Edwin, Mary, Nia, Tamra, Asia -- use this space to begin your discussion of Divergent. You are responsible for reading the first 10 pages, asking a good Level 4 question, and answering it in CCEJ. You may also add on (new evidence) or disagree with another group member's post.
Why do you think the men in "The Handmaid's tale" look at the Handmaid's so much, and being so young what do you think they desire?
ReplyDeleteIn " The Handmaid's tale" the men look at the Handmaid's because they are tempted to touch a women or experience pleasure with one, but they are to young and can only wish to have that opportunity. In other words they want experience intercourse with these woman, due to the rules and regulations even one kiss can get one killed. The Handmaid's walk by the gates where two men stare at them lustfully, in the text it says, " As we walk away I know they're watching, these two men aren't yet permitted to touch a woman"(Atwood). This shows the characteristics of a Dystopia where even the Guards who are men have to abide by the rules of not touching a woman, all they can do is watch.
Why do the woman in the Red center stare at the Pregnant Handmaid, and do they consider it a privilege?
ReplyDeleteThe woman in the Red center are all Handmaid's and because they see a pregnant woman it's fascinating to them because it's very uncommon for them to see a pregnant woman in this society. In other words if a Handmaid gets pregnant it should be a sign of hope for the other Handmaids because it is there role in this society. In the text a pregnant Handmaid steps, and the woman stare in awe, it says, " She's a magic to us, an object of envy and desire, we covet her"(Atwood). This shows that all the Handmaids desire to become pregnant in this world because due to the government system it's very uncommon for them to have babies.
I disagree with Edwin's statement about seeing a Handmaid pregnant is uncommon because their job in society is to carry the Commanders babies. But the women in the Red Center were staring because it's unlikely to see a pregnant Handmaid in public because during that time she should stay in. The narrator states," a women that us pregnant doesn't have to go out, doesn't have to go shopping. The daily walk is no longer prescribed"(26). Basically saying it's not common to see them out doing daily Handmaid jobs if they're in that stage of pregnancy.
DeleteDo you think the Main character agrees with rules and regulations of this society, and what are the results if you rebel?
ReplyDeleteI think that the main Character who seems to be a handmaid herself misses her old way of life where she had freedom to do as she pleased, but because of how degraded the circumstances were for woman, they now abide by a new system of Morality. In other words a woman doesn't have to be worried about being raped or whistled at. In the text it says, " If they think of a kiss, they must then think immediately of the floodlights going on, the rifle shots"(Atwood). This shows that men as much as touch a woman, they can be killed. Which shows the characteristics of a dystopia.
To add on to Edwin's statement I also agree that the main character Offred does not agrees with the rules and regulations that are now created in her society. Offered constantly brings up the past and how she had much more freedom. On page 24 Offered states , " There is more than one kind of freedom , said aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy it was freedom to. Now you are given freedom from. Don't underrate it". Offred is explaining that while the society lived in a anarchy they had the power to live under their own rules and now that there is change everyone is forced to be adapted to it even though they don't approve of it. Offred just wants her old life back and to have the right to live by what she thinks is for her. She was so use to living by choice living by force now is not easy for her.
DeleteWhat makes this society a dystopia ? And how do the people in this society adapt to it ?
ReplyDeleteIn the book "The HandMaids Tale" this shows a dystopia because women were seen to be below men. They lived in this gymnasium were they were only let side twice a day to do work. In this society woman jobs were to sew and make clothing; only the Martha's had a little more power which were to watch over the handmaids and they could not be seen to "fraternize with them. Fraternize means to behave like a brother" ( Artwood 11 ). As a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead she does not have equal rights and this makes the society feel as though certain genders have the right to provide rules.
The "Handmaid's Tale" is a dystopian society because it's people are controlled by government rules and their free will is limited. The government has convinced them that the new way of living for women is better than before. Basically saying that the government got the citizens to worship that concept which is an example of corporate control due to the system of Handmaids and Marthas. They were to follow the message of,"Where I am is not a prison but a privilege"(8).
DeleteI'd like to add on to the idea of the setting of the story being a dystopian environment. Not only does the points Rashana and Tamra mentioned are examples, but also considering the fact that freedom, information, and independent thoughts are restricted within the environment. Offred says, "But even if I were ask, even if I were to violate decorum to that extent, Rita would not allow. She would be too afraid. The Marthas aren't supposed to fraternize with us," (11). This goes to show that because they were scared to even speak their mind, the setting of the story fits for one of the characteristics of a dystopian environment.
DeleteWhy is the Commander's Wife so disrespectful to Offred?
ReplyDeleteThe reason why she was disrespectful to Offred is because she may be intimidated by her physical approach to when she saw her face to face. Offred speaks on how she first met her and introduced herself to be a new carrier for the Commander. Because she was new to the job, she made it clear to her about the position she was in. It says, "As for my husband, she said, he's just that. My husband. I want that to perfectly clear. Till death do us apart. It's final," (16). From this statement, she basically wanted to set the limit between her and her husband, the Commander.
If the Handmaids are to be consider the second most valuable people in the society why are they treated with such little respect ?
ReplyDeleteThe handmaids are treated with little respect due to the fact that they are seen as slaves to the commanders wife's. They are nothing but a source of giving to them. The handmaids give birth to different people child and then are sent away. In the book states, " As for my husband, she said, he's just that. My husband. I want that to be perfectly clear. Till death do us apart. Its final."(16) Here, the commanders wife is treating the handmaid Offred with little respect. She's speaking to her as if she was no human being. She wants to make it clear that Offred is only there to give birth to her child and only that, that her husband is not in the contract. Therefore, she has no respect for her like others don't.The handmaids are given no respect due to what they do for their society.
Do you consider the handmaids to have powers in this society ?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that the handmaids have any type of powers. The only power that they have is the ability to have children for other people. They're slaves to these people, so at no moment should they feel as though they have any form of power to control certain things. In the text states, " I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone , passive but there" The main character , Offred feels as though she has power over the mans that can't receive any woman as their handmaids. However, in reality she really has no power over them. She's just like one of them. They are consider nothing but a form of resource to make the rich happy for the rest of their lives.
I agree with Mary I feel as though the Handmaids does not have any type of power. Even though the handmaids are highly protected by the men and are seen as these holy women I feel as though the society only protects them for them to produce babies that are healthy. For example in the text offglen says , " give me children or I die". These women are to live under these rules where they don't have their own lives and only live to make children. If these women can't not have have kids they are to die. The only power these handmaids have is to produce and if they can not do that they are already set to be at the bottom of the the arch for their society. The powers women have are limited.
DeleteDo the different colors being used in the story be consider as symbol ?
ReplyDeleteIn the story, Offred uses different colors to describe certain aspects of the community or its people. Most of the handmaids must wear red, while the commanders car are black. The colors have a definite message behind. In the text states, " Its black , of course, the color of prestige or a hearse , and long and sleek." The car of the commander is black just like most of their stuff. It seems as though each social class has its own color which symbolizes their role in society and how important they are or not. Moreover, I believe these colors represent the life's they have to live and how it will never change.
Do you think it was appropriate for the doctor to force himself on offglen and use the excuse of her being able to have a baby or she would die ?
ReplyDeleteThe doctor forcing himself on offglen when he had a wife to me was shocking. I understand the fact that their society was based on being able to produce or they would not be able to survive but I feel as though he only wanted to seduce offglen and not for the reason for her to have a baby. Offglen was afraid to be caught because they would be punished but in the back of her mind she knew that she was running out of time and it would soon be here time to go. Off glen says , " why am I frightened ? I've crossed no boundaries , I've given no trusts , taken no risk , all is safe. It's the choice that terrifies me. A way , a salvation". Offglen has a fear that she won't live long knowing she has not produced yet but she is not willing to put herself in danger knowing her and the doctor will be killed and knowing he has a wife which would be wrong.
I don't think it was appropriate for the doctor to force hisself onto Offglen due to the fact it was inappropriate and made her feel uncomfortable. I understand Offglen wants to have a baby, but while he was doing that, it had her second guessing and scared of them getting caught. If they were caught having sexual intercourse, it would of been likely they both would of got in trouble. As stated in the text, Offglen "hesitate. He's offering himself to me, his services, at some risk to himself" (Atwood 62). From this quote it proves how she afraid of what can possibly happen to both of them. Therefore, it was inappropriate of him to do that due to fact it left Offglen uncomfortable and could of been risking their lives.
DeleteWhy do you think the wife and the Handmaid Offred have to hold arms, while the commander performs his side of the sexual intercourse?
ReplyDeleteThe Handmaid has to hold hands's with the commandor's wife because it signify's one flesh. In other words its almost as if the wife were the one going through the intercourse process and she recieves all the special treatment while the Hanmaid of offred has to deal with the labor and all of the heavy wieght of maternity. In the text on pg. 93-94 it says," My arms are raised; she holds my hands, each of mine in each of hers. This is supposed to signify that we are one flesh , one being". This shows that while the commandor is having sex with the handmaid, the wife watches everything they do because its part of the process of becoming a mother, so the handmaid is pretty much being used because this is not love.
why do you think the Handmaid plays along with the commanders request to keep seeing him, what do you think he wants?
ReplyDeleteThe handmaid meets the commander for dates to play scrabble because she knows, he has the authority to do anything with her. In other words the commander has a greater word than her. The commander requested to see her, and Offred finds this typically weird, in the text it states, " He wanted me to play Scrabble with him, and kiss him as if I meant it."(144). The commander makes this sound as almost a date, when in reality dating, or just a man and woman being in the same room together is not permitted.
Do you think the commander is using Offred or just simply misses the feeling of being loved?
ReplyDeleteThe commander I believe misses the fact that he can't have any real feelings for a woman because of the restrictions of this society, he wants to experience real love. In the text the commander actually gives a gift to the handmaid; in the text it states, " I have a little present for you... It was a magazine, a women's magazine".(156) The commander seems like he's developing some sort of feeling for her, he hands a woman a small gift, and he invites her on dates, it sounds like the commander likes the handmaid very much. And in reality their's nothing wrong with that, but in this dystopia its prohibited.