handmaids tale Flashcards
when can we see identity as a theme in Atwood’s novel?
Alias Grace
“we live in the spaces between stories.” what does this mean?
more identifiable with audience, offred could be anyone
ch 12 - being a handmaid is not something “born”
its a performance to survive
what is a key theme in Canadian literature?
survival
offred is a survivor of physical, psychological and sexual abuse
what does every totalitarian state work on?
the principle of the Panopticon
how is surveillance retained in totalitarian regimes?
- public punishment for dissidents
- networked system of spies
in ch 5, offred says “invisibility is modesty”
link to her old life
what did Chomsky say about totalitarianism?
it uses different measures to retain power than democratic states
how does Gilead mimic Nazi Germany?
each group in society has a little power over a different group but that’s it
what did Freud say?
“anatomy is destiny”
how can Gilead be viewed as a matriarchy?
female-female antagonism
in chapter 13, what does offred do?
narrates as if she’s stood in her own womb
in which ways do womens’ bodies belong to men?
handmaids- reproduction
Jezebels - sex
Marthas - labour
in the hn “our biggest mistake was teaching them to read”
what did Caral Sagan say?
“literacy is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and many kinds of freedom, but reading is still the path.”
link to book burning and banned books
what does offred say when she writes? what does this link to?
“pen is envy”
“penis envy”
what is the purpose of the historical notes?
tells about structures that Offred wouldn’t know
Gilead ended
the energies that Gilead was born from still exist
what are the implications of “partial transcript”?
fragmented
biased
what is the meaning of “university of Denay, Nunavit”
deny none of it (Offred’s story)
How is Gilead so clever?
its genius is synthesis
why is Peixoto so irritated?
not understanding more of Gilead
he is unconcerned by her safety and her identity, just the Commander’s identity
why was the 2017 adaptation so significant?
Trump just came into power, and was attacking planned parenthood, had a Neo-Right approach
what is the title?
a homage to Chaucer - otherwise lacks credibility if not from lit canon
“tale” - sexualisation, fantastical and lack of belief
what is the significance of the epigraphs?
all male narratives, hn are male, Offred’s narrative is stuck between two male novels. mimics the recordings and the music either side
where is the link to Anne Frank in the chapter structures?
totalitarian background and secrecy in high level of surveillance
Eyes = Gestapo
