, even reproduction, but it can’t fully control emotion. By choosing to be with Nick, Offred resists that control. She’s saying, in her own quiet way, that she still belongs to herself. That’s what makes the relationship so meaningful;it’s not about romance in the traditional sense; it’s about ownership of identity. Atwood shows that rebellion doesn’t always look like protest or violence. Sometimes, it looks like a whispered name in the dark. The more I read The Handmaid’s Tale, the more I realize how much of it is about silence and the spaces in between—the blank pages, the words not said. Offred and Nick’s relationship fills some of that silence. It’s one of the few places in the book where we actually feel warmth. Even though it’s dangerous, it’s real. And maybe that’s the point: that even in the most controlled, oppressive environments, the need for love and connection can’t be erased. People will always find a way to feel something real, even if they have to whisper it in the dark.

There’s something quietly powerful about the way Offred and Nick’s relationship unfolds in The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s not loud or dramatic, it’s secret, desperate, and full of constant tension. But it’s also one of the few moments in the novel that actually feels human. What stands out most to me is how their relationship becomes more than just physical—it’s emotional survival like a dependency. It’s rebellion disguised as intimacy.

When Offred says, “I tell him my real name, and feel that therefore I am known” (pg 270),This line shows that In a world where her name has been stripped away and replaced with “Of-Fred,” the smallest act of revealing her true identity becomes revolutionary, a step way far out of her comfort zone. It’s not just a love story, it’s her reclaiming her humanity, one whisper at a time. That moment reminds me of what it’s like to open up to someone and feel truly seen, especially when everything around you feels uncertain or controlled. I’ve had times where I felt boxed in; by expectations, by what I “should” be doing,and the people who made me feel safe enough to just be myself were the ones who helped me breathe again. Offred’s relationship with Nick carries that same sense of relief and exclusivity.

Earlier in the book, she reflects, “I want to be held and told my name. I want to be valued, in ways that I am not; I want to be more than valuable” (pg 112). That line connects deeply to the way people crave genuine connection, not because it’s convenient or transactional, but because it makes them feel alive. In Gilead, every interaction is scripted;the Ceremony, the greetings, the rules. So when Offred chooses to be with Nick, she’s not just breaking the law; she’s breaking out of the system emotionally and giving into her humanity. That’s what makes their connection powerful, it’s not rebellion for the sake of chaos, it’s rebellion for the sake of feeling human again.

I think about that a lot in my own life, the idea of small, private rebellions. For me, it’s not against a government, obviously, but against the routines or expectations that sometimes make life feel mechanical. Such as maintaining a productive but spontaneous schedule to allow for unique experiences and opportunities. There’s something freeing about doing something that’s just for you, something genuine. That’s what Offred’s moments with Nick represent. They’re the cracks in Gilead’s perfect surface, where real emotion seeps through.

Atwood doesn’t romanticize their relationship either. There’s a line where Offred admits, “Neither of us says the word love, not once. It would be tempting fate; it would be romance, bad luck” (pg 272). That makes their relationship feel more real and grounded. They both know what’s at stake, but they still take that risk because the alternative, succumbing to the numbness is far worse. I think that says a lot about what people are willing to risk just to feel connected. Even in my own experiences, the moments that mattered most weren’t the safe ones—they were the ones where I let my guard down and risked being honest, even if it meant things could go wrong. Everyday we must push ourselves slightly out of our comfort zone ensuring that we don’t settle with the next best option.

Another line that stays with me is when Offred describes the feeling of being with Nick as “a small joy, like a promise” (pg 275). It’s the kind of fragile hope that doesn’t need to be spoken out loud. That reminds me of how sometimes, even in stressful or uncertain times, you find little pieces of calm with someone who understands you. It’s that quiet reassurance that you’re still alive, still yourself, even if the world around you feels chaotic. That kind of peace doesn’t erase the fear—it just makes it bearable.

In Gilead, intimacy itself becomes an act of defiance. The government controls everything—language, clothing, even reproduction, but it can’t fully control emotion. By choosing to be with Nick, Offred resists that control. She’s saying, in her own quiet way, that she still belongs to herself. That’s what makes the relationship so meaningful;it’s not about romance in the traditional sense; it’s about ownership of identity. Atwood shows that rebellion doesn’t always look like protest or violence. Sometimes, it looks like a whispered name in the dark. The more I read The Handmaid’s Tale, the more I realize how much of it is about silence and the spaces in between—the blank pages, the words not said. Offred and Nick’s relationship fills some of that silence. It’s one of the few places in the book where we actually feel warmth. Even though it’s dangerous, it’s real. And maybe that’s the point: that even in the most controlled, oppressive environments, the need for love and connection can’t be erased. People will always find a way to feel something real, even if they have to whisper it in the dark.

Offred, from The Handmaid’s Tale, is in a world that is against her. She has to obey the rules and follow them perfectly unless she’s punished with death. But in recent chapters, the readers can see Offred getting along with the commander. This goes against the oppressive world, which says that women shouldn’t talk to the commander or even interact with them unless it’s at the ceremony. Even with these interactions with the commander, Offred can’t help but still feel lonely and confused about herself. The reader can especially see this during chapter 39, when Offred excuses herself to the hotel bathroom before having an intimate moment with the Commander. Offred stares at herself in the bathroom mirror and wonders, why am I here? She points out the way she looks that night, and it’s as if she feels yucky about herself. It’s an important moment to point out, as Offred feels out of place, not following the usual pattern of the system. Which is why I created a visual representation of this moment, to capture the emotions Offred carries.

My visual representation is of Offred standing in front of the mirror, with her eyes closed. She has her dress on, and the background is covered in shade. I decided to draw a target on her head, inspired by a previous art internet trend where they draw a target on an innocent figure, doomed to be dead by society. I also drew the sink because on page 254, Offred explains how she wants a toothbrush. I clearly wanted to represent in my drawing that there’s no toothbrush for Offred. She can’t be hygienic, even though she plays a crucial role in this system, yet she’s not allowed to take care of herself. My overall drawing is trying to capture how Offred has to be used as an object and be looked down upon, just because she’s a woman. If she doesn’t follow these rules and can’t give birth by a certain time, she is killed. Which is where the target symbol comes in, a target has been put on her the moment this dystopian world was formed. With no way to defend herself, Offred barely has any chance to escape this target on her. I also decided to make most of the background shaded dark because I wanted to represent how this is a sorrowful moment for Offred. It’s supposed to bring a negative tone to the moment, symbolizing that Offred isn’t happy. Especially as she’s about to have sex with the commander, a man she has no real connection with. One last detail I decided on was that Offred should have her eyes closed. As if she’s trying to hide from evil, trying to conceal the rest of her sanity the best she can. The viewer of my drawing can predict that she’s hiding from the commander, the system, death, or even from the ceremony. Offred wants to escape and feel what it means to live again, but this system won’t offer that. 

Offred’s emotions in this bathroom scene are significant to women's struggles, and I hope I captured that in my drawing. What Offred feels is real and deep. It’s something that readers shouldn’t ignore, as the events could be an insight into what’s going on in the real world. There are many moments in The Handmaid’s Tale that show Offred’s depressing world, and the bathroom scene is just a small example of it. 

In chapter 37 of The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred’s commander smuggles her into an underground club. There, she is reunited with Moira, who assumes that she is also an escort. When Offred tells her that her commander snuck her into the club disguised as an escort, Moira says “Some of them do that, they get a kick out of it. It’s like screwing on the altar or something; your gang are supposed to be such chaste vessels. They like to see you all painted up. Just another crummy power trip.” (243) This quote immediately drew me in, as it encapsulates the hypocrisy and control at the heart of Gilead, but also in reality.

My first impression of this quote was how Moira’s blunt cynicism cut through the suffocating oppression that Gilead imposes on communication. She doesn’t speak with restraint, or through some kind of filter, and they are completely un-survailanced in the bathroom. This authenticity emphasizes the truth in her statement. In the book, Moira has always been a symbol of defiance and this encounter reignites that or Offed. For instance, when Offred starts having covert meetings with the commander, she’s agonizingly aware of the power imbalance between them, and how easy it would be for him to take advantage of her. She imagines herself stabbing him in the throat with a piece of metal from the toilet, like Moira threatened to do with an aunt in order to escape the Red Center. That act of defiance mirrors Moira’s situation at the club; it’s not outright defeat, but gritty adaptation that Ofred envies and draws strength from. By escaping the fate of being a Handmaid, and therefore a “chaste vessel”, Moira gets certain freedoms that handmaids don’t get, like slightly more individuality, socialization, and she’s able to drink and smoke. Yet, she’s still used for her body and is abused by Gilead.

Moira’s response also unsettled me because of the way it exposes the commodification of women’s bodies in such a visceral way in our current reality as well. Every Halloween, most “sexy” costumes are portraying people like nuns, schoolgirls, and nurses. These costumes are exaggerated caricatures of women whose roles are supposed to be unsexual, designed to cater to the male gaze. Moira’s line, “they like to see you all painted up,” perfectly captures this, implying that the appeal lies in visually conquering women who are supposed to be off-limits. In Gilead, the commanders preach chastity for handmaids, yet they secretly revel in defiling that purity. This is clearly illustrated by Moira describing Offred’s relationship with her commander as “just another crummy power tip.”—commanders bringing their handmaids to the club is a common occurrence.

As Moira puts it, “it’s like screwing on the altar […] Just another crummy power trip.”; to disregard the sanctity of something for your own pleasure, like “screwing on the altar” is a power move in the context of the patriarchy. That same sexual assertiveness is not expected of women under the patriarchy, which is why we see a lot less “sexy” priests, schoolboys or nurses from men. It’s also why women like Offred are designed to be “chaste vessels,” who are defiled as a power move, which underscores the novel’s critique of religious fundamentalism as a tool for patriarchal dominance. Emotionally, this parallel left me grappling with discomfort, as it forces me to confront how Gilead’s distortions aren’t so far removed from societal norms, making the novel feel urgently relevant.

Building on this, to disregard the sanctity of something sacred, like “screwing on the altar,” isn’t just a sexual act in Gilead; it’s a power trip that reinforces the regime’s control. Women like Offred are designed to be “chaste vessels,” their bodies regulated and objectified to maintain the illusion of moral purity, while figures like Moira, who escape that role, are still abused in different ways—traded for the elite’s entertainment. This reveals how Gilead offers the illusion of choice; both women are exploited sexually, just for different reasons. While Offred is a vessel, Moira is a prostitute. In the end, as Moira points out, both are objectified by their oppressors. Moira’s adaptation at the club might offer her a semblance of agency, but it’s still within Gilead’s confines, which made me question the sustainability of rebellion in such an authoritarian world. What intrigued me most was the irony: Moira, once the epitome of bold escape, now embodies a tempered defiance.

Ultimately, this section lingers with me because it blends personal intrigue with broader discomfort, mirroring the novel’s exploration of purity versus perversion and resistance versus resignation. Moira’s words didn’t just critique the Commander’s actions; they illuminated the insidious ways power corrupts intimacy.

I spend most of my time playing video games. For me it is not just a hobby it is an environment where I feel the most at ease. I know it isolates me from the outside world, but I choose it anyway. It’s like trading connections for comfort. I do not feel lonely when I play video games rather my heart races, but I do notice how distant I’ve become from everything else. That’s probably why Offred’s Scrabble scene in The Handmaid’s Tale stood out to me. It is a quiet scene that is oddly familiar. In chapter 23, Offred is summoned by the commander, and instead of punishment or a ceremony, he invites her to play a banned board game. It is a quiet break from all the restrictions around her, something she is not supposed to enjoy. Offred’s reaction had a mix of quiet excitement and uncertainty that reminds me of how I feel when I retreat into my own routine. In my case it’s not rebellion, it’s just what feels right to me. Offred’s Life in Gilead is tightly restricted. She’s not allowed to read, write, or speak freely. So when the Commander pulls out a Scrabble board, it’s not just a game, it’s a small crack in the system. Offred described the moment “We play two games. Larynx, I spell. Valence. Quince. Zygote. I hold the glossy counters in my hand… The feeling is voluptuous.” (pg.139.) This last line “The feeling is voluptuous” stood out to me. It’s not just excitement but it’s a kind of focus that drags her in. This reminded me of how I find enjoyment in video games, not loud, but a quiet kind of immersion. Like Offred, I’m not doing anything dramatic. I’m simply choosing something that brings me a sense of engagement, even if it separates me from everything else. What makes the Scrabble scene powerful is how emotionally complex it is. Offred doesn’t know how to feel about the Commander. She thinks to herself, is he being kind, or manipulative? Is this a gift, or another type of control? She’s not sure, and neither am I when I think about my own routines. There are times where I wonder if my habits are helping me or holding me back. I enjoy video games, but I also know it keeps me distant. I’ve gotten used to that distance. It feels normal now, but sometimes I ponder on what I’ve missed. Conversation I didn’t join, people I didn’t reach out to, moments I let pass. It’s not regret, but it’s a kind of awareness. I usually find myself trapped on the internet. When there’s no school, I’ll spend the entire day online. Where there is school„ I come home, finish homework, and go straight back into video games. It’s not accidental I’m purposely isolating myself from the physical world and choosing to connect with the digital one. That’s where I feel most in control. Offred’s internal reactions hold similar ideas. She says,”This is a reconstruction. All of this is a reconstruction.” (pg.134.) That line stood out to me because it shows how uncertain even her own memories and feelings are. She is basically trying to make sense of something that does not fit into rebellion or submission. I relate to this idea not in the same context, but in the way I reflect on my choices. I know what is expected of me socially to go outside and have interaction, to connect, to be present, butI also know what feels natural, which is retreating into the digital world. Even with this awareness, I haven’t changed and I don’t plan to. I still spend most of my time online, and I’ keep doing that even if it will hurt me. I want to be trapped not because I’m giving up, but because it is where I feel most like myse;f. Like Offred, I’m not trying to escape or rebel against the scenario. I’m choosing something that feels real to myself, even if it separates me. Her moment with the Commander does not change her reality, but gives her something to hold onto. That is why this chapter stuck out to me because it showed how something small, like a game, can carry weight. Offred’s Scrabble scene reminded me that meaning can exist in small quiet moments, even ones that feel strange or uncertain. I don’t relate to her world, but I can relate to the way she reacts when she is unsure of what to feel, yet still drawn to something that feels personal. And that;s what video games are for me. They’re not dramatic, they’re just a part of my routine that makes sense to me even if it means being apart from everything else.