Reading+Reflection+4

__**Final Marking Period**__

__ The Hand Maid's Tale Week #1 __
Margaret Atwood’s, “The Hand Maid’s Tale” is set in a post-apocalyptic world. After the countries of the world unleashed their nuclear weapons, on one another most of the world has become uninhabitable. Survivors group together, ignoring American law and establishing their own. There is no police force so to enforce the laws the people of Gilead are kept ignorant and scared of the all powerful God. A woman’s body doesn’t belong to them, because of the radiation women have trouble bearing children, so the few women who are healthy enough to birth are kept caged and well fed. The welfare of humanity rests on their backs. In an emergency situation despite being advance humans will resort back to their animal instincts, save one’s self first and to do whatever it takes to achieve that.

The narrator of the story, Offred, describes the conditions she had to endure as she is harvested for her ovaries. Nuclear radiation has resulted in a declining birth rate, which has marked healthy ovaries’ at high values that only wealthy aristocrats of society are able afford. Offred along with others have been imprisoned in a camp for the sole purpose to repopulate, and prevent the human race from being abolished. They’ve completely lost their rights and are treated like animals. Their prison is a gymnasium that is surrounded by a chain linked fenced where soldiers with guns keep watch to ensure no one escapes. The women are kept inside for most of the day, and kept both quite and ignorant preventing any uprising.

Only the rich are able to afford a Hand Maid so Offred is stationed in a house of a couple in which she is suppose to bare them a child. The couple is Fred and Serena Joy, Serena Joy is cold to Offred, and she considers her a threat because she will soon be sleeping with her husband. Offred when summoned is called, "Property Offred," which is a constant reminder that they aren't people, rather property. Margaret Atwood appears to be another author who predicts a grim future. In the 1950's what the future had in store was often fantasized about. Shows like the Jetsons depicted what everyone thought that the 21st century was going to be like; a robot that did one's housework, floating housing and hover cars. but Margaret Atwood believes that with the advancement of technology rather than advancing the human race is digging it's own grave. I must say, Gilead is not a place that I'm looking forward to living in.

__The Hand Maid's Tale, Week #2__

In chapter 4 Offred goes shopping and notices nick, a guardian of the faith, washing the Commander’s car. As Offred walks by he winks at her but she continues walking believing that he might be an Eye. Eyes are spies that are assigned to test her. This is the way women are kept in line, basically there might not be a “Big Brother” figure watching them, that idea just has to be put in their minds. Just believing that there is someone watching them they’ll be more cautious especially when it comes to getting involved with the opposite sex. In addition to the concept that God is also watching over everything and no one can hide from God.

There is no separation of church and state, a single religion completely dominates the lives of the individuals living in this community. It is assumed that the future is more technologically advanced then anyone can imagine but according to Margaret Atwood it seems as if the human race as a result of the dire situation of the world has resulted to a society that resembles that of the renaissance. It seems as if despite the advances in technology society has taken leaps backs wards back three centuries.

The community holds values that are of American Protestant Christians but they focus more on the Old Testament oppose to the New Testament. In the book of Genesis there is a justification for having Handmaids. Jews and Catholics are not welcome in this society; they either must convert or are allowed to go back to Israel.

This society borrows concepts from several other religious groups and cults. Women have nearly lost all their rights, women are oppressed in the name of God but this belief is used to justify the desire to control women’s bodies. Women’s sexuality is seen as dangerous, to prevent form any sexual passion women are therefore forced to dress in clothing from head to toe. Very much like the women of the Middle East who are forced to clothe themselves and stay in the home, they have no power, they are only of use for their bodies. In both cultures women are kept ignorant, in Gilead there are no words on signs only pictures because it’s illegal for women to learn how to read.

Just as the Nazi’s got rid of the Jews, it has become a witch-hunt for scientists and individuals of an educated background. Scientists and abortionists are hung from a public brick wall on the Harvard Campus for all to see. It’s ironic how a world-renowned school is used as a place to exterminate America’s most educated. Especially abortionists are hated because they are giving the option to women to have control over their own bodies and such a concept is horrifying. This society wouldn’t last too long, just as Nazi Germany; they got rid of the Jews who were some of the most educated citizens and as a result the country as a whole suffered financially and prevented the country from moving forward.

__Week #3__

Offred’s has flashbacks of how feminists, prior to the creation of Gilead, had been burning pornographic magazines. This is in contrast to presently how women are forced to wear unflattering clothing and it has become against the law to partake in any sexual activity. It’s interesting how extremism on the left and extremism on the right both share the ultimate goal of control over sexuality. The left and right finding common ground is a concept that is unfathomable, but Margret brings up a good point.

With the flashbacks Aunt Lydia’s voice rings in Offred’s head saying that “women are better off in Gilead,” describing the world as a savage, unsafe place. Again we see how these women are controlled through mental mind games and not by force. There is a handful of women whose husbands didn’t permit them to leave the house, but when he died they have a mental block that prevents them from leaving despite him not being present. I doubt that the entire nation is run in such a manner, Gilead is only one community, but to keep al of it’s citizens from running away they endure the same mental abuse.

Offred has a lot of trouble remembering, the few memories she has of life before the gym is very murky. I have the feeling that she was drugged so she would forget her past. She still maintains a memory regarding the loss of her daughter. When remembering her daughter’s disappearance she addresses someone as you, it’s not clear though who this “you” is. It seems as if she has made up an imaginary figure to have conversations with. Humans are social animals and I fear that the lack of social contact has caused her to keep in these emotionally straining thoughts and feelings and are taking a toll on her mentality.

We learn that Serena had once campaigned against women’s rights in support of Gilead and it’s religious beliefs. It’s ironic that having fought for Gilead she too finds herself mad, she has lost all freedom and finds herself to be affected as well. Serena is very hostile and treats those below her (Offred) very poorly, as a result of most likely built of feelings of regret and hatred. I’m surprised the women of the household aren’t more supportive of one another, despite all having to deal with the same issues that don’t provide a shoulder to cry on for their fellow women friends.

__Week #4__

In chapter 16 we see why Offred performing her duties. After diner Offred lies with Serena in her bed, both women hold each other’s hands as the Commander has sex with Offred. The sex is impersonal; as soon as he’s finished he quickly leaves the room. Serena understandably bitter at Offred sends her out of her bedroom after everything is over. Offred takes care in describing sex with the Commander. She can’t call it making love because that would imply she’s enjoying it. But neither is it rape because she chose to be a handmaid, knowing what her duties would be. I’m surprised how calm Offred remains through the event and remembering sex with her own husband and his whereabouts. She describes her own mother and how she remained strong to support her family. Offred too remains strong with the hopeful thought of being reunited with her family once again.

It’s ironic that Serena Joy was once a happy go lucky T.V. personality and now she’s living in a hell in which she has to watch another woman sleep with her husband. After birth women are naturally nurturing to their child because the child’s features resemble their own. Serena Joy has a lot of anger towards Offred, when the child is born I wonder of Serena will be colder towards it resembling a woman she hates so much.

Pregnancy and birth is a very important part of Gilead. The locals even brag about birthing in Gilead boasting that it’s more righteous because no drugs are used because, “God wants women to suffer during child-birth.” Child birthing has even become a community even that people look forward too. Handmaids and their Comander’s wives are bused in to huddle around the bed and watch the handmaid give birth. It’s a big event for the Handmaid’s as well, if the birth a healthy baby then she will never be declared as an unwoman. An unwoman is the lowest thing one can be, they are banished to a colony of other unwomen, and they are seen as filthy and deemed outcasts from society.

It seems that in the Handmaid jail, the handmaids were brainwashed but their attempts haven’t worked on Offred. Aunt Lydia had showed movies to the women of women being sexually abused, the idea that in the old world men had treated them as sex objects and how the female race are all sexual victims. Gilead is a society that condemns sexual violence and a patriarchal society most effectively protects women. Women in Gilead therefore are not judged by their bodies or attacked; it indeed is a safer environment. It makes it ironic though how women are not to be raped but can be raped by their Commanders. Yes Offred complies with the rules but deep inside she has a fire. Despite Aunt Lydia’s best attempts she has not been convinced that this society is better. She longs to leave and has been able to resist because of her love for her husband and daughter. Her mother wouldn’t take such abuse, it’s only a matter of time before her mother’s genetics’ kick in and she escapes from Gilead.

__Week #5__

Offred in the prior chapter asks a fellow handmaid is she has seen Moira. In chapter 22 Offred explains that Moira was the only women to ever escape from the Aunt Elizabeth’s jail. Moira clogs her toilet, when Aunt Elizabeth comes to fix it Moira stabs her with the toilet lever. She ties Aunt Elizabeth up and puts on her clothes, disguised as Aunt Elizabeth she is able to escape. Moira brings up a flaw in Gilead’s society, rank is defined as the clothes one wears, that’s how come she’s able to pass through the gates. Moira acted as if she were a cages animal, it just goes to show that when humans are treated like animals they will resort to their animal instincts in order to survive. Her story is one that I’m sure other handmaids fantasize about, how Moira was able to achieve the impossible.

The commander we initially believe to be a cruel man but after secrets night meetings between himself and Offred we realize he’s as much a prisoner in Gilead as she is. He too is starved for human contact and meets Offred every night to solely play board games and talk, all the while never once making a physical attempt at her. Before leaving one night, they kiss in which he responds,” Kiss like you mean it.” He wants her to feel attracted to him so he treats her well by allowing her to read a vogue magazine and letting her use lotion, to acts, which are violations of the law. Offred finds herself liking him, and is so giddy after their first kiss feels like laughing, something a young school girl who is in love would do.

The Commander doesn’t understand though what the women must endure, how they are denied the smallest of luxuries. He laughs when she tells him that she has to sneak butter in order to moisturize her skin. She describes a documentary on Nazi Germany in which a Interment camp’s Commander is interviewed and she doesn’t appear as a monster but a misunderstood human being. That’s the same way the Commander is looked at, Offred discovers that he is a human being and that he isn’t pure evil.

These chapters show that humans cannot be controlled, one can try but it will only be so long until they lash out. This can be seen in Moira’s case, the Commander’s and Offred despite the Commander’s and Offred’s way of lashing out isn’t as extreme as Moira’s. In the Dark ages, during the times of The Scarlett Letter, sex was almost forbidden. It was banged to everyone’s heads that sex was a disgusting act that was for the sole use of having children. Then we see afterwards these individuals succumbing to their build up sexual passion. As a result people went wild having massive orgies and we see the same thing happen again during the Sexual Revolution. It only proves that no government can control their citizen’s testosterone, if it is suppressed it will only blow up later down the road.

__Week #6__

Offred hates Serena but feels guilty, she is disgusted with herself because she now sees herself as the Commander’s mistress. Aunt Lydia taught her girls to believe that men can be manipulated through the use of sex. Offred has grown disgusted with herself but still continues to see the Commander. Basically she could report him for breaking the law but I believe she’s hopeful of using her body to control the Commander.

Offred is gradually becoming more rebellious. She was originally just putting butter on her skin as moisturizer despite the application of any beauty product against the law. Then she began talking to the Commander and partaking in games and reading vogue magazines. Now she has dropped her guard and is now talking openly to Ofglen despite the possibility of being listened to by the Eye. She’s feeling more defiant it’s only a matter of time before she attempts something even more dangerous.

Offred describes how Gilead has come to be. The fall of the United States began after the assassination of both the president and the entire congress, America was put in a state of emergency and the army took over. Not long after roads were blocked, pornography shops were destroyed. Then women’s rights were taken away, they were no longer able to holds jobs nor keep money. There were “porn riots” and “abortion riots” but the army used force and squashed any riot. Offred loses both love and respect for her husband Luke. After being fired from her job Luke wants to have sex but Offred believes that the thought of him “owning” her was what now turned him on. He didn’t fight for her rights, rather he was willing to accept his new role as Comander of the household and that scared Offred. Offred looks back at the gains made by feminists and feels as if women’s took their rights for granted, and as a result they all were lost.

During times of trouble religion becomes a tool that puts any qualm to ease. Because America was in shambles people turned to Gilead because it’s government is based on religion is gives a false sense of safety. Despite being a society in which all of its citizens are miserable they are able to rest easy knowing that despite almost the entire world either destroyed or polluted, they’re safe in their own little society.