Social change Flashcards
First comparison
Media influenced how women sees herself in the diet. Gilead influences how Offred sees herself.
‘Then it was sweet, then it was stilton.’ Technique
Juxtaposition
‘Then it was sweet, then it was stilton.’ Meaning
food as unimportant or indulgent shows unhealthy nature of relationship with food.
How does this relate to society?
It is society’s predisposition with women and how women should look which has influenced the way she sees herself to an extent where her relationship with food is dictated by the impact it will have on her body physically.
What did Hornbarcher say?
‘We turn skeletons into goddesses and look to them as if they might teach us how to not need.’
‘I want to be held and told my real name.’ Meaning
It is Gilead’s stripping of her name which has created a feeling of lack of value for her.
‘Congealed around a central object.’ Technique
Metaphor
‘Congealed around a central object.’ Meaning
She now also determines her value on her reproductive organs because of Gilead’s manipulation that it holds significant importance.
Second comparison
Society made motherhood pivotal to female experience.
‘Five months gone.’ Meaning
Pregnancy is denoted as something which has to imped a woman and her opportunities.
‘Motherhood’ Meaning
notion that parental duties fall on mother.
‘Unwomen’ Meaning
Women likened to garbage due to their inability to conceive a child.
Prefix un suggests
Negative indicates that woman who can’t have children exist in a symbolic void. Reproduction categorised as womanhood
‘Two legged wombs’
Synecdoche places a women’s womb on a pedestal disregarding their actual personal value.
What did Reshmi say?
‘A woman’s body is segmented, and her value is determined on the basis of her reproductive capability.’
