Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” resonated with me, particularly when Offred expressed, “We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of the print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.” Offred’s words stood out within me, reflecting the challenges I face in my quest for employment. In the job market, I often feel like one of those nameless souls residing within the margins of a resume, struggling to emerge into the spotlight. Offred’s sentiment captures the essence of the job seeker’s experience: the constant battle to break free from being unknown or not heard of, to transform from an overlooked applicant that applies to multiple jobs seeking the light at the end of the tunnel into a valued contributor that avoids the tunnel by never entering it in the first place.

The connections between Offred’s existence in Gilead and my own job search journey are kind of unordinary. Much like the fixed societal structures of Gilead, the professional world imposes its own set of rules and expectations on people in order to get a certain status, like in the book. I’ve sent out countless applications, tailored my resume, and made out personalized cover letters, only to face a train at the end of the tunnel.This train was filled with automated rejection emails or deafening silence, and I did not want to keep applying and not get a chance to stand out from the rest. It’s disheartening to feel like I’m trapped within the confines of employability, struggling to find my place in a highly competitive job market. Similar to Offred’s fight for recognition, I find myself waging a battle to be noticed and trying to escape the stigma of unemployment and establish myself within the professional atmosphere

Offred’s narrative mirrors my own frustration and disappointment when faced with rejection after rejection. Each rejection letter feels like another train passing by, or you could say a door slamming shut, leaving me on the outside, yearning for an opportunity to showcase my skills and contribute meaningfully. The uncertainty of job hunting and the constant questioning of my worth and abilities echo Offred’s internal struggles, as she even struggles with her identity and purpose in Gilead. Like her, I find myself questioning my place in a world that often seems indifferent to my hopes and dreams of getting a job not only for the money but for experience in the real world.

Offred’s spirit in the face of oppression serves as a source of inspiration. Her quiet defiance, her refusal to be reduced to a mere statistic, fuels my determination to persist. I empathize deeply with her longing to be acknowledged, to transcend the limitations imposed by societal norms. This empathy transforms into a steely resolve, urging me to continue my search, to keep refining my skills, and to remain undeterred by the challenges that come my way.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” serves as a reminder that the pursuit of recognition and freedom is not confined to the realm of Gilead. It’s a struggle that countless job seekers face daily in the pursuit of meaningful employment. Offred’s story reminds me that resilience and tenacity are vital companions on this journey. Like her, I am determined to emerge from the blank spaces, to be seen and acknowledged for the unique talents and experiences I bring to the table. Through her quiet strength, I find the courage to continue my quest, knowing that, just like Offred, I too can defy the odds and carve out my own place in the professional landscape that has created limits for me before.

Overall, after reading Offred’s struggle for freedom in an oppressive society, it serves as a powerful metaphor for various forms of societal oppression, including the challenges faced by job seekers. Her resilience and determination have become a source of inspiration, reminding me of the importance of persistence and self-belief—the kind of stuff job seekers are looking for. The book has heightened my awareness of social structures, encouraged me to question the status quo, and given me a sense of social norm. Reading about Offred’s fight has given me a broader perspective on my own struggles. It has reinforced my belief in the power of individuality and encouraged me to confront challenges head-on. This newfound awareness has become a driving force, shaping my determination to overcome obstacles and advocate for a world where everyone’s worth is recognized, regardless of the challenges they face, and there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel after all. (I got a job now; dont worry about me :} )

We look over the men who watch the women when we walk by. We either have two emotions, Fear or Fancy. Most women are caught by fear when men creep upon girls who look and act a certain way for their personal gain, others fancy when men even breathe in their perimeter liking the attention that they bring. In the book “The Handmaids Tale” the women are like helpless swimming fish in the water needing to find its mate before they die. These ladies are forced to reproduce and have very strict rules in the land of Gilead.

The men uses the women for sex. Sex is important to the men to repopulate for a “better” lifestyle than what was becoming of the world. Women are seen as just to make babies and help out with house work, If you can’t repopulate that means you are less than a woman, therefore the only thing that makes you a woman is you have a vagina. One quote I found interesting was, “I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely.” meaning to me, women are supposed to not step out of their comfort zone and to obey the man. Men are the leaders and they control the women so they are supposed to follow and not be determined in a sense of not being free and taking control. It goes into sex too because the handmaid doesn’t seem to be enjoying sexual benefits from the men in the book more so rather just doing what they are told to do..having babies.

But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger. Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison. Who led them on? Aunt Helena beams, pleased with us. She did. She did. She did. Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen? Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson.” This quote was very self hatred, For years women and men have blamed other women for getting SA or raped on how they look or acted towards men, Its never the man fault for making the woman uncomfortable or touching on her. The blame when women do it tells that they self hate on women and take sides with the man which is very misogynistic .How men pray on women as if their objects are sick and they like to play victim into making girls feel like its their fault that they should be blamed on facing sexual abuse problems.

When I was little I faced those similar problems too, relating this into the real world issues, Growing up as a young black girl sexual abuse and sexualizing is common. The older generation tells me that red lipstick is “too grown” for us when in reality you should be sexualizing young black girls and we just wanted to explore makeup. “There’s hardly any point in my thinking, is there? I say. What I think doesn’t matter. Which is the only reason he can tell me things.” Is a quote from the book which tells what a woman should and shouldn’t do. How we it’s no point of thinking because we have no right to think because we are simply just “women”. A man should only tell us what to do because they are superior to us and we have no right to believe what we believe. Relating that back to me, the men in the family would always say, “always listen to your husband when he’s talking to you” so I could be a better wife but in reality its only to keep men in power and to make women feel weak-minded when they are facing issues.

“There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it.” Spoke to me because as ladies we tend to be hushed down when having freedom. For years when women wanted to work the same jobs as men do, or have a different opinion than men. It was never what the women wanted more so what could benefit what the man wanted. This book had a lot of feminist beliefs and it took a good understanding of what the world would become if men controlled it and we would be used as pawns in their game of pleasure and resource. We should stand up for what we want to do, and speak on it.

The artwork I drew above illustrates the relationship between Offred’s real world and the various universes in which she could exist in. As this is the current reality of Offred’s life story, she is currently positioned in the center of the page. Since her current life is that of a handmaid, her only responsibility is to maintain her health in order to bear children, and healthy ones at that and that is her only duty. The work of what it means to be a handmaid is given to us in several portions of the book, piece by piece, each time disclosing a new aspect of their function.“ Hair must long but covered.” You can get a brief overview of the various requirements connected to the image above. Their hair is certainly tucked away, concealed from view, as you can see in the drawing. They must wear red shoes and dresses, and their gowns must be long and sleeved. Because they are so valuable and practically considered a treasured asset in this new civilization, this is done to protect them from other people and the outside world. The quote, which comes from Chapter 6, states, “We learn to see the world in gasp.” They are kept hidden behind Gilead’s walls and the wings that are essentially there to cover up their faces are used to hide their faces indicating that they had little to no Freedom and an extremely sheltered.

As you can see, there are four distinct looks that correspond to the various personas of the novel’s key characters. Offred’s surroundings are arranged to represent the different potential outcomes that might take place in her reality, or simply the various results she has encountered during the narrative. The Jezebel’s specific outfit is described as “the women on the other hand are tropical, they are dressed in all kinds of bright festive gear.” This is stated in Chapter 37 when Offred is introduced to The Club scene, this is very unfamiliar to her and it is a culture shock because she is so used to being covered up and modest. She also even refers to the girls in the club as looking ‘clownish’ because they are free to wear almost anything they want. Her past life as a College student is another persona, it was her past life, where she was able to live as she liked, not under the Gilead rule with no freedom. She didn’t have any stipulations tied to her name and she definitely didn’t have to worry about what she wore. She was a college student, doing college things living her best life as a Free woman.

Finally, the Wives and the Un-Women are the final two characters I drew. Gilead gives a lot of Power to the title of Wives. Every woman in its society aspires to be like them and especially to hold the title of being a Wife. In fact, the wives aren’t really presented in Gilead unless one of their handmaids bears them a child. This happens because their age or their infertility stops them from being able to conceive their own children, and wives are usually of old age. The birth of the child gives the wife some attention. In chapter 21 this quote states; “the wives are here to bear witness the naming.” Meaning once the handmaid gives birth all the responsibility is then transferred over the the wife to name the child and raise it as their own. In the novel we aren’t informed a lot about the Un-women, we know only little bits and pieces about who they are, where they are, and what they do. In chapter 20 we learn that the Un-women are “feminists from the days before Gilead.” This gives us a little bit of insight that the Unwomen are just feminists who are not going to conform to the Men’s rule and in the community of Gilead that is seen as forbidden, and breaking the rules. Therefore you never see them inside the gates of Gilead and we barely hear about them unless they are mentioned on the TV which is forbidden to watch.

✰ Link to Artwork: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SGbmsxTV2rwwQ2eSfuQli3PlVRxAG7qq/view?usp=sharing

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood puts an interesting view on love and relationships. The stereotypical man and woman relationship we have become accustomed to is contested in Gilead, a dystopian society the book is centered on. Atwood paints a unique motive by placing sexual beings into a civilization prohibiting their very urges. Characters begin to view touching as a crime and labeling it as “commiting the act of touch.” However, this is not the only thing put into contention throughout the novel.

Starting on Chapter 37, Commander Fred takes our main character Offered out of the confinements of their home. The location that Offered is brought to is a hotel that once was home to the frequent debaucheries that were indulged on by her and her, at the time, paramour. However, the location has gone through a major change. No longer sleek and luxurious, the setting was now dark with lust in the air, along with stray feathers from women’s skimpy costumes floating about, too small to be considered clothes. Too revealing to cover any skin.

In chapter 38, page 245, Offred and her master, holder of her leash, walk into the now brothel, “‘It’s like walking into the past,’ says the Commander. His voice sounds pleased, delighted even.” This was found on Chapter 38, page 245. This quote in particular striked me as fascinating because hotels already appear to have a negative connotation for providing a place for individuals to cheat on their spouses, and in this brothel specifically, it almost seems the women who work at the Jezebels have more freedom than the handmaids. They are free to walk around, converse with their friends as they please, even smoke cigarettes, acts which all are banned for the handmaids. Another quote referring to the presence of the room of the hotel is from chapter 39 page 251, “He unlocks the door of the room. Everything is the same, the very same as it was, once upon a time. The drapes are the same, the heavy flowered ones that match the bedspread, orange poppies on royal blue…All is the same” In this scene, Offered enters the room and immediately, she is rendered speechless from memories of her and Luke, which he can’t, or won’t let herself, move on from.

For my artwork, I wanted to present something that captured the transition between hotel and brothel, and bring in the question which setting serves a better purpose not only in Gilead, but before Gilead. I did this by acquiring two photos and putting them into a slider so you can see the differences between each photo and setting. I deliberately attempted to keep the camera angle the same, to show that while the location is different, they both share negative connotations when it comes to their viewpoint on relationships, both in Gilead and before it. Overall, The Handmaid’s Tale is an extremely compelling novel and readers could spend months absorbing and deciphering all the blood, sweat, and tears that was put into his literature piece, and that is one of the many reason why this novel has such an influence and is still attempted to be decrypted today.

The scene that I really wanted to focus on was when the commander and Offred is playing scrabble together. But it’s just not any regular scene, it’s the one when Offred ask the commander to translate the latin phrase in her room. That’s why in the drawing the phrase to

My drawing really emphasizes an important scene from the book. I wanted to go into more depth about the scene where the commander and Offred were playing scrabble. In the background of my drawing there’s a bookshelf filled with books. Right on the table, you can see a locked Bible, which is symbolizing the religious control that is enforced by the government of Gilead. The presence of the locked bible suggest that knowledge is restricted and kept away from the handmaids.

The main focus of my artwork is on offred and the commander seated together playing an illegal game of Scrabble. Despite having no way to come up with anything, I wanted to include something in the board game. However, when I turned back to the book, I realized that they had said the lines that they had written. The Scrabble board, shows the words “Valance,” “larynx,” and “Quince”, just as they appear in the book. These words actually have deeper meaning than I thought of. Valance represents hidden meanings in Gilead, showing that things are not as they seem. Larynx refers to the silence of women voices and point out control over communication. Quince shows resilience and space for expansion, indicating a potential of transformation.

On the wall behind them, there’s a Latin phrase, “nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” The scene focuses around this phrase, which Offred asks the Commander to translate for her during their game. It basically gives advice on how to resist the system’s enslavement while also acting as a message of hope. This sentence sums up the main idea of the book, which is the value of resilience and overcoming a corrupt system without allowing one’s spirit to be crushed.

The interaction between Offred and the Commander during their game is important in the story. In this scene Offred takes a risk by asking the Commander to translate the latin phrase which allows them to connect on a deeper level and shows that they are both resistant to the limits enforced by the government. Also Offred learns the outcome of the previous handmaid that live in her room, which highlights what happens when you go against Gilead rules. She realizes that she can possibly manipulate the Commander´s guilt for her advantage, emphasizing the complicated connections of power in their society.

I chose to illustrate this scene because it marks an important point in the book when Offred starts to recognize her own power and her capacity to rebel against the cruel government. The Scrabble board, the locked Bible, the words on the board, and the Latin phrase all serve as symbols for the themes of resistance, information that is hidden, and deep connections between the characters in Gilead.

The feelings of resistance, secret, and an unsure bond between Offred and the Commander are all portrayed in my drawings. The scene’s items illustrate the book’s many themes by demonstrating the idea that resistance and hope can flourish even in the most dangerous situations.

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.

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.

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

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.

What Was I Made For (By Billie Eilish) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpnTd9Dx2OM The song “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish was originally proposed for the Barbie movie, but to me it resonates with society’s stereotypes. This song in particular is written from the perspective of a female, questioning what she has to do with her life. There are moments in The Handmaid’s Tale where this theme is shown. The role that the Handmaids play is to only reproduce and have sex with men. Not only Offred has to follow the rules of Gilead, all women feel strangely controlled by men. Owning the opposite gender means that the female characters in Gilead have no choice of what they can do. In Gilead it is the only requirement they need to fill. If not, the women are considered outcasts or unwomen.

Verse 1: Takin’ a drive, I was an ideal, Looked so alive, turns out I’m not real, Just something you paid for, What was I made for?

Boys Will Be Boys (By Dua Lipa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0QWX2M7W7M The female community are both referenced in this song and in the section “Jezebel’s” of The Handmaid’s Tale. The Commander uses his title to get what he wants. The section focused on the wrong and secretive relationship of Offred and the Commander. The skimpy outfit the Commander made Offred wear to Jezebel’s implies that his intentions are only about sex. Only about his gain and pleasure. “Better never means, better for everyone, he says, it always means worse, for some.” (211) The Commander abuses his power and decides what body parts should be seen or covered. In verse 3, the lyric, “And that was sarcasm, in case you needed it mansplained…” shows a stereotype that takes place in society.

Verse 3: I’m sure there’s something that I can’t find the words to say. I know that there will be a man around to save the day. And that was sarcasm, in case you needed it mansplained, I should’ve stuck to ballet.

Best Days (By Alessia Cara) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEIAcNu6FpI The men in Gilead have a higher role in the society. There are moments where the Commander requests Offred’s presence in his office, where she is not allowed to be. This shows how the Commander can bend the rules for his own pleasure. The relationship between Offred and the Commander starts out as a transactional relationship, but then begins to take an unwarranted turn. “I visit the Commander two or three nights a week, always after dinner, but only when I get the signal.” (p 154). Similarly the song includes uncertainty about life that is not controllable. That interaction with the world around you will change your life in one way or another. What will the next day bring?

Verse 3: What if my best days are the days I’ve left behind? And what if the rest stays the same for all my life? I’m running with my eyes closed, so it goes. You live and then you die. But the hardest pill to swallow is the meantime. Are the best days just the one that we survive?

Locked Out of Heaven (By Bruno Mars) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXMXxialNbo The song Locked Out of Heaven includes themes about sexual relationships and religious wording. In The Handmaid’s Tale sex is important and is brought up in daily life. Yet, the conversations never seem to be public. Always in private and voiced inside the characters head. “What we prayed for with emptiness so we would be worthy to be filled: with grace, with love, with self denial, semen and babies.” (p 194) There are word choices in Margret Atwood’s writing that challenge the reader to think about the purpose of the female gender.

Verse 1: Never had much faith in love or miracles (ooh), Never wanna put my heart on the line (ooh), But swimmin in your water’s something spiritual (ooh), I’m born again every time you spend the night (ooh)

Dear Society (By Madison Beer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buildkXr1h0 Madison Beer uses her skills of writing lyrics to use metaphors/symbols. Atwood also uses symbolism to indicate the connection to the current world. Cigarettes can be hurtful to a human’s insides. There can be mental and physical consequences. Magazines, another symbol that often comes up in the novel. Images of almost naked women and sexual ads portray the same idea. “It would make me feel that I have power. But such feeling is illusion, and too risky.” The characters in Gilead have no idea about what is happening in the outside world. Nonetheless they can’t change someone’s opinion that they can’t approach.

Verse 1: Sleepless nights and cigarettes. My daily dose of internet. And all the things I shoulda quit, but never did, oh. Evil voices in my head. I woke up in a stranger’s bed…