chapter 4 Flashcards
“his cap is titled at a jaunty angle… cigarette” Nick
underlying lack of conformity
minor way of rebelling- not following orders
asserting his individuality in a regime that works to strip personality away
“issued a woman”
stative verb
women are a commodity in Gilead: viewed for their purpose and not as individuals
militaristic- strict regime
“smell.. odour, smells fishy”
Olfactory imagery- aware of her sexuality and desire- feelings should be repressed
theocracy and oppressive regimes cannot control emotions of their subjects no matter how they try
-thought police in 1984
“perhaps”
anaphoric rep of adverb
Offred’s paranoia
“then he winks”
friendly subversive gesture- offred thinks its a trick
warp friendly human gestures and interaction as malevolent due to fear and paranoia in individuals of strict regimes-isolate people
“Eye”- dystopian trope- surveillance
iron curtain
eyes is also biblical ref
“a shape like mine”
gothic doubling- individuality is lost - dystopian trope
“some of you will fall on dry ground or thorns”
parable of the sewer
jesus refers to different ways we can receive God- Handmaids pregnant
act of god
“accepted greeting”
“she is my spy as I am hers”
language repressjon
-predetermined
no genuine human interaction- isolated and controlled
“praise be… which I recieve witj joy”
Survival- CanLit
speaks little to others but when she does it is formulaic to hide her thoughts
“news…news…news”
antistrophe of news
emphasises the importance of communication and knowledge within their society
“because of the nature of our service”
“service” militaristic active verb- willingness
euphemism- necessary- shortage due to factors such as AIDS- rampant during Reagan
“salvagings or Prayvaganzas”
Portmanteau
simultaneously new and familar
Gilead is both similar to worlds we know but also speculative fiction
“I’m not ashamed after all. I enjoy the power passive but there” (no anno)
“They… they”
anaphoric repetition of 3rd person plural pronoun- seperates Offred from them
heirarchy and seperation of gender
“a sacrilege”
-disrespect
-for Offred, sexual relations are sacred because they should involve an exchange with others and emotions
-Gilead has stripped it of its original meaning (links to “old sex”)
- devoid of emotion now- all sex is for religious purposes and is not controlled or willing
