chapter 12

Question 1

“saint Paul said its either that or a close shave”

Answer 1

Aunt Lydia uses Biblical references to further her own agenda. This is one example. This is a exophoric reference to Corinthians where he advised women to cover their hair for worship. However Aunt Lydia is also punning on the idea of ‘a close shave’ as a situation where one
only narrowly escapes disaster. She is implying that women who flaunt their hair may
find themselves in compromising sexual situations.

Question 2

something that determines me so completely

Answer 2

• Offred is aware that, for Gilead, she
  now functions merely as a body and is not expected to have the feelings of a complete
  person.

Question 3

.
- cultivate poverty of spirit -

Answer 3

Aunt Lydia equates loss of material things with an increase
in spiritual awareness. She is alluding to the famous teachings of Jesus known as the
Beatitudes (although, in Matthew 5:3, Jesus is actually talking about the blessings that
accrue to those who are humbled and suffering). Atwood makes us question Lydia’s
view, as Offred’s lost mementoes stand for deep human attachment and affection.

Question 4

Blessed are the meeK

Answer 4

Blessed are the meek - Again, Aunt Lydia manipulates biblical quotations for her own
purposes, here suggesting that the Handmaids should be submissive. She does not continue
the quotation from Matthew 5:5 which, as Offred knows, goes on to say that ‘the meek …
shall inherit the earth’.

Question 5

the women their hair falling in clumps

Answer 5

• Offred recalls seeing a film, probably about the
  treatment at the end of the Second World War of women in France who had fraternised with
  German soldiers, and who were publicly humiliated by having their heads shaved. Atwood
  reminds us of the way in which women have often been subjected to such male punishment,
  and also of the way in which female hair has often been used as a symbol of expectations of
  female behaviour.

Question 6

• I compose myself … a made thing -

Answer 6

The pun on ‘compose’ (‘make myself calm’
and ‘create myself’) reminds us that Offred has two identities - the outer one,
known only as Offred, and the inner one whose thoughts and feelings we are
being allowed to share. It is ironic that, as she goes to an encounter where the
Commander hopes to ‘compose’ a child with Offred, her own individual humanity is
being repressed, as if she is ‘a made thing, not something born