For my visual representation I choose to highlight a moment between Offred and the commander. Throughout the last couple of chapters we see their moments of them playing scrabble, reading, writing, talking and other experiences. My piece of artwork highlights their scrabble games. Using my creativity I choose to have them in either element of emotion rather than the actual scene. To show what is in their minds as they have their intimate meetings. While we can’t actually know, I can infer the mental state of both Offred and the commander.

I made very specific artistic choices while creating this. To start I have the commander with his back facing to Offred, this shows the complicated relationship between them. Even though this is rather unusual for a commander and a handmaid to have these private moments they continue to do so. The bubble above his head shows his thoughts of Offred. His enjoyment of the time they spend together and her as an individual rather than her as a handmaid. It’s a confusing feeling which is why he stands with his arms crossed. Across the room is offered. While we know she never actually lays on the floor with her head buried in her knees I made her in this position to signify her upset feelings towards the whole situation, her emotions as a handmaid and being this new version of herself. In the bubble above her head we see the name Luke. In all this time they spend together Offred can’t help but just think of Luke. Where he might be, their memories together, their child together and him as she can’t forget their love. On the floor between the two we can see scattered prices of scrabble. The game the two of them play together. The reason I scattered it was to signify the unwillingness to want to play on Offred’s part. How she doesn’t enjoy it like he does and how she wishes to be freed of this isolating life. It’s confusing for both of them. The game is nothing but an object in their unique relationship. It doesn’t signify any fun. That is the reason for that chosen element in my art work. Finally I drew a window behind Offred. I don’t know for sure the layout of this room. Although I added this to represent the distance between the outside work of nature and fun and the house she finds herself always in. The wanted feeling of freedom lingers behind her. The path of stones is to be seen in the Commander’s Wives garden.

The reason I choose this scene is because as I read these moments between them tend to stick out to me. In a world full of confusion, despair, mayhem it is easy to get lost in a small down to earth moment. To me I see the commander as not a bad guy. It’s easy to see him as the villain but we can see guilt he carries for the role Offred was put in. These moments they spend together I believe relieve him of the guilt. We don’t get to see many one on one moments between any two characters for long periods of time. Although with these two it has made me confused and curious to how this will turn out. Whether they will continue to have time together or not. The confusion on if either party truly likes one another in a friendship sense or if the commander feels more. I enjoy reading to see the development between these two characters and not in a sense of romance but to wonder why all the sudden he is curious about Offred and why he is so open to her being more than just a handmaid but a companion.

Handmaid’s Tail Playlist The Power of Music in a World Without

Control by Halsey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so8V5dAli-Q - This song by Halsey explores the themes of bodily autonomy and power within someone’s body. It also circles in on manipulation over someone’s body. The key lyrics in the song discuss wanting control and then losing it, this mirrors Offred’s experience in Gilead. The Words “Find who I am again” relates to the handmaids being stripped of their identities to be put in a box. Offred says “To be seen is to be penetrated” These themes highlight all the handmaids’ feelings when it comes to their responsibilities. The power that is held above their heads by the commanders and wives. It reveals a hunting dystopian essence to the song and book, about women, their bodies and mind manipulation in all of Gilead.

Sad Girl by Lana Del Ray- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvm6DpqqbLk&list=RDjvm6DpqqbLk&start_radio=1 This song’s exploration of being trapped in a predetermined role resonates with the handmaid’s situation. As Lana describes feeling locked into a specific identity and relationship dynamic, just like the handmaids are forced into roles defined by their fertility. The song’s undercut of preformative femininity also connects to how Offred must perform a very specific way in Gilead. Being compliant with the rules and regulations of the society while hiding their true identities. Offred reminisces on times where she didn’t have to hide herself. The memories of those she loved and the feeling of being close to something. Lana highlights the point of being trapped into a desired relationship, which to me relates to how Offred currently feels with the commander. A quote that highlights the burden of what love or lust has become/ “It’s not about passion or love or romance” This is shared during the ceremony. Additionally, the song’s themes of feeling isolated and emotional numbness reflects on the physiological state of the handmaids. As they are cut off from real desired human connection.

Pink Matter by Frank Ocean- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaLV003llhY&list=RDuaLV003llhY&start_radio=1 Pink Matter is a rather unique spin on Offred’s love life. Reaching in on relationships and physical intimacy which resonates with Offred’s complicated feelings about the various relationships in her life. Like her memories of Luke, her dangerous attraction to Nick, and even the twisted dynamic with the Commander during their private meetings. Like the song, Offred’s narrative often dwells on the tender, confusing aspects of human connection when normal relationship structures have been destroyed. The themes of memory and longing in “Pink Matter” mirror how Offred constantly returns to thoughts of her past life, her daughter, and what genuine intimacy felt like before Gilead. The song’s dreamy, introspective tone captures that same quality of mental escape that Offred uses to survive, retreating into memory and imagination when the present becomes unbearable. In Gilead, she must navigate relationships where genuine emotion is dangerous with Nick, she wonders if their connection is real , with the Commander she performs interest while feeling revulsion. This mirrors the song’s exploration of what’s genuine in intimate connections. Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTHB4jM-KQ&list=RDSQTHB4jM-KQ&start_radio=1 The song’s central theme of being unable to drag someone away from a situation resonates with Offred’s powerlessness regarding her lost family and friends. In the times she lives in companionship almost seems forbidden. “ I don’t smile, why tempt her to friendship”She cannot reach her daughter or Luke, no matter how desperately she wants to. There’s that same sense of loving someone but being helpless to change their circumstances or bring them back that permeates the song. The idea of enduring through difficult times connects to Offred’s survival strategy throughout the novel. Like the song suggests about weathering storms and staying strong, Offred must find ways to persist through Gilead’s oppression while maintaining hope that things might eventually change. She has to survive the present while holding onto the possibility of reunion. The theme of graceful acceptance mixed with underlying pain reflects Offred’s complex emotional state. She’s forced to appear compliant while internally grieving her losses. There’s a dignity in continuing on despite heartbreak that both the song and Offred’s character embody.

Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0 Little Lies is a perfect song for Offred’s meetings with the commander. The song’s exploration of maintaining pleasant falsehoods to preserve a relationship directly parallels how Offred must navigate her evening visits to the Commander’s study. She pretends to enjoy their games of Scrabble, finds interest in his books and conversation, and performs a kind of companionship that disguises her true feelings of disgust. Just as the song suggests telling “sweet little lies” to keep things comfortable, Offred tells the Commander what he wants to hear. The power dynamic in these meetings reflects the song’s theme of using deception as a survival mechanism. Offred recognizes that the Commander wants to feel like he’s special to her, that their relationship transcends the brutal reality of Gilead. The Commander, for his part, seems to tell himself lies about what these meetings represent. He appears to believe he’s offering Offred something meaningful, maybe even romantic, when he’s actually just another form of her oppression dressed up as kindness. These small pieces of self deception perfectly show the meaning of having mutual little lies in order to keep the peace and remain safe.

My project is a design on a graph made by points and equations. Our shape is multiple diamonds on top of each other. We used slope to find each point on the graph.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14O9Cw9gr9EdBRmmfps8zJaTGR_aOQJHi8MHKtq6mVQo/edit

My Q2 notebook has seriously helped me with all the work we have done. This quarter in particular we did a lot of independent work. The notes I took in class allowed me to get my work done without having to ask for help. In Q3 I intend to do all that and more. I hope to be a little more descriptive in my notes so what I am saying is more identifiable to anyone else reading my notes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QkkbDBNp_Fp7l4GZbauCiGMk5brmiWRz/view

(My notebook) has helped me a lot this year so far because it is a nice thing to be able to look back at. I use my notebook for homework or after lessons to review what we did and to get a greater understanding of what we learned. I plan to maximize my potential with this notebook by highlighting more with my notes and using abbreviations so I can write faster and not take to long.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KvB2lWVBII_hMYXuYdTLKfncXJbfJxla/view?usp=sharing

The first English project of the year, enjoy my Me Magazine.