Critical Response
(a)Vocabulary
- Placarded- The word is a verb, with a Dutch origin. It means to be covered with notices.
- Sullen- The word is an adjective with a French origin. It means having a bad mood or temper.
- Perfidy- The word is a noun with Latin origin. It is a state of not being trusted or being deceitful.
- Manacled- The word is a verb with a Latin origin. It signifies being confined with metal chains.
- Despicable- the word is an adjective with Latin origin. It describes an action or a person that deserves loath or hatred.
- Affable- The word is an adjective with Latin origin. It describes a person who is easy to talk to and loveable.
- Relish- The word is used as a verb and has an Old French origin. It describes enjoyment, love, or adornment.
- Infirmary- The word is a noun with a Latin origin. It is a building where the sick are taken care of.
- Coercion- The word is a verb of Latin origin. It is the process of persuading a person who is unwilling by using threats.
(b) Character Analysis
These are the characters who appear in the sections.
- Ofglen
- Offred
- Serena
- Janine
- Nick
- Moira
- Aunt Lydia
- The commander
The characters in the handmaid’s Tales are a representation of different members of society who equally admire different things. Again, the characters are essential in building a universal community that has unique assets. Offred who is the protagonist and the narrator in most of the parts is one of the handmaids and is different in that she wishes for a time she will not be in the town of Gilead. Her view of most things is beyond her capacity but she struggles every day with several accounts remembering her husband Luke. She also loathes the mistress of the commander. Ofglen is a close friend of Offred, and the two share deep secrets of their hatred of the town’s culture. They are very close and protect each other.
Serena is a cunning woman, deep down, she resents the handmaids and also guards her husband too much. Nevertheless, she is not happy with her life. The commander is one of the most powerful people in Gilead town. He does not have a happy life, regardless of the power he has. He does not like his mistress and secretly wishes he could have more freedom with the handmaids. Nick is a driver in the commander’s household. He is loyal to whoever needs his help. Also he has relations with the handmaids at the command of Serena. Aunt Lydia is archaic and believes that women should suffer in the hand of men. Again, she is of the opinion that the handmaid practice will continue in the future. Moira is different from other women in the society. She wants to be independent, she is also not attracted to men. She is on her journey to liberation, which she seeks to find outside Gilead. Finally, Janine is also a handmaid who is ready to please everyone. Again, she is the envy of many women after she gets pregnant. She is an embodiment of those who seek to please society and its ways but later on fail.
(c) Thematic Analysis
- (Summary/paraphrase) In chapter 37, the commander takes Offred to a hotel that is regarded to be for the few powerful men in the town. The commander admires showing Offred off to people while she keeps quiet and gets amazed at the life people have there. (Quotation) “It’s only for officers,” he says. “From all branches; and senior officials and trade delegations, of course. It stimulates trade. It’s a good place to meet people. You can hardly do business without it. We try to provide at least as good as they can get elsewhere. You can overhear things too; information. A man will sometimes tell a woman things he wouldn’t tell another man.” (Inference/analysis) Inequality in society is seen in different levels in this town, from the handmaids, to private hotels that only officers know about. Women here are seen as objects of attraction that men can entertain their selves with. Nonetheless, women are also weak points that men can use as excuses to give out information.
- (Summary/paraphrase) In Chapter 43, a guard is being prosecuted for allegedly assaulting a handmaid who was to be protected by them. the handmaids are angry and stomp on the guard mercilessly. (Quotation) “This man,” says Aunt Lydia, “has been convicted of rape.” Her voice trembles with rage, and a kind of triumph. “He was once a Guardian. He has disgraced his uniform. He has abused his position of trust. His partner in viciousness has already been shot…” (Inference/analysis) In this section, the book has perfectly shown how despite Gilead town being unfair, in some cases, the culprits are judged harshly. The handmaids were mostly annoyed by the pregnant mother but again their anger at men is shown at how they mercilessly punish the guard.
- (Summary/paraphrase) This is chapter 44, Offred has gone to meet the new handmaid of the Glen house, who happens to be not Ofglen this time but a different woman who was given the same name. (Quotation) “I am Ofglen,” the woman says. Word perfect. And of course she is, the new one, and Ofglen, wherever she is, is no longer Ofglen. I never did know her real name. That is how you can get lost, in a sea of names. It wouldn’t be easy to find her, now. (Inference/analysis) This part shows how society replaces characters and there is no special place that is irreplaceable. Nonetheless, people who replace us can be of different ideologies as the new Ofglen is not part of the resistance.
- Questions for ClarificationWhere did Ofglen disappear to?
- Did Gilead ever change?
- What changes were done to the town to prevent the increased sterility?
- Why couldn’t the handmaids be taken in as second wives?
- Why were the mistresses condoned by their husbands if they could not bear children despite the unfairness that was rampant in the town?
- Rhetorical Analysis
- How does this section connect to other works we’ve read in class?
This section has captured the theme of oppression and downplay of women rights perfectly. Through the many scenes where women are objectified as possessions, the section beckons society’s stand and describes the situation of many towns. Again, the section is vital in explaining how society functions and the many pieces that put it together to work as it does.
- What argument (claim) do you think the author is proposing about the themes you identified above?
Atwood has explained how women are suffering under the control of men and also how society is rotten in terms of evil deeds as well as oppression of the less fortunate. Issues such as sterility are as a result of the destruction and pollution of the environment. However, the author still shows that society can heal itself through a few people who wish for better days.
- Discuss what Atwood is satirizing/commenting on in these sections.
Atwood has expertly portrayed the plight of women and how they equally loathe and desire men. Women see men as the reason for their troubles, and again wish they had them closer as in the case of the handmaids. However, their rage is portrayed at the end when they are given a chance to rain their rage at the guard who raped a pregnant handmaid.