mocks Flashcards
Commander quote which highlights he’s the most powerful
‘Commander is the head of the household’ ch14
Wives presented as having great power and influence
‘The transgressions of women in the household are under the jurisdiction of the wives’ Ch26
‘Allowed to read and write’
Aunts have some status due to enforcing Gilead’s rules, rewarded
‘Position of honour’ Ch3
Enforce opression onto Handmaids by making them responsible for the survival of the human race.
‘Reclassification as unwoman’ Ch23
Handmaids have no freedom and are constantly under threat
Unwoman seen as inhumanly
Compared to ‘garbage’ Ch33
‘Eventually sent to colonies’
Presents jezebels being discarded from society eventually as they are woman forced to be sex workers.
Liberal feminism
Mainstream focus on legal and political reform to achieve equality.
Radical feminism
All races, class and sexuality’s are considered.
Male supremacy eliminated.
Who represents radical feminism?
Moira
Offred’s mother
‘Two legged wombs’ Technique
Synecdoche as womb represents the whole woman.
‘Two legged wombs’ Meaning
Implies not seen as people but as sacred vessels for reproduction.
‘She does not make speeches any more, she’s speechless’ Technique
Irony
‘She does not make speeches any more, she’s speechless’ Who is Atwood criticising here?
Conservative woman
‘She does not make speeches any more, she’s speechless’ Meaning
Hypocrisy as she protested for woman to have traditional roles however now is in spite of it.
A quote which signifies that hierarchy pits women against eachother in Gilead
‘All envy eachother something’ Ch8
‘Mirage, fading before their eyes’
metaphor implies Offred is an illusion as she loses her family she loses herself.
‘I want to be held and told my real name’
Offred connects her name too value, a value which Gilead has stripped away from her.
‘Congealed around a central object’
Her identity in Gilead is shaped around her womb.
‘Let them bleed’ Meaning
Representing abortions
In handmaids all bodily autonomy rights are gone.
‘Let them bleed’ Context
1973 supreme court gave legal right to abortion, created riots.
Moira no longer has her ‘heroism’
Gilead is able to break her down and she is left to resign to her fate.
‘I wish the story were different’
Offred ends wishing she has been more active and not submissive.
Handmaids Biblical Allusion Quote
‘Give me children or else I’ll die’
‘Blessed be the fruit’ Religious context
Elizabeth says this to Mary when she’s pregnant with Jesus.
‘Blessed be the fruit’ Handmaids Tale
Only value is their ability to give birth.
‘Under his eye’ Religious context
How God is always watching
‘Under his eye’ Handmaids Tale
Shows how handmaids are under constant surveillance as fear of punishment is one of Gilead’s methods of control.
‘Commander could give me away so easily’
Commander’s power dictates Offred’s survival.
‘I would like to steal something to make me feel like I had power’
By stealing something she’d be able to reclaim her autonomy stolen from the ceremony.
‘Moira was like an elevator with open sides’
Moira gives power and hope to the handmaids through her escape.
‘I rub the butter over my face’
By performing this ritual Offred feels like a individual.
