The Sounds Of Gilead
I HAVE NOTHING- WHITNEY HOUSTON
The first song I chose is “I Have Nothing” By the late Whitney Houston. My reasoning behind why I chose this song is that she deeply expresses her yearning for love and intimacy. The song is all about wanting love and not wanting to lose it. This is a huge part of Offred’s emotional battle. Whitney sings, “I won’t hold it back again, this passion inside, Can’t run from myself, there’s nowhere to hide.” This line reminds me of how Offred feels trapped not only physically, but also emotionally. In a world where love is seen as dangerous and forbidden, she wishes for love and care but knows she is unable to get it. She has nowhere to go due to the fact that her being locked down in Gilead, so she has no distractions to help her run from her emotional distress. So just like in “I Have Nothing,” Offred has her emotions torn between fear and longing. She desires love and intimacy, but she knows how much it hurts to lose it. Whitney Houston truly captures that feeling.
FREEDOM-KENDRICK LAMAR & BEYONCE
This song has a deep connection with the book’s big themes of oppression and the battle for control over justice. “Freedom” is all about fighting back against a controlled society and not letting the chains of oppression break you. In the song, Beyoncé sings, “I’ma keep running, because a winner doesn’t quit on themselves.” Which really reminds me of Offred’s quiet, yet strong determination to survive Gilead, even why it tries to take everything away from her, including the future she desires. In a world where women have no rights or independence, she still holds on to her memories, her emotions, and her sense of self. Even though she can’t openly rebel, her small acts are still impactful. Like secretly meeting with Nick and taking control of her memories from her past life, shows that her spirit has not been crushed. “Freedom” captures that energy of a brave spirit. Both the song and the book demonstrate that even in the most oppressed environments, people still find ways to resist, hope, and liberate.
ELASTIC HEART-SIA
Sia’s song “Elastic Heart” connects incredibly well to the book and the life Offred lives in Gilead. She sings about surviving brutal emotional pain and refusing to break. Even after being torn apart, it is still standing tall and willing to break through. In the song, she sings, “I’ve got thick skin and an elastic heart,” which fits Offred’s silent strength. Even though the wrath of Gilead takes away her name, freedom, and her sense of identity, she still hopes to persevere and does so by taking the first steps to hold onto herself inside. The phrase “Elastic Heart” represents having a strong heart and being unbreakable. It’s also what keeps Offred going; she refuses to snap under the pressure of Gilead, and the leaders like the Commanders or the Aunts who have physical and mental control over her. Sia singing, “You did not break me,” is a representation of what Offred would say in response to the system that tried to break and erase her. In all, this song embodies Offred’s spirit to survive and fight to come back.
THE NIGHT WE MET- JAMES HURON
I chose this song because James Huron sings it in a very detailed way that paints a great picture for me. The deep meaning of the song is based on looking back on the past and feeling the pain of losing something you can’t get back. When Huron sings, “I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you,” it reminds me of Offred’s feelings with her daughter and Luke. The man she dreamed of being her husband and having a family with. But those memories also haunt her, knowing that Gilead took away all of her possibilities of a good future. Offred uses these memories the same way James uses these lyrics. Holding onto love, identity, and meaning in a world attempting to erase them.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE- SIMON & GARFUNKEL
“The Sound Of Silence” captures the kind of fear that lives in Gilead. Which is a quiet and controlled terror where the women and even men are scared to speak the truth. The lyrics, “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening”, describe how Offred and the other citizens live in constant fear. Silence becomes a necessary device for them to survive. Like Offred, the song represents being in a place surrounded by fear. The song also sings, “And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made”, which connects how Gilead uses religion to demonstrate it as a weapon to control people, taking advantage of their obedience to the religion they present. But Offred’s silence isn’t a reflection of weakness. It’s forced by the system. Like the song represents, showing how fear can be spread through a society until everybody knows how to hide their voice.
