No Power, No Control

“You don’t know what it’s like” (179). In The Handmaid’s Tale, through Offred’s thoughts, it is revealed how the world before Gilead started to change into what it is today which in the least is unjust. When I first began reading this book, I didn’t expect to be so confused and trying to find the meaning behind multiple phrases, actions, and events enacted by characters in this novel, but Margaret Atwood has made that impossible. Further, in The Handmaid’s Tale, there are particular sections I could grasp and have strong emotions towards.

In chapter 28, Atwood reveals through the narration of Offred, how before Gilead, the government began to change by stripping women of holding something of value they can depend on to live. I want to specifically concentrate on the event when Offred and the other women at her job were dismissed from their positions, and then when Offred talks to Luke about what was happening. Atwood writes, “I’m sorry, he said, but it’s the law. I really am sorry…I have to let you go, he said. It’s the law, I have to. I have to let you all go. He said this almost gently, as if we were wild animals, frogs he’d caught, in a jar, as if he were being humane…Not fired, ” he said. Let go. You can’t work here anymore, it’s the law. He ran his hands through his hair and I thought, He’s gone crazy. The strain has been too much for him and he’s blown his wiring” (176). In this quote, Offred describes how the director of where she worked came into the women’s workspace to announce that they had to leave because the law demanded it, followed by how Offred describes his tone and what she believes might have been the reason for him saying this.

After reading this section, I felt confused and angry. I couldn’t comprehend why the women were being stripped away from their jobs without an explanation just because the law demanded it, and I knew Offred felt the same. I must admit, I’ve never had a job. Even so, I can comprehend how unfair and frustrating it can be to be demanded, as a woman, to leave a duty where we come to earn an income that helps maintain our lives, and at the same time be treated like we don’t deserve it, but still have to respond to such judgment, made by someone else’s demands, implied to be from the government: a law. Furthermore, I’ve seen first-hand how hard my mother works to provide for me and my other two younger brothers, a well-living home due to her hard efforts to keep working, even though every time I see her, she looks exhausted trying to keep up. Moreover, I can positively say it would be a frustrating and complicated time for her if she were to lose her job like those women did.

Additionally, after going home, Offred talks with Moira and Luke about the situation at hand. Moira informed, “Women can’t hold property anymore…it’s a new law” (178). Offred continues to narrate, “…We’ll get through it, he said, hugging me. You don’t know what it’s like, I said. I feel as if somebody cut off my feet. I wasn’t crying. Also, I couldn’t put my arms around him…Hush, he said. He was still kneeling on the floor. You know I’ll always take care of you. I thought, already he’s starting to patronize me. Then I thought, already you’re starting to get paranoid” (179). In these quotes, the reader is made aware of what the law is demanding; how Luke attempts to comfort Offred with words but proves to be useless while seeing how she feels misunderstood, defeated by how her body refuses to show affection, degrading herself for how she is feeling and what she’s thinking about. I empathize with Offred’s reaction. If I were in her place, talking about something I have strong emotions towards with a person close to me, and felt that they were trying to comfort me instead of attempting to understand and listen to what’s at stake, I would feel as if they didn’t care about what I was telling them and that they just wanted to get rid of me. Like Offred, I, too, wouldn’t have been able to hug someone after they indirectly showed me they were in denial of my concerns. From how Atwood shaped each character’s response and their reactions, it made me feel as if I were experiencing the moment. How she uses words and their meanings, the tone of her writing, and how she shapes each conversation make me curious and immersed in her writing.

There are multiple chapters in The Handmaid’s Tale where Atwood wrote moments that trigger one’s emotions towards the novel and raise questions about moments, persuading the reader to continue reading, even if they deem the story a lost cause. In a way, this is how I feel. Yet, for that sole reason, I want to see the end of this novel and see what will be of Offred and those around her that continue to alter her life. What’s more, as far as I’ve reached in the novel, Atwood has shown a mixture of vocabulary, integration of invented words, dialogue, character development in odd ways but understandable on multiple occasions, and the integration of how life takes its course in a corrupted society, led by grim regimes. Taking into account these factors, it raises specific emotions and connections that we see in our world, showing us how power can control those without it; the reason why I choose this option for my second lit log.

Gilead Math-stermind

Ever since the commander sneaked Offred out to the hotel room, we’ve encountered a variety of what I would like to call “Gilead Math”. Similar to the trend TikTok has been going around— we got the girl math, boy math, etc. Gilead Math is a system and systems can not be created by itself. Behind the scenes, there will always be an influencer. I call them the Math-stermind. Welcome to Gilead Math as I slowly uncover the Math-stermind behind it all!

Gilead revolves around a system with circumstances and status. Take away your status and you’re left with nothing. And what happens to people who are useless? “They can go rot in the Colonies.” Gilead Math! From precious chapters, you already know the unwomen’s go to Colonies but you don’t exactly know what happens to them when they are in the Colonies. In chapter 33, you get a sense of what the Colonies were like during Moira’s conversation with Janine. Flashback to when they were at the Red Center— Janine still in her white cotton nightgown, talks to herself like a madman out in the open where the aunt might see her. This is her way to rebel. Compared to Moira’s form of rebellion, Janine’s was more emotional than active. Because Janine stuck out like a sore thumb, Moira had to slap her back to her senses. This was when she revealed a hint of the system of Gilead and the Colonies. “They won’t even bother to ship you to the Colonies. You go too far away and they just take you up to the Chemistry Lab and shoot you. Then they burn you up with the garbage, like an Unwoman.” (pg 216) From here, you get a sense of what the Colonies are like. “You won’t die in the Colonies, but you might as well be dead if you get yourself in there,” is what Moira meant. Going into the Colonies means you are “garbage”. Something that is disposable. “Like an Unwomen.” Moira compares the Chemistry Lab to the Colonies— “They burn you up with the garbage.”

Commander Fred likes playing his part in the play behind the scenes. He’ll do things and you would wonder why he did what he did. He treats everyone like animals— “The Commander likes it when I distinguish myself, show precocity, like an attentive pet, prick-eared and eager to perform.” (pg 183-184) Their roles are designed solely to fulfill his hunger for entertainment. Like a director of a play or a scriptwriter— the pen he withholds has the power of creation. Like the mastermind behind the scene. Status plays a big role in Gilead Math. In chapter 37, we see Commander Fred utilizing his status to its full potential! Commander Fred likes to break the rules as a way to numb his boredom. He decided to bring Offred to the hotel room where he states it’s like “walking into the past.” (pg 235) This was a place with strict surveillance to prevent people from going in and out as they pleased. Knowing that someone like Offred is strictly forbidden there, the commander chooses to do so for the sake of his own excitement. When Commander Fred introduced her to “The Club” Offred replied with “I thought this sort of thing was strictly forbidden,” he responded with “But everyone’s human, after all. It means you can’t cheat Nature. Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason, it’s part of the procreational strategy. It’s Nature’s plan. Women know that instinctively. Why did they buy so many different clothes in the old days? To trick the men into thinking they were several different women. A new one each day.” (pg 237) Long story short, different clothes mean a different woman each day. Boom! Gilead Math.

“Commander Fred isn’t a terrible person,” is what he wants us to see him as. Throughout the book he conveys himself as a “decent guy”. He didn’t do anything specifically bad but nothing good either. He cheated on his wife, brought Offred and potentially many other housemaids like Offred out to The Club to “show her off,” but at the same time, he showed them the other side of Gilead— the reality. Offred even thought of the commander as “positively daddyish” (pg 184) while playing Scrabble. Surprisingly, Offred wasn’t using words to describe something sexually (maybe a little). When she said “positively daddyish,” she referred to Luke and how compared to Luke, he’s not “saying bitch in his head.” Then again, he was probably just bored and wanted to get another housemaid in trouble, or even worse, dead.

A Handmaid's Playlist

A Handmaid’s Playlist

What a Wonderful World- Joey Ramone

Offred often has flashbacks about her best friend, Moira, whose free spirit and resilience against Gilead make her a recurring symbol of the “before times”. In one of these flashbacks, Moira and Offred are studying together for an assignment for college. Everything about this scene goes against the rules of the Republic of Gilead. Offred observes Moira as wearing, “one dangly earring, the gold fingernail she wore to be eccentric, a cigarette between her stubby yellow-ended fingers.” (37) The two women are reading, smoking, talking freely, and Moira’s even writing a paper on date rape. I chose Joey Ramone’s version of “What a Wonderful World” because its energetic rock style matches the lively and unrestrained spirit in the two friends, and this genre of music is probably the last thing that would be allowed in the Republic of Gilead. This being said, the lyrics are “What a Wonderful World” and describe everything beautiful and good about the “before times”. This song choice shows how Offred misses her old life, and thinks of the world where she had freedom and individuality, as wonderful.

Have a Cigar- Pink Floyd

During the story, we often see cigarettes being used as a symbol for freedom and hope. In the “before times”, the last day women are allowed their rights is the last day Offred is able to buy a pack of cigarettes, and throughout the book we see people in power, like the Commander’s Wife, smoking frequently. During her first interaction with Serena Joy, Offred notes the cigarette in her hand and thinks, “I looked at the cigarette with longing. For me, like liquor and coffee, they are forbidden.” (14). So when Serena Joy gives Offred a cigarette, it’s like she’s offering her hope. This is especially so, because the two women have been hostile towards each other the entire book, after all, they live in a society where women are pitted against each other. Serena Joy’s offering the cigarette, and Offred taking it, shows a budding mutual respect between the two. I chose “Have a Cigar” for this moment because its title closely resembles the events of the scene, with Serena Joy telling Offred to have a cigarette. But also, the song has a dramatic tune that matches the surreal circumstance Offred finds herself in, in this moment.

99 Luftballons- Nena

This song will be played during the scene where Offred and the Commander argue about the meaning of love. Offred talks about the freedom of falling in and out of love as being part of human nature while the Commander sees love as failure and success, something that can be calculated, saying, “look at the stats, my dear. Was it really worth it, falling in love? Arranged marriages have always worked out just as well, if not better”. In the song 99 Luftballons, two kids innocently release balloons into the air, which are mistaken by international governments as a threat, and ultimately trigger a nuclear war. The song is basically about people in power turning something pure and childlike into something ugly. The Republic of Gilead similarly takes children, family and love, disregards their true meaning, and turns them into a gross process that dehumanizes women.

The Dog Days are Over- Florence and The Machine

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” or “don’t let the bastards get you down” is scrawled in the cupboard in Offred’s bedroom, scratched there by the previous handmaid. It is right next to the row of hooks that Offred thinks about using when she’s at her lowest point. When I read this, I thought that the previous handmaid wrote it there on purpose to sort of act as a guardian angel for Offred. Whenever Offred would look to the hooks, she would have to see “don’t let the bastards get you down” or, “don’t let them do to you what they did to me”. The writing is there to tell her to hold on to hope, to stay resilient, and to not give up. I chose “The Dog Days are Over” because it sends a similar message, with the lyrics telling a story of perseverance during dark times. When Offred is feeling hopeless, she refers back to the hooks, remarking, “You could use a hook in the closet. I’ve considered the possibilities. All you’d have to do, after attaching yourself, would be to lean your weight forward and not fight.”(195) The previous handmaid’s message is telling her instead, to fight and keep going. Similarly to “What a Wonderful World”, the upbeat and lively energy of “The Dog Days are Over” serve to make the song a perfect theme of protest against the Republic of Gilead.

Gnossienne No. 1- Erik Satie

Offred often talks about the tediousness of her life as a handmaid, reflecting on how much empty time she has, especially compared to the Commander’s Wife’s freedom to knit and tend to her garden. Offred misses the “before times” when she was able to achieve small accomplishments, saying, “I envy the Commander’s Wife her knitting. It’s good to have small goals that can be easily attained.” (13) Instead, everything Offred does has a specific purpose and must go towards the greater good. This is why I chose this song to be Offred’s theme. As far as classical music goes, Gnossienne No. 1 is simple and repetitive, much like Offred’s life in the Republic of Gilead. Even the formatting of the book is like this, with a large chunk of the story simply showing us what the life of a handmaid looks like, and the chapter titles, which align with different parts of Offred’s daily routine, repeating themselves. The book is basically her day over and over, slowly changing itself as the plot develops. Gnossienne No. 1 also has a very melancholy tune that reflects Offred’s situation, and its melody has a dull quality that emphasizes the monotony of her new life.

5 Prayers and The Before Times

My art piece represents multiple themes that are present in The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, religion, memory and individuality. In Gilead there is a popular chain of stores called Soul Scrolls, where you can pay to have your prayers read aloud by a machine, as many times as you want and pay for. “There are five different types of prayers: for health, wealth, a death, a birth, a sin.” (167). This commercialization of religion is exactly what Gilead represents, they even control what types of prayers people can make! Control is the reason I drew Offred is praying, even though she is not religious. Along those same lines, a halo floats above Offred head but half of it is broken off. The halo represents religion and its connection to the government. The right side of the halo (Gilead side) is still intact and shining showing how religion and state are in sync. The idea of control is why I decided to include the eye on the side of the machine, showing how the Eyes keep this control in check, always watching, even during sacred moment like prayer.

Memory is another integral part of The Handmaid’s Tale. This is why I chose to draw the old lingerie store that Offred remembers on the left side of her. Offred’s memory of the before times gets worse and worse throughout the book. Most of her memories are vivid in the beginning, she even can selectively think about the before times in her free time. “But the night is my time out. Where should I go? Somewhere good. Moira, sitting on the edge of my bed, legs crossed, ankle on knee, in her purple overalls, one dangly earring, the gold fingernail she wore to be eccentric, a cigarette between her stubby yellow-ended fingers.” (37). However towards the end of the book she talks about being erased as time passes, “Time has not stood still. It has washed over me, washed me away, as if I’m nothing more than a woman of sand, left by a careless child too near the water. I have been obliterated for her. I am only a shadow now…” (228). I portrayed this memory loss and the passing of time by drawing the world around Offred falling apart and crumbling down, giving her less and less of a foundation to stand on and stay strong with.

Isolation and individuality play a big role in the portrayal of Offred. Her description of how she prays shows this, “I pray where I am, sitting by the window, looking out through the curtain at the empty garden. I don’t even close my eyes. Out there or inside my head, it’s an equal darkness. Or light.” (194) I represented this quote by drawing Offred in the middle of everything, the only thing colored in, praying. Her individuality shows throughout the book but especially when she prays, where she only sits with her thoughts. In my drawing, she is also a lot smaller than all of the other buildings to show how individual her character is in the book. Without the three themes I highlighted in my piece the world of Gilead would not have come to life like it did in The Handmaid’s Tale.

IMG_3766
IMG_3766

Mental Conflict

Offred has always been mentally challenged. Each chapter we see her battling with a new internal conflict that she has created from her thoughts. Throughout the book, we see the repetition of “the thought of” followed by a scenario that negatively affects her mood. This resonates with me because my mind has always been my biggest enemy, while also being my best friend at times. Just like Offred, I’ll expect the absolute worst to save myself from disappointment.

I deeply connect with Offred when she says “This contradictory way of believing seems to me, right now, the only way I can believe anything. Whatever the truth is, I will be ready for it.” (pg 106). Whenever I use my head to escape from reality and the misfortunes it brings, I’m always left in a jaded state of mind. In chapter 18, three scenarios of what happened to Luke fills Offred’s mind. One of those scenarios being Luke dead in the place they were found trying to escape, while another one he is in prison. Her final imagination explains him crossing the border and unexpectedly sending her a message. She has no idea what to expect so she holds on tight to these ideas so nothing comes as a surprise. It’s very essential to use your head as an advantage when it comes to defeating the unexpected, like Offred for example.

However, it is also very unhealthy whenever your mental state is consumed from the terrible thoughts you tell yourself. Somehow Offred and I are always left in a state of grief or despair, and most of the time we don’t even have to lose someone to feel these emotions. We are truly just in our head. It’s our escape from the reality we don’t want to face. But sometimes we need an escape from the escape. There are lots of times where Offred remenines on her past life with Luke and her daughter to distract herself from Gilead. Her thoughts of them two aren’t always sunshine and rainbows. “Weep. Weeping is what it is, not crying. I sit in this chair and ooze like a sponge.” (pg 227). This quote is Offred’s reaction to a scenario that she created in her head of Luke being dead. She got really carried away with her imagination and probably left herself in an even more severe state that she was in before.

Even though I am in no way close to living the life that Offred does, I still divert my mind from unpleasant aspects of my everyday life, normally using my imagination or entertainment to influence my thought process. Everytime I have discovered my true self, it has always been from stepping into my own world of creation, and I would think the same has happened for Offred. If one’s imagination is strong enough, their imagination can become the new reality.

Platonic

In the Handmaids Tale by Marget Atwood, the idea and symbolism of love is very confusing and thought provoking. It leaves me stuck with the question “What is love in Gilead? And what is love for me?” In many cases I question my self does true love even exist, wheter that is in relationships, friendships, or just day to day encounters. In Gilead the narrator, Offred, emphasizes on love in multiple ways. For example her relationship with Moira portray an idea of love but it is not well said yet because love is virtually non existent in the world of Gilead.

Offred’s relationship with Moira highlights the complexity of love in this world. While it may not be easy to see their relationship expressed as love in the traditional sense, their connection symbolizes a deep bond of trust, friendship, and mutual support. In the world of Gilead where love, especially romantic love , is suppressed and forbidden this sense of connection creates an outlet of how much power love holds in a friendship. For instance, In Chapter 38 , when Offred reunites with Moira, she reaches out to touch her arm with a quivering hand. Her eaction is a testament to the profound impact of a friendship in a world that seeks to forbid such connections. “ I still can’t believe it’s her. I touch her arm again. Then I begin to cry,” Offred admits. Rereading this part of the chapter her tears serves as a unfiltered expression of her love. It was hard for me to realize this at first but after doing a mini-close reading, it undeniably embodies a deep connection between the two women.

Throughout the book, Moira’s connection with Offred serves as a metaphor for female friendship. Gilead does not have the kind of bond that Moira and Offred have from college on. Although Gilead seems to encourage female solidarity, in practice it merely fosters mistrust, animosity, and small-scale brutality. Offred’s constant thoughts of her former buddy help her to escape from her terrible circumstances, as can be seen by looking at her. Offred’s comment, “Moira, breezing into my room,” cp.10 demonstrates this. The verb “breezing” is used. The reader is implied to believe that Offred views Moira as a breath of fresh air when she not only walks into the room but also enters her thoughts, reminding her of a better time spent being away from the brutal truth. This explains their deep connection despite though Margaret Atwood gave them opposing responsibilities in contemporary society, which are evident in Offred’s recollections. Nevertheless, they save one another from trying times and support one another through Gilead culture.

Seeing this relationship with moira and offred, I can’t help but reflect on wheter the love I’ve experienced in my life, wheter in the relationships, or daily interactions is indeed genuine. I can’t help but question how love manifests itself in the world of Gilead and beyond it into the real world. As I continue to pace my way throughout this book , question like this resonate deeply with me. It serves as a sense of self discovery and what defines love in my eyes. WHen I hear the word “Love” I merely think of relationships with significant others, or maybe even witb family member. However Offred’s and Moira’s relationship has shown me that love is beyond what I think it is. I used to search for love in other people trying to build a non existing connection, or something that could never last, not realizing that true love is right in my closest friends. I’m discovering that love is not limited to romantic partners or family, it can manifest in the bonds of trust, mutual support, and friendship that I share with those closet to me. I’m learning to value the deep meaningful connecions. Even the little ones such as the everyday walks to and from the BSL or the long talks on the phone.

Ultimately, this examination of love in “The Handmaid’s Tale” confirms that love is a power that defies boundaries—whether they be those imposed by society or those derived from our own understanding. This book has left me with a profound sense about the nature of love and well-being of others. It encourages me to redefine my understanding of love, and serves as a gentle reminder to treasure and tend to the relationships we have with people, understanding that love—in all of its complex manifestations—is what unites us and keeps us strong even in the face of hardship.

Hidden Intention

In chapter 30 of The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood describes the story of how Offred loses her pet. Many people have had that experience, including me. However, the way Offred’s and my story go is not what you would expect.

Offred and her husband, Luke, were planning to leave their house and go to another country. They prepared everything and then found that they did not know what to do about their cat. “We could give her away, I said. One of the neighbors. Even as I said this, I saw how foolish that would be.”(192) Offred and Luke were worried that if they left the cat behind, she would start meowing and people would know they were gone. Offred did not want to go along with what Luke was thinking so she proposed anything she could think of, trying to deny where this conversation was going. Though it might sound like it, denial is not intentional. There isn’t a moment where we rationally decide to be in denial, instead, our brain automatically does it to protect us. When you’re confronted with something you can’t accept, your brain tries to make you rationalize other possibilities, no matter how far-fetched they may be. Similar to Offred, I have experienced denial related to my pets too. Standing at the end of my driveway, seeing my dad looking at a cat that had been run over and hearing him say my cat’s name put me in that same state of denial. I took no time to think, I had no control of my body. I found myself moving away from the road, screaming no repeatedly. I dropped to the ground, hiding my face, trying not to see the scene in front of me. I did not want to accept what had just been implied and my brain tried to prevent me from believing it, though a part of me was aware of the truth.

Luke decided to be the one to solve their predicament. He told Offred he’d “take care of it”. Offred immediately knows he plans on killing the cat. She sits there as he goes to find the cat and she doesn’t move until after he’s done. “You have to create an it, where none was before. You do that first, in your head, and then you make it real.” (193) Offred justified Luke calling the cat “it” by saying that’s how he was able to go through with it. I understand that Offred and Luke tried to detach themselves from their cat and tried to make this easier for them. That doesn’t mean that they were right. Simply saying “it” instead of “her” is not enough to make that decision any easier. I know that very well because my mom tried to do the same thing. She tried to make me feel better about losing my cat by suggesting we could just get another cat the next day. That didn’t change anything. No one can detach themselves from a pet that easily or quickly. That relationship exists still, no matter how much you may try to erase it. It would take someone who never truly cared for the cat to be able to go through with killing her. Sitting there and letting it happen also showed how apathetic Offred was. She could have tried to argue against it but she sat there and let Luke go through with it. Unlike her, I fought back against any comments that were made about getting a new cat. The last thing I would allow to happen was for people to act like my cat wasn’t as special as he was, like he was replaceable, like he was simply an “it”.

Not only did Offred just sit there and let it happen, but she refused to hold her husband accountable for what he did. “…because that little sacrifice,…was done for my sake as well. That’s one of the things they do. They force you to kill, within yourself.”(193) Offred tries to blame what they did on someone else, saying they were forced into making that decision. She does this to try and remove herself from what happened, knowing that if she were to accept that her husband chose to kill their cat by his own will, she also let it happen by her own will, refusing to act even though she had many chances to do so. Putting the blame on someone else makes it easier to not feel guilty, and though I understand that well, I have never been one to think like that. While Offred used any opportunity to blame others, I did not blame anyone specifically. There were many people I could blame, my family for letting my cat out, the driver for being reckless, or myself for not being there sooner and preventing it. Though placing the blame on someone besides me would in theory make me feel better, I knew that this was not something that could be blamed on one party alone. Luke and Offred knew what they were doing and they decided to go through with such an awful decision instead of trying to keep the cat alive in other ways. The cat was not of any priority to either of them, yet the killing of her required them to act how they did to rationalize and excuse it.

gilead tunes

This books ideology and theme is that man are given the higher power in order to be able and reproduce with women. We can truly use the phrase “It’s a mans world” to describe Gilead, but they wouldn’t have a purpose as men if they weren’t maids or women who also take a major role, yet they aren’t treated equally. In James Browns song titled “It’s a man’s, man’s , man’s world” he points it out, while describing that men have done a lot in society, but it wouldn’t of had been possible without a women or a girl. In chapter 16, a “ceremony” takes place where ofred the main character chooses to have intercourse in order to meet her “duty” as a maid and get pregnant, the purpose of Gilead, reproduction. “This is supposed to signify that we are one flesh, one being. What it really means is that she is in control, of the process and thus of the product”(pg.94) This demonstrates that the women are necessary in order to create life, yes, the man sadly oppress and control this new society, but without women, it wouldn’t be nothing.

“It’s a Man’s, Man’s, “Man’s world” 

Ofred constantly tries to understand why she is used the way that she is used, as a machine, and non-human. Her body was never respected, and we can see that from both the new world of Gilead, and the way her husband Luke treated her after she had gotten fired, he still wanted to have sexual intercourse. She starts to dislike her body, for turning into the only thing people saw and judged. “ I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it’s shameful or immodest but because I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely” (Pg.63) This connects a lot to a song by Billie eilish, titled “ What was I made for” which describes how a woman used to know what she was made for, she felt power over herself, then she’s confused in what her worth is. I believe that this connects so strongly, because ofred explains how she use to wear clothes that displayed her body, now she wants to not even see it herself.

“What was I made for”

Additionally the song by Andra Day titled “ Rise up” has a message which motivates someone to be able and continue no matter what the obstacles are.  We see this as well with ofred, even though there has been moments where she give us ideas that she’ll end her life, she keeps going. Just like there are sad moments, there is also good moments, such as her having Moira, it shows that she wasn’t alone. “I put my mouth to the wooden hole. Moira? I whisper, Is that you? She says. Yes, I say. Relief goes through me. God, do i need a cigarette, says Moira. Me too, I say. I feel Ridiculously Happy” (pg. 73) The song rise up would fit perfectly, because she gets happy and rises up for Moria, knowing that they are both in the same situation. “ And I’ll Rise up high like the waves, I’ll rise up in spite of the ache,and I’ll do it thousand times again, for you.” 

“Rise up”

The Jokers bathroom scene has a soundtrack that holds a lot of emotion in cinema, where just instrumental can convey sadness and madness. It was named “hildur guðnadóttir’ and it’s a soundtrack that shows emotion with the violin. This fits perfectly with “The handmaids tale” just like in the book, in The Joker, the society that is made. Targets a minority, that will surely sooner or later fight back. A scene where this instrumental would most fit is when ofred is with the commander, any time she is with him. This is because, we get to realize how messed up the society has become, and we also understand the uncomfortableness that ofred could feel at that moment. “ I take off my shoes and stockings and my cotton underpants and slide the feathers on, under the tent of my dress. Then I take off the dress itself and slip the thin sequined straps over my shoulders. There are shoes, too, mauve ones with absurdly high heels”(pg.231)

“Hildur guðnadóttir”

For my choice of song, the connection is about religion, how ofred started to pray. In her prayers she shows how she wants to be able and have hope in order to keep going. She gives out a prayer, that she modifies in order to go with what she is feeling. “ But I’ll try it anyway. In hope, as they say on the gravestones. You must feel pretty ripped off. I guess it’s not the first time. If I were you i’d be fed up. I’d really be sick of it. I gues that’s the difference between us.” (pg.195) In this song, it’s someone who is talking to god, and telling him that they are tired, and just want to hold on during the hard times. Something that ofred wants to do as well, but slowly is giving up.

“Im Tired’

Lit log

Luke decided to be the one to solve their predicament. He told Offred he’d “take care of it”. Offred immediately knows he plans on killing the cat. She sits there as he goes to find the cat and she doesn’t move until after he’s done. “You have to create an it, where none was before. You do that first, in your head, and then you make it real.” (193) Offred justified Luke calling the cat “it” by saying that’s how he was able to go through with it. She said that making the cat an it would make it easier, that simply calling their cat it would make it really an it. I understand that Offred and Luke trying to detach themselves from their cat and trying to make this easier for them. That doesn’t mean that they were right though. Simply saying “it” instead of “her” is not enough to make that decision any easier. I know that very well because my mom tried to do the same thing. She tried to make me feel better about losing my cat by suggesting we could just get another cat the next day. That didn’t change anything. No one can detach themselves from a pet that easily or quickly. That relationship exists still, no matter how much you may try to erase it. It would take someone who never truly cared for the cat to be able to go through with killing her. Sitting there and letting it happen showed how apathetic Offred was. She could have tried to argue against it but she sat there and let Luke go through with it. Unlike her, I fought back against any comments that were made about

Gilead tunes

This book’s ideology and theme is that man are given the higher power in order to be able and reproduce with women. We can truly use the phrase “It’s a mans world” to describe Gilead, but they wouldn’t have a purpose as men if they weren’t maids or women who also take a major role, yet they aren’t treated equally. In James Browns song titled “It’s a man’s, Man’s, man’s World” he points it out while describing that men have done a lot in society, but it wouldn’t have been possible without a woman or a girl. In chapter 16, a “ceremony” takes place where Ofred the main character chooses to have intercourse in order to meet her “duty” as a maid and get pregnant, the purpose of Gilead, reproduction. “This is supposed to signify that we are one flesh, one being. What it really means is that she is in control, of the process and thus of the product”(pg.94) This demonstrates that women are necessary in order to create life, yes, the man sadly oppress and control this new society, but without women, it wouldn’t be nothing.

It's a Mans, Mans world"; 

https://youtu.be/zQ4Va15uJ2U?si=5pDkYEyR5IfGNaAb

Ofred constantly tries to understand why she is used the way that she is used, as a machine, and non-human. Her body was never respected, and we can see that from both the new world of Gilead, and the way her husband Luke treated her after she had gotten fired, he still wanted to have sexual intercourse. She starts to dislike her body, for turning into the only thing people see and judge. “ I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it’s shameful or immodest but because I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely” (Pg.63) This connects a lot to a song by Billie Eilish, titled “ What was I made for” which describes how a woman used to know what she was made for, she felt power over herself, then she’s confused in what her worth is. I believe that this connects so strongly, because ofred explains how she use to wear clothes that displayed her body, now she wants to not even see it herself.

“What was I made for” : https://youtu.be/dpnTd9Dx2OM?si=F_hbZq6fBnYmdc8_

Additionally, the song by Andra Day titled “ Rise up” has a message that motivates someone to be able and continue no matter what the obstacles are.  We see this as well with ofred, even though there has been moments where she gives us ideas that she’ll end her life, she keeps going. Just like there are sad moments, there is also good moments, such as her having Moira, it shows that she wasn’t alone. “I put my mouth to the wooden hole. Moira? I whisper, Is that you? She says. Yes, I say. Relief goes through me. God, do i need a cigarette, says Moira. Me too, I say. I feel Ridiculously Happy” (pg. 73) The song rise up would fit perfectly, because she gets happy and rises up for Moria, knowing that they are both in the same situation. “ And I’ll Rise up high like the waves, I’ll rise up in spite of the ache,and I’ll do it thousand times again, for you.” 

“Rise up”: https://youtu.be/FBuIBaDSOa4?si=nOxof0oavyybXS5G

The Joker’s bathroom scene has a soundtrack that holds a lot of emotion in cinema, where just the instrumental can convey sadness and madness. It was named “hildur guðnadóttir’ and it’s a soundtrack that shows emotion with the violin. This fits perfectly with “The Handmaid’s tale” just like in the book, in The Joker, the society that is made. Targets a minority, that will surely sooner or later fight back. A scene where this instrumental would most fit is when ofred is with the commander, any time she is with him. This is because, we get to realize how messed up the society has become, and we also understand the uncomfortableness that ofred could feel at that moment. “ I take off my shoes and stockings and my cotton underpants and slide the feathers on, under the tent of my dress. Then I take off the dress itself and slip the thin sequined straps over my shoulders. There are shoes, too, mauve ones with absurdly high heels”(pg.231)

“Hildur guðnadóttir” : https://youtu.be/K61-tK7Xlzg?si=sFjdFtQ4knM-RLdZ

For my choice of song, the connection is about religion, how ofred started to pray. In her prayers she shows how she wants to be able and have hope in order to keep going. She gives out a prayer, that she modifies in order to go with what she is feeling. “ But I’ll try it anyway. In hope, as they say on the gravestones. You must feel pretty ripped off. I guess it’s not the first time. If I were you I’d be fed up. I’d really be sick of it. I guess that’s the difference between us.” (pg.195) In this song, it’s someone who is talking to god, and telling him that they are tired, and just want to hold on during the hard times. Something that ofred wants to do as well, but slowly is giving up.

“Im Tired’: https://youtu.be/RdOX1gqzprc?si=oLQ2WUUP46TxKxza

Lit log #2- Blossoming Rose

A thousand Years, Christina Perri -https://youtu.be/rtOvBOTyX00?si=cM8AaH-xLmfTAEsW

My playlist is about the main character’s development in The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred’s love life. Throughout the story, Offred talks about the man she mentions quite frequently from her past named Luke who is her last lover. Even while she is in a situation where she continues to think about him and their history together, this made me think of the song, the particular line that stood out to me was
“I have died every day waiting for you Darling, don’t be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years I’ll love you for a thousand more”
and the connection that I made with the book was in chapter 9 page 52, “I wanted to feel Luke lying beside me. I have them, these attacks of the past, like faintness, wave sweeping over my head.” How I made this connection is because she isn’t with him she misses him and in this particular moment she is cherishing the moment that she was spending with him when she was in the hotel room. So though that memory was old it was still emotions embedded within that which made me feel as though it connected to that particular song.

When We Were Young, Adele- https://youtu.be/Xpc8mAJ_2nM?si=1UCAmqgFKxpOqVP1

As the book continues offred starts to share her attention with other men like Nick, in which she tries to convince herself that that Luke would be okay with it if he were here. On page 99 in chapter 17 I noticed that in their interaction I noticed that she was trying to convince herself that it was okay for their relationship and gaslighted herself into thinking that he would approve, “Luke, you’d know, you’d understand. It’s you here, in another body.” I connected it to the song by Adele When We Were Young and she says one line states, “You still look like a movie You still sound like a song My God, this reminds me, of when we were young.” I chose this song for this scene because she is trying to imagine that her ex-lover is within another and that gives the reader the assumption that she is trying to fill that hole that she lost with Luke trying to reassure herself that she wasn’t cheating on her first love. The history that she has with him does not compare to whatever relationships that she has somewhat created with other people.

It’s a man world, James Brown- https://youtu.be/H77fRz1rybs?si=kSmsDPNtzeF2wPh1

People like the commander who is stuck in his old way of thinking believe that women’s only purpose is to serve men and have their children, but the reader sees this as cruel and unfair the commander doesn’t see anything wrong with this “ the problem was only with the women, he says. The main problem was with the men. There was nothing for them anymore.” This was page 210 and in this scene, Offred was starting to get comfortable with the commander and she wondered what were Gilead’s original intentions when they implemented this new rule. This reminded me of this particular song, “You see, man made the cars to take us over the road Man made the train to carry the heavy load Man-made electric light to take us out of the dark Man made the boat for the water like Noah made the ark

This is a man’s, man’s, man’s world But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl” How I connected it to the book is that Gilead wouldn’t be able to run or sustain itself and eventually die out if it weren’t for women. They need them to procreate and without them, every man would eventually die out. Proving the reader’s point that though the men are running their world they can’t survive without the assets of a depending on woman.

Titanium, David Guetta- https://youtu.be/JRfuAukYTKg?si=lUJtjZ20ICskd3p8

Because Offred has no other choice but to be a handmaid but her willingness to adapt and survive is what is making her pull through like the song, “I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away

You shoot me down, but I won’t fall I am titanium” I referred to this part of this song because in the book she continues to rise against the odds rather than doing as she is told. Rather than acting rebellious like the other character Moira, she showers her spirit in private.

Pink, Just Like Fire-https://youtu.be/5Nrv5teMc9Y?si=73F-TaZrKagcIcPV

Which brings me to my last song, “ Just like fire, burning up the way If I can light the world up for just one day” I like his song when referring to this particular part of the book when she constantly fakes how she feels towards the commander. All while Trying to move in closer and get to know the commander, she’s getting comfortable causing the reader to question if it’s just more than a friendship there or if is it potentially love blossoming that she is afraid to explore or admit.

Cost of Knowledge

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFyMrP_obk/fRAiZFX519lfXCMYtYQfPw/edit?utm_content=DAFyMrP_obk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

(Link is my artwork and video.)

“Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” This quote is derived from Genesis, chapter 3 verse 4. It illustrates a great evil in the form of a serpent, trying to corrupt Eve, God’s perfect creation, into eating the strictly forbidden tree. This temptation leads Eve to eat from the forsaken tree. Once Eve partook of the fruit from the tree, she gained a new understanding of the world. However this revelation led to the birth of human sin. The “Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, uses religious symbolism to speak on a whole myriad of different topics, but in particular, the cost of knowledge. As stated multiple times in different classroom discussions, knowledge is power, however there is a cost to this newfound information. One such example is the handmaiden previous of Offred, who, after learning from the commander, died by suicide. This moment hits close to home to our main protagonist as she has ended up in her same exact predicament, and is unsure of the best course of action. But yet still she hungers to know, such as on pg.188 “Know what? He says. Whatever there is to know,” There is a power in this, seen just as when Offred is speaking about Serena Joy’s lack of awareness of her special relationship with the commander, “Also: I now I had a power over her, of a kind, although she didn’t know it. And I enjoyed that. Why pretend? I enjoyed it a lot.” This made me wonder about knowledge and its place in the society of Gilead. And so I created my art piece, in the vain of capturing the scene of Offred first getting a taste of the outside world, from the commander. In my art piece I choose to emulate Eve’s mistake and parallel that with Offered’s current path. I have the center of the art be the bright red apple. This apple represents the role knowledge plays and how it is at the center of everything. But as you can see, surrounding the apple is the fractures of the world Offred first understood but is beginning to see past. Overhead the fracture lays the “Eyes of God”. In a biblical sense this is a fracture and strain between humanity’s relationship with God. In the world of Gilead it signifies Offred’s rebellion against the higher ups, and her forging a path that is set apart from the societal rules and norms. However if you look closely there are two sets of eyes, as one. There is white eyes and black eyes. The white eyes represent the higher ups, but the black one represents the commander. Back in the Garden of Eden, the snake led Eve using temptation but he never made her do it. The choice was ultimately Eve’s. In the same vain, the commander started this by tempting her with remnants of the old world but Offred began to choose this small rebellion on her own volition. But in the end, what Eve gained she lost with the ultimate cost of life, death. It might stand to reason then that Offred’s own story ends with death, perhaps not of her life, but the sweet bliss that lies in ignorance.

Mental Justifications

“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. But my silence does not deter him. “Tomorrow, isn’t it? He says softly. “I thought we could jump the gun.” He turns towards me. “Why did you bring me here?” I say coldly. He’s stroking my body now, from the stem as they say to stern, cat stroke along the left flank, down the left leg. He stops at the foot, his fingers encircling the ankle, briefly, like a bracelet, where the tattoo is, a Braille he can read, a cattle brand. It means ownership. I remind myself that he is not an unkind man; that, under other circumstances, I even like him.” (254)

Offred’s relationship with the commander is one that becomes more complex as the story progresses. What first starts as a “harmless” friendship between two people who like playing scrabble, becomes a relationship with a weird power dynamic. In the latest chapter; 37-39, readers can see the tension and awareness Offred goes through at the club the commander brought her to.

Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale Offred is unsure of what her relationship with the Commander is. She is aware of the dangers from it, but she also knows if she disobeys, the Commander himself could ruin her. In some sections, it is clear that Offred feels uncomfortable with the way the Commander is acting. She describes it to readers but right after, she backs up the Commander. Almost like a button has switched inside of her swapping for the brainwashed version of her, reflecting how powerless she is in all of the relationships she has had.

In chapter 39 pg. 254, when both Offred and the Commander are in the hotel room he rented out, the Commander starts making a move on Offred. The first first thing readers might catch on is how he is throwing himself at Offred. In a sexual way, he begins to caress her body showing clear intentions that what he wants is intimate. Offred has tried to avoid this sexual tension multiple times, but this time, it seems like there is no escape from it. She is clearly uncomfortable and she shows by the way she describes the situation. “The fact is that I don’t want to be alone with him, not on a bed. I’d rather have Serena there too.” (254) Even with the discomfort, she then changes the way she speaks about the Commander. “I remind myself that he is not an unkind man; that, under other circumstances, I even like him.” (254) This happens very often, Offred will often mentally justify anything that a man does to her. In class discussions, my peer Esther and I were to make the connection that our main character seems to need that attention even if it is bad to be validated or have some sort of purpose.

Learning more about who Offred is and what happened to human society in the earlier chapters, we could see that from the beginning, she craved any kind of power that she herself did not have. Offred used tactics that she knew could cause her trouble just for the thrill. “They touch with their eyes instead and I move my hips a little, feeling the full red skirt sway around me. It’s like thumbing your nose from behind a fence or teasing a dog with a bone held out of reach..” (22) Taunting the guardians reflects how far Offred will go to get that validation revealing the need to defend the men who do wrong by her.

This pattern does not only occur with the Commander, I also caught on that Offred did this with her past relationships and just men she passes by in her tale. Luke is one of these examples. One moment that stood out to me was when Offred was telling the story of how Gilead came to be. At that moment, she had just lost her job and access to all kinds of things she owned. Feeling distraught, she wanted comfort from her love. As many recognize, a relationship between two people should be sacred and something one can find comfort with when the worst happens. On the contrary, Luke did everything but truly offer comfort. Passing on the matter and wanting sex with Offred.

“Hush, he said. He was still kneeling on the floor. You know I’ll always take care of you. I thought, Already he’s starting to patronize me. Then I thought, Already you’re starting to get paranoid, I know, said. I love you” (179)

Offred needed that consolation yet she was shut out like a door shutting on your face from not being a wanted guest. The sex most likely happened afterwards without the liking of Offred. Yet with everything that happened, she defended the idea of him, dismissing everything once again. This cycle goes back to the Commander.

When reading The Handmaid’s Tale it is important to see the patterns Atwood drops around the story to expose the main character’s ways. Offred’s self sabotaging ways – defending those who did her wrong– reveals how her mental state is suffering and has been since way back when. Offred’s character is broken and has been for a long time, and experiencing the rise of Gilead botched the way she navigates her relationships. She’s alone and will justify anything as long as she can to keep the relationship’s spark alive.

Significance of the title: The Handmaid's Tale

(Also looking closer into Offred’s and the Commander’ s relationship.)

The “Handmaid” in the title is referring to Offred, the main character. This is clearly revealed as the story is told in Offred’s perspective. However it is more complicated than you think. The story is told from when Offred is living the actual scene but she also narrates it as if it were told from third person. I noticed how there were parts in the book when characters were speaking, their dialogue was not in quotation marks and other parts were. When there was dialogue without quotation marks, Margaret Atwood, the author, would write “I said.” or “He said.” The dialogue that had quotation marks Atwood would write “I say.” or “He says.” This technique used by Atwood allows the reader to picture the scene when there was dialogue without quotation marks but with quotations, Atwood wanted the reader to feel like they were in that scene. To feel what Offred felt.

When I googled the definition of “Tale” it defined it as “a story, especially one that might be invented or difficult to believe.” On page 39 Offred said, “I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it… It isn’t a story I’m telling. It’s also a story I’m telling, in my head, as I go along.” She is letting us know this book is her tale, not everything is true. Chapter 38 basically summarizes Moira’s whole journey after she escaped the Center, it was a long long long journey. Not many would have made it out as sane as Moira did. There was a point where she wanted to end her life. On page 249 it stuck out to me that some dialogue, that had quotation marks, were questions and yet they still ended it with “I say.” “ What about the others? I say”. This observation sparked the question Why is it “I say.” even when it is a question? With the help of my peer, Leticia Desouza we were able to discuss and come up with an explanation. Even though this scene was told in present tense, it is still a tale that she is telling the readers. As Offred mentioned on page 243, Moira told her all about her journey but she could not remember everything. She said, “I’ve filled it out for her as much as I can…” Once again letting the reader know that not everything said is exactly true.

Moira’s character is the life/adventurous element of this whole book. Every time Moira is mentioned something to keep the book interesting happens. When she was at the Center she managed to escape but to escape she tricked Aunt Elizabeth into helping her unclog a toilet Moira purposely clogged. She then threatened Aunt Elizabeth, tied her up and swapped clothes with her to make her escape easier. At the end of chapter 38 Offred seemed like she did not really like the content of Moira’s journey. She said, “I’d like to tell a story about how Moira escaped for good this time. Or if I couldn’t tell that, I’d like to say she blew up Jezebel’s, with fifty Commanders inside it. I’d like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her.”(250) Offred sees in Moira the courage she does not have. She depends on Moira to feel safe or become free. Before the new government took over Gilead, Moira was already expecting it. Moira already had ties with the Underground Femaleroad. Unlike Moira, Offred was not prepared. Everything to her was all of the sudden that is why she depends on Moira to become free. That is also why she wanted to tell a story of how Moira blew up Jezebel’s with fifty Commanders inside. She herself would not do anything to fight or protest and become free.

In chapter 39 it is illustrated an uncomfortable scene between Offred and the Commander. The Commander took Offred to Jezebel’s, where she saw Moira and explained her whole journey after escaping the center. After that the Commander took Offred to a hotel room at Jezebel’s to sleep with her. Although he acknowledged that the Ceremony was the next day, he still goes on to say, “I thought we could jump the gun.” He starts to caress Offred’s body however the way she worded it shows that she is uncomfortable. “…the left leg. He stops at the foot, his fingers encircling the ankle.”(254) Instead of calling her body “my” she references them as “the” because in this moment she is an object to the Commander. An object for him to get his pleasure out of. Even as this was all happening she continues to defend the Commander though not to someone, she is mentally defending him. “I remind myself that he is not an unkind man; that, under other circumstances, I even like him.” Offred holds onto this idea that the Commander is a good guy because she could end up like the last handmaid, killing herself to end her suffering.

The Hope of Female Friendships

The relationships between women in Gilead are complex and have layers. We see how these women interact with each other and how they perceive each other through Offred’s perspective. The complexity of these relationships is a product of how Gilead society views women. In a world where they pick and choose the value of each woman based on their title and fertility, friendship has become a luxury and a form of rebellion. We can see different versions of this in Offred’s relationships with Serena Joy, Ofglen, and Moira.

When we take a look at Serena Joy and Offred’s relationship, it’s clear that society has set them up to dislike each other and their resentment towards each other stems from jealousy. Even though Gilead claims that they are one through the Ceremony, they are two women being forced into an arrangement that neither woman would choose to be in. For Serena, a younger and youthful woman is having sex with her husband right in front of her, and for Offred, Serena is a woman who is living the comfortable life as a Wife that she doesn’t get to live. Offred initially liked Serena Joy. “I was disappointed. I wanted then, to turn her into an older sister, a motherly figure, someone who would understand and protect me.” (pg.16) We see that Offred craves that female friendship from Serena Joy and she held onto the hope that Serena would’ve been different if they met outside their circumstances. Offred’s hate for Serena grows the more she lives in the regime of Gilead, therefore having that initial hope diminished.

Ofglen is a handmaid Offred is paired with when going to the market. At first, Offred was very critical of her and clearly did not trust her. She looked down on her in many ways and always thought of her in a negative light. Friendship in Gilead society is restricted and almost non-existent because everyone is anxious about who they can trust. They had to speak in very restricted ways that caused them both to perceive each other as a true believer. Once they both look each other in the eye, they both realize that they are non-believers. “‘I thought you were a true believer,’ Ofglen says. ‘I thought you were,’ I say. ‘You were always so stinking pious.’ ‘So were you,’ I reply. I want to laugh, shout, hug her. ‘You can join us,’ she says.” (pg.168) Once they don’t follow the rules of Gilead, we see another glimpse of connection when Offred states that she wants to hug Ofglen. Offred is invited to be a part of something bigger than herself and is offered a new friendship that is exciting and hopeful. These friendships have formed groups of unbelievers that push back against the ideologies of Gilead and break through the walls men in power have put up to isolate the handmaids.

Lastly, Moira is Offred’s oldest friend from “Before”. They are like sisters and they understand each other on a deeper level. Moira to Offred is someone she looks up to and values because unlike Offred, Moira makes bold choices and refuses to follow the rules. She managed to escape from the Training Center and where she ended up was both a mystery and something the handmaids had faith in. When Offred finally meets Moira again, it was during a night out with the Commander. “‘It’s all right,’ she says, to me and to the other women. ‘I know her.’ The others smile now, and Moira hugs me. My arms go around her, the wires popping up her breasts dig into my chest. We kiss each other, on the cheek, then on the other. Then we stand back. ‘Godawful,’ she says. She grins at me. ‘You look like the Whore of Babylon.’ ‘Isn’t that what I’m supposed to look like?’ I say. ‘You something the cat dragged in.’” (pg.242) Offred and Moira have these gleeful moments that almost feel normal and find joy in each other in the midst of this oppressive society. These moments make everything seem better, showing how female friendships are a source of strength during an oppressive time. This shows how much these women need each other in their lives to relate to, talk to, and laugh with. They find connection in a world that wants women to be as disconnected as possible. Old, new, and possible friendships represent hope in dark times and keeping these friendships alive is one of the biggest forms of rebellion.

Aidan Simas lit log #2

Preface: I chose these songs in particular because they portray elements of Gilead. They are somber, nearly wordless, and somewhat mysterious save for 1 song. I believe these overarching themes dutifully portray Gilead as a society that silences its dissenters, glorifies its atrocities, and makes itself inescapable to those it holds captive. Melancholy is everywhere and hope is running thin.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bQ4DvKU7H88wbLcJQFvco?si=RxIJ1-Q7R9C9ABN64VEIow

我昨晚夢見你了 (Translation: I dreamed of you last night)

I chose this song because it reminds me of the melancholy that seems to pierce the minds of all Gilead’s residents. The collective emotions of people from all walks of life. You can see this in specifics like with Serena Joy knitting scarves for the angels in her sitting room. Or when Offred gets into a bath and thinks of her loved ones. In the song there is this sense of melancholy created by the rain, and the other notes as well create a dark atmosphere, almost reminiscent of the image of Offred staring at the bodies on the wall. pg.31 “Now we turn our backs on the church and there is the thing we’ve in truth come to see: the Wall.”

Rain (From “Halo 3:ODST”)

This song has a very deep meaning, one that synergizes with Offred’s situation as a handmaid and as a person. The meaning of this song is hope, hope even though you are by yourself and on your own, hope even though the whole world may be against you, and hope as you search for a way out of the hell you jumped feet first into. The closest image I can think of to this meaning in the book is the pillow that says “Faith” on Offred’s window. It is a preservation of hope even through the dark shadow of Gilead’s oppression. Pg.110 “I get out of bed, go to the window, kneel on the window seat, the hard little cushion, FAITH, and look out. There is nothing to be seen.”

Opening (from “Jin Roh”)

This song is not melancholic nor does it inspire the feeling of oppression. Instead it is militaristic and very proud. It sounds of victory, and imagery of a proud fascist society. Think of “Triumph of the Will” (yes the nazi propaganda film). It synergizes well with the imagery that Gilead provides of itself. The matching uniforms, military force, the examples made of those who would go against it, even the secret police or “Eyes” as the book calls them. This imagery is present at the women’s prayvaganza. Pg.218 “This commander ascends the steps to the podium, which is draped with a red cloth embroidered with a large white-winged eye. He gazes over the room, and our soft voices die.”

Your Home

This song is very somber. It’s cold and warm at the same time. It has tones of machinery whirring in the background and that same sense of melancholy that is everywhere in Gilead. The imagery most reminiscent of this music is when Offred is describing the egg. The commentary on its simple perfection really synergizes with this song. Pg.110 “The egg is glowing now, as if it had an energy of its own. To look at the egg gives me intense pleasure.”

Corridors of Time

I find that this song sort of seems exotic. The melancholy in the main chords of this song pervades throughout the song but it is undercut by the other parts in some areas. This feels most like how I felt when Offred was describing the commander’s room. Mostly how many things that Offred sees that were “supposed to have been destroyed”. Pg.137 “Books, books, and books, right out in plain view, no locks, no boxes. No wonder we can’t come in here. It’s an oasis of the forbidden.”

Diving Deep into Chapter 37

Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, many details of the society of Gilead are revealed slowly throughout the book. Chapter 37 reveals important details about the Commanders and their ‘club’.

As Offred first arrives at the hotel, it looks familiar to her. She thinks to herself “I know where I am. I’ve been here before: with Luke, in the afternoons, a long time ago. (234)” When looking back to page 172, where Offred discusses the nature of her relationship with Luke, she mentions: “So the hotels, with Luke, didn’t mean only love or even sex to me.” This is relevant because it shows how this was the same hotel where she had her affair with Luke, and is now where the Commanders have their affairs. The hotel is a symbol for these relationships, as it has continuously been a place for them.

As I continued my close reading, I noticed the way the colors of clothing in the club were slightly different from the way they are portrayed in the society. Offred observes, “There are men with them, a lot of men, but in their dark uniforms or suits, so similar to one another, they form only a kind of background. The women on the other hand are tropical… (234-235)” Throughout Gilead, the women are assigned many different colors, while the men stick to black and dark green. While this wasn’t as clear to me before, this quote made me realize how colorful they made the women. The women stick out the most, while the men get to hide in their muted colors. In Gilead, women stick out to keep them in line, but in the club they stick out like shiny objects.

Another theme that was constantly brought up throughout this chapter was the mention of shoes. Shoes are a symbol for character, societal place, power or servitude. When the Commander brings Offred to sit down he says “I thought your feet might be getting tired, in those shoes. (236)” Reading this quote reminded me of how, in the previous chapter, when Offred had to lie by the Commander’s feet, she noticed his shoes. “My forehead is against his shoes. I have never been this close to his shoes before. They feel hard, unwinking, like the shells of beetles: black, polished, inscrutable. They seem to have nothing to do with feet. (233)” The Commander’s shoes are a symbol of his character: refined, unreadable. His shoes are an image of himself and his role of power. Offred’s shoes reflect similarly. When she gets her shoes from the Commander, she describes: “There are shoes too, mauve ones with absurdly high heels. Nothing quite fits; the shoes are a little too big… (231)” Offred’s shoes represent how she doesn’t exactly fit her role in society and how out of place she feels.

One of the lines that stuck with me most was during Offred’s conversation with the Commander about the club. When Offred asks why it wasn’t forbidden, he says “Well, officially… But everyone’s human, after all. (237)” This line, as well as the whole chapter, reveal how performative the acts of Gilead truly are. While the women have an abundance of rules, the men get to do whatever they want. The Commander says ‘everyone’s human’ but he is only talking about the men and their needs.

This idea is further developed throughout the chapter under the idea of ‘Nature’, which the Commander has brought up multiple times. The first mention is during a conversation with Offred: “This way they’re [women] protected, they can fulfill their biological destinies in peace… Those years were just an anomaly, historically speaking, the Commander said. Just a fluke. All we’ve done is return things to Nature’s form. (220)” The Commander uses Nature to justify women’s role for childbirth and men’s needs for sex. At the club, in another conversation with Offred, he brings up the idea again, “‘It means you can’t cheat Nature,’ he says. ‘Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason, it’s part of the procreational strategy. It’s Nature’s plan.’… ‘Women know that instinctively. Why did they buy so many different clothes, in the old days? To trick men into thinking they were several different women. A new one each day.’ (237)” The Commander acknowledges that men are the problem, but blames women and nature for it. He uses this idea to justify the needs of men and the reasoning for the societal rules for women.

Offred's Daylist - Josie Barsky

Dear God - XTC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p554R-Jq43A

In chapter 30 Offred says a big prayer where she’s pleading to God to make life better, to bring everything back to normal. It’s pretty understood throughout the text that Offred doesn’t have a strong relationship with God or religion even though she’s being forced into it by society. On page 195 she says, “I feel unreal, talking to you. You like this. I feel as if I’m talking to a wall… Oh God. It’s no joke. Oh God oh God. How can I keep on living?” Offred’s prayer reminded me of multiple lines in “Dear God”. The song begins by saying, “Dear God, sorry to disturb you, but - I feel that I should be heard loud and clear -We all need a big reduction in the amount of tears” and then as it continues it says “Dear God, I can’t believe in-I don’t believe in-”. Both the song and Offred are telling God that the world is in danger, and even though they don’t seem to have a huge relationship with religion they need something to believe in. The one thing that’s keeping Offred together is hope, hope that one day everything will get better, that maybe she will find Luke and her daughter, and that her life can return to the way it was supposed to be.

Dress - Taylor Swift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNEoPctNIUE “Our secret moments in a crowded room - They got no idea about me and you”. This song is about a secret relationship and making the most of the moments they have together. This can be representative of Offred’s relationship with Nick. Nick is the only guardian Offred refers to by name, implying that the two have a relationship beyond what Offred is telling readers. Readers are aware that they have an attraction to each other though, because on page 98 the two run into each other and she says, “He puts his hand on my arm, pulls me against him, his mouth on mine, what else comes from such denial? Without a word.” The kiss was out of nowhere and shocked readers, especially since afterward Nick tells Offred the commander wants to meet her. “Dress” is a great representation of the small thrill that comes from a secret relationship, knowing that everything could go wrong but taking advantage of the moments anyway.

But Not Kiss - Faye Webster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cIe5OSj8d4 “I want to see you in my dreams, but then forget - we’re meant to be, but not yet - you’re all that I have, but can’t get”. This is a song about longing for something you once had and how you hope it makes a return to your life, but at the same time you know it’s not possible. Offred experiences this feeling often, especially when she is reminiscing about people of her past. Luke in particular is someone she reflects on often when we get flashbacks to life pre-Gilead. On page 200 Offred says something similar to what Faye Webster talks about in the song. “I’d like to have Luke here…so I could have a fight with him… These days I script whole fights, in my head, and the reconciliations afterward too.” She imagines these things because she knows her relationship with Luke is no longer feasible and she doesn’t know where he is, but she still wishes she could be with him.

I Know The End - Phoebe Bridgers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC6mEJ5i5y8 “I Know The End” is very representative of “The Handmaid’s Tale” as a whole. This song is about losing hope and leaving your past behind. The song starts off by saying, “Close my eyes and fantasize - three clicks and I’m home”. This reminds me of when Offred is imagining her past life when she goes to sleep, on page 37 she says, “But the night is my time out. Where should I go? Somewhere good.” Then she continues to tell readers flashbacks of her previous life and these flashbacks are what give her normalcy and hope. But as the song and the book progresses we see this hope fade away. “I turned around, there was nothing there - Yeah I guess the end is here.” For example, Moira was a big sign of hope but in chapter 37 Offred finds Moria at the hotel. The two reconnect and Moira tells the story about how she had almost escaped and gotten out of Gilead. Unfortunately, Moira ended up at the hotel seemingly stuck. Then on page 250, Offred says, “I’d like to tell a story about how Moira escaped, for good this time…But as far as I know, that didn’t happen…because I never saw her again. With this, it looks like Offred’s hope is gone, because if Moria couldn’t make it out how could she?

hope ur ok - Olivia Rodrigo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLlsmB1D4Q0 “His parents cared more about the Bible - Than being good to their own child” This song is about parents not being accepting of their child because they do not want a “traditional relationship” which is very similar to Gilead and how they treat their citizens. Gilead strongly believes in “traditional marriage” and it’s a big theme throughout the book. However, traditional marriage in Gilead isn’t at all similar to how it’s viewed in the real world. Gilead uses the bible to explain the use of the handmaids as a part of a three-person marriage, so that way they can have children. At the beginning of the book, Atwood leaves a quote from Genesis 30:1-3 that reads “Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bare upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.” The government has forced its non-sterile women to do this simply because it’s in the bible. They don’t care about the well-being of the women because they care more about living in the “traditional” way, just as the parents do in “hope ur ok”.

Simple Reunion

The first thing I noticed when reading this chapter was the bathroom sign. This bathroom is very fancy and high-end. The author supports this idea of having a nice bathroom by saying (pg 241) “There’s a rest area, gently lit in pinkish tones, with several easy chairs and a sofa, in a lime-green bamboo-shoot print, with a wall clock above it in a gold filigree frame.” The letters for the sign that says the lady, are made of gold script and give the place a more luxurious style. The bathroom is also a break room for the ladies and has plenty of things in there that they can use. There are even mirrors left in this bathroom that they can still use.

The Next thing I noticed in this chapter is how Moria acted when she was with Offred. It has been a while since Offred and Moira had seen each other since Moria escaped from the school. She has not changed and seems to still have a positive attitude but seems to have lost the fighting spirit she had before. Once she made it out she was caught again and then came here where the Aunts don’t try to fix you now. She stayed running for 9 months and when she was about to finally escape they caught on and stopped her. The author shows Moria getting when, (pg 247) “Whatever it was, they picked us up just as we were coming out the back door to go down to the dock.” Moria tried her best to escape and almost managed to do it but in the end, she was caught. She now stays at the hotel Where she plans on staying and even invited Offred to stay as well.

This chapter also takes place in a ladies’ bathroom just like the scene in chapter 13 where Moira and Offred meet in the bathroom to speak to one another. In both of these scenes, they want to talk to one another without having someone overhearing them and getting in trouble. In chapter 13 they tried to speak away from the Aunts, while in chapter 38 they didn’t want Offred’s Commander to overhear them. The ladies’ bathroom seems to be the only place in this world of Gilead where they can speak to each other. While in the bathroom both scenes are very similar with how they work and how much time they get in there. There are even Aunts outside of both of them to track who goes in and how much they are in there.

Offred is given a cigarette in this chapter and uses it. The cigarette appears multiple times throughout the book and is first introduced, and it’s said that they are banned items that no one should have. All the cigarettes were taken away once the new power took over now the only way to get them was through the dark market. Cigarettes only appear with high-ranking individuals like the commander and Serena Joy. The cigarette could be seen as a metaphor for power and freedom. The only time Offred has a cigarette is when someone in power gives it to her or she is somewhere where she does not have someone who has completely taken away her freedom. The author supports the idea of Offred wanting cigarettes by saying,( pg 73) “God, do I need a cigarette, says Moria. Me too, I say.” Offred says she wants cigarettes because they give her the illusion that she is someone important and free like she was in her past.

When Offred and Moira are in the bathroom Moria asks why she is there and who she is with. Offred says she is with her commander and that he brought her there so they could go out for a little. Offred tells her she will be leaving soon and that she is temporary. The word temporary appeared when (pg 243) “I pull her head over so I can whisper in her ear. “I’m temporary,” I tell her.” The word temporary felt deeper than just staying at the hotel and could mean the commander may replace her soon. Though the commander shows a deep connection to Offred and gives her plenty of what she wants there have been other women besides Offred in his life. Like Serena Joy who was the Commander’s wife whom he does not feel a connection anymore. There was also another Handmaid before Offred who took her own life, so he is fine with replacing one Handmaid with another. Maybe in the end, if Offred escapes the commander will find someone else.

Atwoods Humanization with Characters

In The Handmaid’s Tale, the author Margaret Atwood uses many subtle literary comparisons between her characters and animals. There could be many different reasons for these animal references, as Offred often compares herself to things such as pigs and rodents. However, the reader could point this out as a piece to a larger puzzle. No section perfectly embodies this more than the second and third paragraphs on page 165, chapter 27.

The author begins this chapter with Offred meeting up with her fellow handmaid Ofgled as they start their routine walk into town. Atwood then writes: “Ofglen and I are more comfortable with one another now, we’re used to each other. Siamese twins. We don’t bother much with the formalities anymore when we greet each other; we smile and move off, in tandem, traveling smoothly along our daily track. Now and again we vary the route; 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. We’ve been to the stores already, and the church; now we’re at the Wall. Nothing on it today, they don’t leave the bodies hanging as long in summer as they do in winter, because of the flies and the smell. This was once the land of air sprays, pine and floral, and people retain the taste; especially the Commanders, who preach purity in all things” This section contains two important details. To start, the comparison between the handmaids and “rats in a maze” is an example of symbolism as mentioned above. Atwood yet again uses these animal comparisons to emphasize the lack of respect and continuous oppression that these women are facing. This is nothing new for The Handmaid’s Tale, as Offred constantly thinks thoughts of this nature, however why might the author include the sentences that follow?

One reason could be to keep some sort of foundation of humanity for the readers. Looking at examples throughout history, we can see how people have the tendency to dehumanize others. This can be blatantly shown in Gilead, as the handmaids are dehumanized to feel like nothing but tools and machines. When the author continuously makes these references to animals and writes about these people hung on the wall, she may start to allow the reader to dehumanize the characters. Even if they are viewing the story through Offred’s eyes, it may become difficult to understand any of the characters from a realistic perspective. This is possibly why Atwood may have included the sentence, “they don’t leave the bodies hanging as long in summer as they do in winter, because of the flies and the smell.” It allows the characters to be understood even in the most obscene conditions. Even if the commanders are awful and the handmaids are likened to rats, Atwood makes sure to add in human details such as sensitivity towards senses. Even the people in Gilead don’t like the smell. They like things to be neat. By including this just after the rat comparison, Atwood allows viewers to humanize the people within the society, while still noticing the oppression the handmaids have to deal with. The placement appears to be very intentional.

Though this may seem conclusive, other interpretations could of course be made. The concepts of “neatness” and “purity” could play deeper into the themes of fabrication, rather than the aforementioned relatability. This might be due to our modern societies. As cities don’t keep clean in our world, why would they in Gilead? These assumptions create more questions about why Atwood would have this section, as what would be the purpose of further isolating the reader from understanding her writing? When readers interpret this desire for neatness as unrealistic, it further establishes the commanders as villains. The word choice of “purity” could definitely back up this idea, with its naturally negative tone. Atwood most likely allows for readers to draw their own conclusion on how far removed from reality these people are. There’s no question there is evil involved, but how relatable should this hatred towards the government be?

Despite the many different ways of viewing the author’s decisions within this passage, it’s clear that the intentions are to create a sense of isolation or unity between the reader and Offred. These themes can be found throughout the entire novel, as they can be found through close reading and thorough inspection of Atwood’s themes.

Jezebels

This artwork depicts the party that occurs in Chapter 38 of The Handmaid’s Tale. When Offred and the Commander first walk into the party scene, Offred says, “At first glance there’s cheerfulness to this scene. It’s like a masquerade party; they are like oversized children, dressed up in togs they’ve rummaged from trunks.” (Atwood, 235). In contrast, the scene in the bathroom is more somber and business-like. “The women don’t smile. They return to their smoking as if it’s serious business.” (Atwood, 242). The artwork depicts the scene in the bathroom. This scene is more intriguing because people look more out of place without the backdrop of the rest of the party. They are left wearing costumes. Moiras outfit is the most shocking. “There’s a wad of cotton attached to the back, I can see it as she half turns; it looks like a sanitary pad that’s been popped like a piece of popcorn. I realize it’s supposed to be a tail. Attached to her head are two ears, of a rabbit or deer, it’s not easy to tell; one of the ears has lost its starch or wiring and is flopping halfway down. She has a black bowtie around her neck and is wearing black net stockings and black high heels.” (Atwood, 239). The artwork depicts these details. She is dressed in attire so different from anything she has ever worn. They are all wearing costumes, even the ones who have done this before. They are playing for their lives wearing the armor of bunny ears. In this artwork, all of the outfits are drawn in bright colors. The colors are quite shocking, especially the makeup. “All wear make-up, and I realize how unaccustomed I’ve become to seeing it, on women, because their eyes look too big to me, too dark and shimmering, their mouths too read, too wet, blood-dipped and glistening; or, on the other hand, too clown-ish.” (Atwood, 235) I tried to make all the colors bright, especially the makeup, to show the contrast of this scene. But, these are the only colors in this artwork. This shows the way that the people in power like the commanders are trying to dress up a bleak reality. They are playing pretend and living in a matrix of their own making. The illusion still fades however. The artwork portrays threads of clothing loose, stains on the clothes, and cracks to the mirrors to show the brokenness of this party. “A movie about the past is not the same as the past” (Atwood, 235). Everything is different now, but people are still busy playing pretend. They are still trying to make a black and white world colorful, when there is still no freedom and still nothing to celebrate. Throughout this, the handmaids and the women are always the pieces being played around, like actors in a play. The bathroom is the backstage, showing all the women waiting for their cue. The last thing of importance is this mirror, which is cracked and broken yet they are all drawn to it, fixing their makeup, checking their reflection. It is all they have left of themselves. Something still artificial, reflecting a reality of their own making.

IMG-6038
IMG-6038

Sensitivity is not Femininity

Soon after Offred and the Commander’s affair begins, she asks him for hand lotion to use as a substitute for her typical moisturizer of butter. She and the other Handmaids must use butter to keep their skin from being dry, as lotion is banned by the Wives. “Dry? the Commander said, as if he’d never thought about that before.” (158) He then calls the substitution “very clever” and laughs to himself. When reading, I immediately related this to countless exchanges in my own life where men have been dismissive of my struggles. Men could never understand many of the problems women face because they will never experience them, which makes it difficult to explain how they make me feel. My own experience with this has consisted less of specific moments and more of a behavioral pattern I have noticed. Men in my life have no problem interrupting me or talking down to me in ways they would never do with other men. Our society sees women as objects, which makes it easy to discount our feelings. It is rare that I feel taken seriously by men. I have been shut down trying to talk about politics with family members, being told I don’t know what I’m talking about. Experiences like that one are common and, at some point, make me not want to speak at all.

Offred finishes her explanation by telling him, “Jesus Christ, you ought to know.” She then thinks, “My voice was angrier than I’d intended, but he didn’t even wince.” (159) Her initial frustration over his dismissal of her struggle is inflated because he is now also dismissing her anger. His reaction, or lack thereof, reveals how little respect he has for her, how little she matters to him. Because he already didn’t grasp her original request for lotion, her anger simply seems like an overreaction of a sensitive little girl. He cannot take her anger seriously. Throughout this scene, I could notice Offred getting angrier and angrier with each snide comment, growing closer to her breaking point. As the reader, I felt that same anger, especially having experienced similar interactions myself. Offred then snaps at the Commander, yelling at him, listing all the items that the Handmaids are forbidden from having. Women are often viewed as sensitive because we tend to blow up at small comments. In reality, it is because we are so fed up with the repeated behavior that we can’t take it anymore. Femininity is intertwined with sensitivity, and sensitivity is perceived as weakness. I often find myself holding onto my stress, only to let it out at one small mistake I make or small interaction I have with someone. I’m not truly that upset over one thing, I just was bottling up my anxiety until that point. With Offred, her inner thoughts reveal how she felt from the beginning, but over and over, she stayed silent, despite the Commander’s irritating ignorance. Only when she could not hold it in anymore, her anger spilled over and she snapped. Women are conditioned to be silent and meek, so it is common for anger or other emotions to build up until we can’t hold them in anymore.

This book serves as a metaphor for our society, so it’s easy to draw comparisons to my own life. This specific scene stuck out to me because it was such a small moment, but her reaction throughout really resonated with me. It sets something off in me, the same feeling I get when I notice this happening to me. The constant feeling of being patronized is something every woman experiences daily, but I think it’s something men might not even notice they are doing. Gilead is such a foreign concept to me, but moments like this allow me to relate to Offred experiences and connect with her.

Handmaid's Tale Playlist: Hope

Me and My Husband by Mitski

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCL3icu9dk

In this song, Mitski begins to describe her life with her “husband” and how she keeps saying “They are doing better”. Mitski emphasizes how they are doing better and will stick with each other. I connected this song to the scene of Ofreed being offered a glittery dress with feathers and makeup. She had to dress outside of her regular handmaid uniform and dress in clothing from the time before. “We glide through the darkening streets. The Commander has hold of my right hand as if we’re teenagers at the movies. I clutch the sky blue cape tightly about me, as a good wife should” (232). Offred in this quote said “as a good wife should” and not “would”. As the reader this made me question how she sees the commander and how she sees herself with him. ”And I’m the idiot with the painted face In the corner, taking up space. But when he walks in, I am loved, I am loved” Mitksi “Me and My Husband”.

These lyrics remind me of the scene when she is blended in the background like everyone else. All the women there wore outfits that weren’t allowed in Gilead and the “Husband” can represent the commander when Offred was given the blue cape and “held it tight like a good wife” and he was “showing her off”. I don’t think she sees herself as a wife to him but more so she fits into the role of a degenerate wife.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Remastered 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy709iNG6i8

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John represents the secret resistance the handmaids have in the system of Gilead. It is shown to the reader that there is a system called “Mayday”, an organization of handmaids that collaborates to find a sense of freedom in their oppressed environment. “There has to be an ‘us’. Because there is a ‘them’ now.” Ofglen introduced Mayday to Offred and this new door of hope opened for her. She was yearning for this feeling of an “us” with the handmaids now. It’s the beginning of building sisterhood and they’re gonna be working together to grab their freedom. In the song “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, it says “I should have listened to my old man You know you can’t hold me forever I didn’t sign up with you I’m not a present for your friends to open This boy’s too young to be singin’ the blues”. The lyrics represented to me a feeling of resistance and a door of freedom being opened. “I’m not a present for your friends to open” can also be related to when in Jezebels, the commander was showing her off in her shiny revealing dress to other men in power. “You know you can’t hold me forever” also represents a feeling of hope, that there will be a way out. “Mayday” and “Underground Female Railroad” are people collaborating (handmaids and those that are helping handmaids) and are symbols plotted in the story that gives Offred the strength to not give up.

Watching Him Fade Away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8cFcSq4EIs

“Watching Him Fade Away” by Mac DeMarco represents Offred and Luke drifting away from each other, mentally. Since the story is told from Offred’s point of view, the idea of Luke is dying down and she begins seeing her lover in other people. Offred starts using words such as “was”, representing what she is talking about left in the past. She catches herself and corrects it to “is”, representing the present time. “How long were you supposed to mourn, and what did they say? Make your life a tribute to the loved one. And he was, loved. One. Is, I say. Is, is, only two letters, you stupid shit, can’t you manage to remember it, even a short word like that?” 227. From this quote, the reader can see that Offred keeps referring people in her past that she carded for dearly as “was” and not “is”. The word choice as holds a strong meaning in Attwood’s literacy. “Walk around as if you never cared in the first place. But if you never call, you’ll end up stuck. Without another chance to tell him off right to his face”. Breaking down these lyrics, I connected this to Offred and Luke’s relationship because Offred is forced to wear this expression on her face. She can’t show all the emotions she’s going through, and despite her worrying about Luke, she has to walk around like she doesn’t care about him. But she can’t live that life to a full extent because she still does worry about him. Also when she constructs sentences that consist of playing with the words “was” and “is”, the feeling of being “stuck” that Mac says in his lyrics connects to Offred being in the middle of those two words. If she gives up the of hope that she can see Luke again, she will be stuck. “Without another chance to tell him off right to his face”, when referencing Luke she should refer to him with “is” and not “was” to keep his spirit alive and to keep that hope alive.

Playlist

Playlist

Song #1 Bridge over troubled water -johnny cash

Johnny Cash’s rendition of bridge over troubled water is a heartfelt cover of the original song by Simon and garfunkel. The lyrics and tone I believe heavily portray offred’s relationship with moira throughout the book. Lyrics such as “when times are rough and friends just can’t be found like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.” Moira has been a lifeline for offers during the most challenging times of her life.

Song #2 Time in a bottle -jim croce

Another song that reminds me of Offred’s memory of her family, more specifically when she was allowed to see a photo of her child, is Jim Croce’s Time in a bottle. The song is about time, or the lack thereof, that we have to spend with those we love. Offed often thinks about this, her child was so very young when she was taken away. The excerpt from the song “ If i could save time in a bottle the first thing i’d like to do is to save every day til eternity passes away just to spend them with you.” This almost word for word represents offred’s feeling about the time that she has lost in gilead.

Song #3 The chelsea hotel -Leonard cohen

The commander’s relationship with Offred is complicated to say the least, We are unsure of anyone’s true feelings, but I believe that the song The Chelsea Hotel by leonard cohen is a near perfect summary of The commander’s attitude towards Offred. The lyrics “I don’t mean to suggest that I love you the best, I can’t keep track of each fallen robin. I remember you well at the Chelsea hotel. That’s all I don’t even think of you that often. “ This quote is almost exact as to how the commander feels about the offer. The line “i cant keep track of each fallen robin” refers to how many other handmaids the commander has done this with before.

Song #4 Where or when -peggy lee

Originally composed in 1937 by Richard Rogers for the play “Babes in arms” It is undoubtedly a love story. I believe the song takes on a slightly different meaning in the handmaid’s tale. The Lyric “it seems we stood and talked like this before, the smile you were smiling then, but I can’t remember where, or when.” originally this lyric was most definitely about two people who feel as though they have met before. If we look at this in the context of the handmaid’s tale it’s as if Offred is trying to remember her time with Luke but her memories are slowly slipping away. She can remember some things most things she can’t seem to remember where or when.

Song#5 The partisan- Leonard cohen

The partisan, or La complainte du partisan is a song with a very rich history, one that is very reminiscent of the handmaid’s tale. Originally La complainte du partisan was a song dating back to the French resistance during their occupation by the Nazis. The reason I have chosen Leonard Cohen’s cover of the song is for two simple reasons. It is mostly in english, and it is slightly less specific towards the french resistance. With lyrics like “I have changed my name so often, I lost my wife and children, but I have many friends.” We can see the clear connections to the handmaid’s tale, as Offred has had her name changed, she also lost her husband and child. Those around her can be seen as her new friends, that arent really her friends, just people in the same terrible boat as her.