Chapters 17-21 Flashcards
What does Offred remove from her shoe at the start of Ch. 17? What does she do with it and why?
Butter - uses it as lotion because lotions were forbidden to the Handmaids.
Offred can’t sleep - what does she decide to do?
Steal something.
What does Offred steal in Ch. 17?
What does she want to do with it?
A daffodil from a flower arrangement.
She wants to leave it under her mattress for the next Handmaid to find.
When Offred steals the daffodil, who is stood behind her?
Nick.
When Offred sees Nick, what do they do and what does Offred wish for?
They (wordlessly) kiss. Offred wishes she could have sex with him.
Who does Offred think about after kissing Nick?
Luke - she thinks he’d understand, then thinks he wouldn’t.
What does Nick tell Offred when they go to leave the sitting room?
The Commander sent him, he wants to see Offred in his office tomorrow.
What is the first scenario Offred imagines about Luke?
That he is dead - his body lying in the thickets where he was caught while he tried to escape.
What is the second scenario Offred imagines about Luke?
That he is in prison.
What is the third scenario Offred imagines about Luke?
He made it safely across the border and that one day a message from him will come to her in some unexpected way.
Why does she imagine all three of these scenarios at the same time?
So that if she does ever learn anything about Luke, nothing will surprise her, or hurt her.
What comes to collect Offred at the start of Ch. 19?
A birthmobile - Janine (Ofwarren) is about to have her baby.
Offred wonders is Janine’s baby will have any birth defects, what is this called in Gilead?
An ‘Unbaby’ - a baby born that’s not ‘normal’
What is the percentage of women that give birth to an ‘Unbaby’?
What causes this?
25% (1 in 4 women)
Caused by women being poisoned by toxins or environmental pollution.
Some women poison their own bodies or get their tubes tied. What are these women called?
Jezebels - scorners of God’s gifts.
