Handmaids tale Flashcards
Sisterhood and the division of it
“You don’t see the commander’s wives on the sidewalk. only in cars”
“it’s one of the things we fought for” Serena about her husband
“Loathing in her voice”
Serena towards Offred
“Jezebels” - Aunt Lydia
“lazy sluts”
“sluts” - Wives about Handsmaids
“corral” and “pen” - animals (handmaids at prayvaganza)
Identity and the theft of it
Having the “voice of a doll” Offred
Growing Souls Gospel Hour - Serena was once a lead singer
“it’s one of the things we fought for” - Serena
“Modesty is invisibility” Aunt Lydia
Janine is now called “Ofwarren”
“Sanctity of the home” Serena
Names Of-Fred, Of-Glen
“to him, I am not merely empty” - Offred about Com, only has an identity because he sees her,
“compubank” “accounts with an F” shut down
Power and indoctrination
“Not a prison but a privilege” Aunt Lydia
“Only women who are fruitful or women who are barren” – Aunt Lydia
Never the man’s fault
After time it will. It will become ordinary” Aunt Lydia refering to salvaging
“Necessary suffering fo the greater good” - justication by Aunt Lyds
“Procreational Strategy” - Commander
“better never means better for everyone” - Commander
“Nothing for them anymore” - Commander
A pregnant woman was often referred to as a “flag on the hilltop” Offred
Names a “temptation” for them - Offred
“praise be” talking with Ofglen
Keep us from seeing, but also from being seen” Offred
“Gender Treachery”
“crybaby” after Janine admitted to being gang raped
“we meant it” shows how internalised this misogyny became
“Only victories, never defeats” News showing - offred
“containers” Offred
Call the feminists “Unwoman”
Compares Scrabble to “Drugs”
Feminism and resistance
“skirt ankle-length”
“We were a society dying of too much choice” Aunt Lydia
“sex machines” can be easily toyed with - Aunt lydia
It was freedom to. Now you are given freedom from” Aunt Lydia
Offred flirts with a young guardian,
“He makes me hungry” Offred and Nick
“vindicate her life for her” Mom and Offred point of feminism to give women the ability to choose?
“Parts of women’s bodies turning black” magaizines during burning
“underwhore” party to sell lingerie” Moira
“sex machines” can be easily toyed with - Aunt lydia
“particicution” - handmaids get to execute rapists
Suicide and murder
shatterproof window, no glass
killed a handsmaid out of jealousy
“The red of the smile”
“The red of the tulips in Serena Joy’s Garden” offred after seeing salvaging
“didn’t work out” about previous handmaid
“hands and feet are not essential” beating Moira after trying to escape
Biblical allusions
“locked up” “incendiary device”
“be fruitful and multiply”
“blessed are the meek” doens’t add “for they shall inherit the earth”
Jews called “Sons of Jacob”
“God is a national resource”
“soul scrolls”
themes
Biblical allusions
murder + brutality
feminism + resistance
power + indoctrination
stripping away identity
division of sisterhood/classes
