Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Anglo-Saxon
"She wanted us to look something like Anglo-Saxon, carved on a tombstone." (pg. 194)
Anglo-Saxon were the Germanic Tribes who invaded Great Britain in the beginning of the fifth century. Throughout the novel, Atwood includes numerous Latin references as well as real groups and true events. With the fusion of fiction and reality, Atwood makes it seem as the the story of Offred seem completely believable. Allusions are a common technique that authors use to make readers question what is fiction and what is reality.
"Anglo-Saxon Culture." Georgetown University: Web Hosting. Web. 06 June 2010..
Anglo-Saxon were the Germanic Tribes who invaded Great Britain in the beginning of the fifth century. Throughout the novel, Atwood includes numerous Latin references as well as real groups and true events. With the fusion of fiction and reality, Atwood makes it seem as the the story of Offred seem completely believable. Allusions are a common technique that authors use to make readers question what is fiction and what is reality.
"Anglo-Saxon Culture." Georgetown University: Web Hosting. Web. 06 June 2010.
Pen is Envy
"The pen between my fingers is sensuous. . . Pen is envy. . ." (pg. 69)
Sigmand Freud was a man of a unique perception of women. Throughout the novel, Atwood includes some of his theories to let the reader decided whether he or she sees eye to eye with Freud. One of Freud's most common theories was "Pen is envy" translated to "Penis envy." This theory was about woman's affection towards men. In 1933 Sigmand Freud spoke about how he believed when girls were 3-5 years old they distanced themselves from their mother, and started building a stronger relationship with their father. Freud also stated that he relived women would always resent their mothers for not having the same anatomy as males. Atwood included this piece of information in her novel to show the empowerment of the male gender.
http://psychology.about.com/od/sigmundfreud/p/freud_women.htm
Sigmand Freud was a man of a unique perception of women. Throughout the novel, Atwood includes some of his theories to let the reader decided whether he or she sees eye to eye with Freud. One of Freud's most common theories was "Pen is envy" translated to "Penis envy." This theory was about woman's affection towards men. In 1933 Sigmand Freud spoke about how he believed when girls were 3-5 years old they distanced themselves from their mother, and started building a stronger relationship with their father. Freud also stated that he relived women would always resent their mothers for not having the same anatomy as males. Atwood included this piece of information in her novel to show the empowerment of the male gender.
http://psychology.about.com/od/sigmundfreud/p/freud_women.htm
Les Sylphides
"...a tape playing, Les Sylphides." (pg. 70)
Les Sylphides was ballet dance in the the early 1900's. This dance was a new twist on ballet, steering away towards to typical Russian version of dance. Les Sylphides symbolized finding a beautiful dream. In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred is trying to find out what her beautiful dreams is. Distinguishing what is arranged for her: being a handmaid and waiting to reproduce and what she wants: freedom and true love.
www.ballet.ca/pdf/education/BalletNotes/sylphides_note.pdf
Les Sylphides was ballet dance in the the early 1900's. This dance was a new twist on ballet, steering away towards to typical Russian version of dance. Les Sylphides symbolized finding a beautiful dream. In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred is trying to find out what her beautiful dreams is. Distinguishing what is arranged for her: being a handmaid and waiting to reproduce and what she wants: freedom and true love.
www.ballet.ca/pdf/education/BalletNotes/sylphides_note.pdf
Religon
"May the lord open." (pg. 19)
In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood decides to create Gilead's government into a Theocracy. A Theocracy is where religion and government are intertwined. People of Gilead lived by the motto “God is a National Resource”. Common jobs that we have today were refereed to differently in Gillead. Soldiers were known as "Angels", maids were known as "Martha's", and law enforcement members were called "Guardians of the Faith." All professions have biblical connections shows the importance of religion in their society.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:theocracy&sa=X&ei=ywUMTPWsPIGdlgeO56CtDg&ved=0CBYQkAE
In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood decides to create Gilead's government into a Theocracy. A Theocracy is where religion and government are intertwined. People of Gilead lived by the motto “God is a National Resource”. Common jobs that we have today were refereed to differently in Gillead. Soldiers were known as "Angels", maids were known as "Martha's", and law enforcement members were called "Guardians of the Faith." All professions have biblical connections shows the importance of religion in their society.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:theocracy&sa=X&ei=ywUMTPWsPIGdlgeO56CtDg&ved=0CBYQkAE
Cigarettes
"Extra cigarettes? (pg. 181)
In The Handmaids Tale, cigarettes were a symbol for the freedom of women. As reader's get more into the novel, they see when Offred loses the right to have any possession of money. Although cigarette smoke is irritating to some, it is what attract Offred to Nick. When she first sees, him he is surrounded my cigarette smoke which illustrates his freedom.
In The Handmaids Tale, cigarettes were a symbol for the freedom of women. As reader's get more into the novel, they see when Offred loses the right to have any possession of money. Although cigarette smoke is irritating to some, it is what attract Offred to Nick. When she first sees, him he is surrounded my cigarette smoke which illustrates his freedom.
Esquire
"an old Esquire from the eighties. . ." (pg. 184)
Esquire is a popular magazine filled with the latest and greatest gossip, tips, and celebrities. This magazine is a symbol of freedom. Freedom is what Offred only dreams of having in her life. This magazine allows women to be free and also women who read it to have a sense of freedom/
http://www.esquire.com/
Esquire is a popular magazine filled with the latest and greatest gossip, tips, and celebrities. This magazine is a symbol of freedom. Freedom is what Offred only dreams of having in her life. This magazine allows women to be free and also women who read it to have a sense of freedom/
http://www.esquire.com/
Scrable
"To be asked to play scrabble, instead, as if we were an old married couple. . ." (pg. 155)
http://www.novelguide.com/TheHandmaid%27sTale/metaphoranalysis.html
http://www.novelguide.com/TheHandmaid%27sTale/metaphoranalysis.html
Soul Scrolls
"I try to remember what this place sold when it was a store, before it turned into Soul Scrolls." (pg. 167)
http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-literary-criticism/handmaid-s-tale-margaret-atwood
http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-literary-criticism/handmaid-s-tale-margaret-atwood
The life of a Handmaid
"We are the containers, it's only the inside of our bodies that are important." (pg. 96)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tulips
"The tulips are red, a darker crimson towards the stem, as if they have been cut and are beginning to heal there." (pg. 12)
Margaret Atwood used red tulips as a major symbol in The Handmaid's Tale. Again with the tulips, is the use of the color red. Although flowers usually symbolize something positive, in this novel, they stand for something much different. Like the healing tulips, the woman in this novel were "cut off" too. With lack of an education, books, and money women were cut off from society.
"Google Image Result for Http://www.wildnatureimages.com/I to R/RED-TULIP..jpg." Google. Web. 31 May 2010.
Red
"Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us." (pg. 8)
In The Handmaid's Tale, color is what defines women as well as how they are feeling. Throughout the novel, Martha Atwood connects the color red with Offred and what defines her. From the gloves to the dresses that they wear, handmaids are always dressed in red. The red is a reminder of their fertility and life's mission. Red also represents death and violence.
"Google Image Result for Http://confinedspaces.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/lonely-handmaid.jpg." Google. Web. 31 May 2010.
Handmaids and other groups
"She's in her usual Martha's dress, which is dull green, like a surgeon's gown of the time before." (pg. 9)
In The Handmaids Tale, women are seperates into three main groups. Handmaids, Wives, and Marthas. Handmaids sole purpose in life is to reproduce once they reach a certain maturity level. Wives are obviously the married women while Marthas are maids/servants. People distinguish what group the women are in by the color that she wears: Handmaids are red, Marthas are green, and Wives are dressed in blue. Conflict sometimes arrises throughout the novel between the wives and handmaids out of jealousy.
Working Against. "The Handmaid's Tale." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 31 May 2010.
In The Handmaids Tale, women are seperates into three main groups. Handmaids, Wives, and Marthas. Handmaids sole purpose in life is to reproduce once they reach a certain maturity level. Wives are obviously the married women while Marthas are maids/servants. People distinguish what group the women are in by the color that she wears: Handmaids are red, Marthas are green, and Wives are dressed in blue. Conflict sometimes arrises throughout the novel between the wives and handmaids out of jealousy.
Working Against. "The Handmaid's Tale." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 31 May 2010.
The Angels
"The Angels stood outside with their backs to us." (pg. 4)
Margaret Atwood introduces "The Angels" within the first piece of the novel, The Handmaids Tale. The Angels or guards, stood outside of the fence were the handmaids went for the walks. The handmaids spoke about wanting the Angels to notice them, but they never turned around. The reason the handmaids longed for attention from the guards was to try to make a deal with them. The thought if they could just speak to the Angels they could do their one mission in life: reproduce.
"Google Image Result for Http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/stephmarsTK460.jpg." Google. Web. 31 May 2010.
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