Last Blog, Handmaid's Tale Quote

Last blog... yes! This passage I found interesting, right at the end of Chapter 7. (Page 40)

"A story is like a letter. Dear You, I'll say. Just you, without a name. Attaching a name attaches you to the world of fact, which is riskier, more hazardous: who knows what the chances are out there, of survival, yours? I will say you, you, like an old love song. You can mean more than one.
You can mean thousands.
I'm not in any immediate danger, I'll say to you.
I'll pretend you can hear me.
But it's no good, because I know you can't."

This passage stuck out in my mind because it really is Offred’s complete and utter cry for help. She knows what hell is like, she's basically living in it, and only through her "story" does she try to explain what is going on. Offred can't escape Gilead, either she doesn't know how, or she is too afraid to make the first move, but that doesn't mean she enjoys living there. This passage is really a plea with someone, anyone, who will try to help her out of the society she is living in. It truly is sad because she has hopes of someone reading her "letter," and feeling her pain and suffering, however she knows this is to no avail. It has become lost amongst a group of people who are just as timid as she. She knows there is no one out there to feel her pain, and to hear her cries, and this is an element that allows the reader to have such great empathy with Offred. Knowing that we are, in fact reading the letter, and yet, we cannot do a thing.

What I also found interesting was her use of 'you.' The sentence, "Attaching a name attaches you to the world of fact, which is riskier, more hazardous: who knows what the chances are out there, of survival, yours?" I think this is not only a statement concerning possible readers but also a statement regarding her personal identity. Offred is not given a name specific to her. Offred, Of-Fred. Her name is only reflective of the man she is commanded by. With a new commander, her name will change. This removes the sense of identity from Gilead and adds to the suffering of the handmaids. Not only have they been violated physically by the Ceremony, but they have also been stripped of their rights to hold a name. Offred fears attaching a name to her letter. To her, attaching a name to herself may be the "riskier, more hazardous" aspect. If she allowed herself to regain her identity, would she be able to survive another day in Gilead?

Anthem and Light.

Light is obviously significant in Anthem, in part because a light bulb is represented on the cover of the work. Rand obviously uses the light bulb, and electric light as a symbol in her novel. Light, in Anthem, can be representation of both truth and knowledge. There is a reason then, for a light bulb being placed on the cover, because the quest for knowledge and Equality 7-2521's acquisition of that knowledge is eventually attained by the end of the novel. The symbol of light is used throughout the book. Equality's first creation and his greatest achievement up to that point is the light he produces in secrecy. The moment of discover for him, is not only an influx of new knowledge, but also of truth. From this point Equality knows the truth of the oppressiveness in his society, and also the truth of self-discovery. The leaders of the society fear the light Equality has produced, because his discovery is one of individualism, and they fear letting others know of the truth.
Equality also changes Liberty 5-3000's name to The Golden One, in reference to how the light of the sun reflects off her golden blonde hair. This name is significant because she is not another one of Equality's "brothers." His feelings for her out measure the feelings he shares for anyone else in the society. The emotion he is feeling is love, and this love is new to him. In discovering the Golden One, Equality finds truth in his emotions, as well as truth in individuality.
When Equality and the Golden One finally find the abandoned house in the forbidden forest, Rand describes the house with much detail, making sure to mention how much light is let in by the expanse of windows. The house, filled with light, contrasts to the dark, candlelit city that Equality previously inhabited. The light of the house is significant because it represents the vast amount of knowledge that Equality will attain. Also the truth of Equality's individuality is discovered in the house, when he learns the word "I."

We Analysis - D-503 as a human character

We conveys deep human individuality through a character thought more machine than man in the beginning of the novel. D-503 evolves throughout the book from an entity to a character readers can more easily associate with.

In the beginning D-503 hails OneState, and triumphs it above all others governments. Daily happenings are insubstantial because every day functions like the next; there is even a hope in D-503’s mind that one day OneState will be in control of every second of every day. What makes D-503 a complex character is that despite his faith in OneState, he still allows himself to be controlled by intangible emotions when he falls in love with I-330. She instantly causes D-503 to feel things he had previously never experienced. She is overwhelming and devoted, not to OneState, but to her own passions. As D-503’s infatuation with I-330 increases, his writing strays from the orderly fashion of his earlier entries. As his passion grows his writing becomes more confusing. This alone identifies him more as a human character than a machine because no longer is he in control of his thoughts.

As D-503 tries to capture every emotion he feels, Zamyatin uses ellipses as a way of truthfully portraying a wandering mind. The constant flow of ideas helps establish a connection between the reader and D-503. D-503 tries to catch his thoughts and emotions on paper, however, like any human being, writing emotion is a difficult task.

Because of D-503’s unbridled passion for I-330, he becomes a comparable character to the reader. As the story progresses we can feel empathy with him, even in his last entry. Becoming everything that is inhuman, D-503’s fate seems horrific in our eyes due, in part, to how much emotion dictates our very existence.

Analysis of symobl in Handmaid's Tale

Throughout Handmaid’s Tale the color red is used as a defining element in the description of Gilead. Therefore I question Atwood’s choice in color.

The first reference to red in the novel comes from the handmaids’ robe color. Not all women in Gilead wear red, only the handmaids. With this, Offred makes reference to the gown as the color of blood. The mention of blood could signify a fertile woman, being that handmaids are the only ones wearing red, and they too are the only ones allowed to dear children.

The color red may also have been chosen as a symbolic color because generally red is associated with love or passion. In the novel, the abundance of red and lack of passion in their society is ironic. Within the society there is no place for love between two individuals, especially the handmaids. During the first mention of the ceremony, Offred something along the lines of there being a certain chilliness in the room. The room, also the bedroom of the Commander, is cold even though what is taking place is supposed to be the passionate display of two people in love. The irony of the passion-filled color red, with the loveless society, show just how reactionary Gilead is.

Red could also be representative of the cruelty included within the book. Offred often mentions red in relation to the color of blood. The parallel of blood and perhaps pain, add to the degradation of women in Offred’s society. Women are not allowed to read, and are hardly given any other rights. The Ceremony itself is not only degrading to the handmaids who are violated in every sense, but also to the wives who must witness the entire thing. This is ironic because the society functions around women primarily, even though they are held in such low regard.

Finally, red can be related to Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne’s sin of adultery, and Offred’s role in the Ceremony are extremely similar, although Offred’s actions are justified by Gilead’s interpretation of the Bible. Also Hester’s shame of being publicly humiliated is similar to Offred’s humiliation. Although she is not the only handmaid she certainly hates the Ceremony, and is shamed by what she does. During the description of the Ceremony she explains closing her eyes so that it might end quicker.

The consistent use of the color red throughout Handmaid’s Tale is significant, and it is intended to bring a further irony to the novel.

my thoughts on The Handmaid's Tale

I'm not sure if I hated or liked The Handmaid's Tale, it is certainly a weird one to appreciate on a personal level. What I did think Atwood did an amazing job of was make Offred seem like such a believable character that, as a reader, I was driven with empathy for her. I hated to hear her horrific story, but also wanted to find out what happened to her in the end. Atwood succeeded in creating a story that was nearly unbelievable, however, frightening in a sense that Gilead could be created after one social and political disaster. Offred's life before Gilead was like ours; she had freedom as a human being and as a woman. Gilead's oppressive society was a paradox to the world in which we live. What made the story even the faintest bit believable was the fact that Gilead came out of a free society. Out of chaos came oppression. Some think this may never happen in our well-educated society, however after September 11th did we not slowly give away some of our personal freedoms to ensure our safety. The Patriot Act is an example of this. What Atwood does it create a dystopia of such unbelievably, however the means of its creation are certainly something to consider.

Bradbury's Allusion to the Book of Ecclesiastes

Bradbury uses the Bible as a symbol and allusion in Fahrenheit 451. The Book of Ecclesiastes is continually mentioned throughout the novel and is noteworthy because of its significance to the novel.

The Bible itself is significant to the novel, and Montag's copy of it is brought into the story rather quickly. Bradbury's choice of connecting the Bible, and specific books within it, to Montag is interesting. The Bible is, in most regards, a book of salvation. In the Old Testament that is salvation though God, while the New Testament it is salvation through Jesus. Although Montag is not really comparable to a Jesus figure, as say Equality 7-2521 is in Anthem, Montag is certainly on a quest for salvation throughout the novel. Upon finding his salvation from the firemen and the society he'd been trapped in, Montag sets out on a quest to save others who survived the bombing runs of the war, essentially becoming the savior. The Bible as a whole definitely pertains to Montag's journey though the novel.

By the end of the novel Montag associates himself with a specific portion of the Bible, the Book of Ecclesiastes. Not only was the Bible an excellent choice for Montag to have, but also this specific book within the Old Testament.
The Book of Ecclesiastes is basically a narrative given from the perspective of "the Preacher." Within the narrative, the Preacher reveals depression caused by seeking happiness in worldly things. The Preacher explores most every form of worldly pleasure, however it all leaves him unsatisfied and with a lack of self-meaning. This is very comparable to Montag's progression throughout the novel, and it seems only fitting that Montag is the Preacher himself. Montag's choice to deny the fast cars, giant televisions, and thrill of burning books, only drew him closer to finding a sense of true happiness and meaning.

Bradbury's choice to use the novel reflects the problems within Montag's society and was undoubtedly a wise choice for an allusion.

Thoughts on Mr. Montag and the Salamanders

Fahrenheit 451 is probably one of my favorite novels. As previously stated, I like sci-fi, therefore I already like the setting, however, it is more than just the genre that attracts me to the novel. I like Fahrenheit because I like the story, the characters, and the irony it has to society today.

The story: Fahrenheit is the tale of one man breaking established convention to find a freedom that had been missing from his life. I like stories like this. I try to be an individual because I never want to become the "norm." I never want to become a predictable character; therefore I like characters that aren't predictable. Montag's journey is one of human error, but it is also one of human redemption. Montag is the enemy in the beginning of the novel; by the end he becomes one of the few who understand. This transition is dramatic and dynamic; one of the reasons Fahrenheit is the novel it is. The irony of burning books to protect the well being of the populous is a fantastic idea for a story to begin with.

Burning books to create a better tomorrow. That could have been a slogan for the firemen. In essence, the firemen of the novel were trying to destroy the one thing that causes human to think freely. Books make us analyze them and use our minds. Therefore, the firemen burning the books were also burning the mind. The idea of the Utopian society Montag lives in is based around the principle of removing every person with the right to think freely. That is what children are being snatched from their mothers practically at birth, and it is the same reason why Millie wants another wall-sized television. When robbed of something for so long one forgets the feeling. This stealing of personal freedoms was creating an illusion of happiness. Millie thought she was happy but that is because she was told she was happy, and she had forgotten how to think and rationalize what she was being told. Montag's meeting of Clarisse was all the evidence needed to prove that a Utopia cannot exist. The human mind cannot be shut down, just filled with useless information. Therefore someone will always be able to think.

The characters: Montag and Beatty, a face-off between good and evil? When solely reading the story one may draw that conclusion...
Alright, here's Montag who knows that burning books is bad because books are actually good; and this Beatty fella is trying to stop him so, Montag's the good guy, and Beatty, well he deserved to get burned... right?...
Not exactly; Beatty was certainly a strange character in the least but he was also a complex one. We as readers don't know whether or not Beatty really loved books, and hated the fact that he couldn't share them with anyone; or if Beatty loved the idea of burning books because they could not provide him with the solution to live itself. Beatty is such an interesting character to watch progress throughout the novel, and I love the scene where he just starts quoting novels endlessly. Is this a man who really hates literature? Probably not but were never able to get a straight answer from him, and that's what makes it all the more exciting.

Irony: I see what's happening in Fahrenheit happening in society today. Now we're all in an AP Lit class so we obviously find some enjoyment from reading, but honestly, outside AP Lit, do you know how hard it is to find someone who likes to read in their spare time? Kids spark note because it's easier than reading and they don't have to work as hard. This notion of getting more for less is consuming our culture. I see it with my brother all the time. I see how he has been sucked into the world of mass media, and how a sweet TV show outweighs a boring book any day. When Bradbury wrote the novel, his ideas may have sounded crazy. But our society is closer to the novel than many would have thought possible. If we continue on this path, who's to say in the next 50 years we won't be burning books as well.

sorry

I apologize for the font color at the end of my last post; tried to fix it, didn't work.

"Acrobat" - Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down!

U2's "Acrobat" definitely references Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale" in more than just the chorus.
"Don't believe what you hear Don't believe what you see If you just close your eyes You can feel the enemy When I first met you girl You had fire in your soul"

I think this first stanza, especially the first 4 lines relates to the awful and demeaning 'ceremony' held in the book. In the book Offred closes her eyes and tries to think of something else as her and the commander have sex. In essence she is trying not to believe what she hears or sees, because in many instances her existence in Gilead seems like a dream, or more so a nightmare. She can obviously feel the commander during the ceremony, and he is, in a way, the enemy, even though we find out he doesn't enjoy the process either.

"When I first met you girl you have fire in your soul" can correspond to Offred's life before the change. A life in which she lived as an equal with Luke, and where she had passion not only for him but for her life as well. In Gilead she has lost that passion for life. She lives hoping, knowing that it must eventually end, and she lives for the moment where she might see her daughter.

Now it looks like this
And you can swallow
Or you can spit
You can throw it up
Or choke on it
And you can dream
So dream out loud

You know that your time is coming 'round
So don't let the bastards grind you down

The chorus obviously is a direct allusion to "The Handmaid's Tale," in 'so don't let the bastards grind you down' however even before that it can be related to Offred's suffering in Gilead. It tells of Offred's revolt against the society, by saying swallow the suffering and the pain because soon enough things will change. Offred knew that this couldn't last forever, and therefore acted against convention and dared to dream because she was still an individual.

No, nothing makes sense
Nothing seems to fit
I know you'd hit out
If you only knew who to hit
And I'd join the movement
If there was one I could believe in
This stanza is Offred's thoughts throughout the novel. She doesn't know why this has taken place; it makes no sense to her. She wants to escape, she wants to be like Moira and find away out of the hell that is Gilead but she doesn't know who to fight against. The 'bad guys' are so convoluted that she doesn't know whom to trust.

U2 obviously had "The Handmaid's Tale" in mind when they wrote this song.

THX-1138

The end scene of this film reminds me of Equality 7-2521 running away from the society he knows in Anthem. Although not exactly the same, the guard’s undefined faces and very mechanic movement reflect the society that Equality lived in because of the lack of individuality and emotion. In the cut scene back to the command center notice how both men and women have shaved heads and are wearing the same white jumpsuit. This is the same throughout the film and it is also similar to how in Equality's society, men and women are equals who are unable to share physical attraction. Robert Duvall's character reminds me of Equality 7-2521 because in this final scene he is running away from convention to discover an existence unlike any he's ever imagined. Both THX-1138 and Equality discover personal identities that have been hidden due to their societies.

Thoughts on We

We was certainly one of the more interesting books I've read thus far. And although I enjoyed it for the most part, I hated the ending from a reader's perspective. What I really liked was the way Yevgeny Zamyatin chose to tell D-503's story. D-503's transition as a character throughout the story is a complex one, therefore by writing the book as a series of journal entries by D-503 allow the reader to become immersed in D-503's emotional transition throughout the story. This could be in part why I didn't particularly enjoy the ending. It's not that I thought it was bad. By all means I think that D-503's regression back to the vise of OneState made much sense; however, throughout D-503's journey I was, in a sense, rooting for him. I wanted him to break convention, to realize how blind he had been to his emotions, and to escape through the Green Wall. Therefore, when, in the end, D-503's mind had been wiped clean of emotions and he couldn't even remember the woman he was so passionately in love with, I was sad for him. And I was angry at the fact that this had happened. Although I liked the story, the ending killed for me the story that preceded it, however I see the importance of such an ending. When analyzed, D-503 falling back into OneState's grasp makes a political statement in that individualism has, in a way, become neglected in society. It also opposes the idea of communism in that total government control allows no room for an individual.

The novel again reminded me to an older sci-fi film from 1976. Logan's Run has basically the same premise as We with a few idealistic individuals in a society ruled by a restrictive government. A scene from the movie I think paralleled a scene from the book in a lot of ways. There is a scene in which Logan (Michael York) escapes from the city where he lives, to a world beyond. This world, beyond the "bubble" the city is enclosed in, is teeming with untamed wildlife and things are generally chaotic. (Reminiscent of anything?) When outside the city, Logan discovers one old man living in the wild. This man shows him literature and describes a world from the past; much of what I-330 does to D-503. Because the whole series of events in the film is a little lengthy I probably wont look for it on You Tube. However, I found the similarities between the two scenes to be noticeable so I thought I'd make mention to it.

Reflection - Anthem

I really enjoyed Anthem because for one, I like sci-fi stories, but also because I felt Ayn Rand remained faithful to the emotions of the characters. In Anthem Equality as well as his 'brothers' in society have never known emotion. They don't know what it's like to love or hate. However, the characters, although to some may seem not very dynamic, are actually reacting to their new experiences in a truthful way. Equality's reaction to his beautiful creation is a great scene, not because of the over abundance of mellifluous dialogue, but because one has this illusory image of a man coming to terms with who he is and what he can become. Equality's almost subdued excitement is one that is truthful to the man Equality is. He's never experienced this before, but he knows the intelligence, the difference, has been in him forever, separating him from everyone else.

This can also be seen in the Golden One's statement to Equality (see my favorite quote). In this scene she knows nothing of how to express love, she just knows she feels something unlike anything she's felt before. Rand's use of word choice in the dialogue adds to the development of both characters.

I also liked the story as a whole, one man's quest for knowledge, his release from the conventional bonds of society, and finally his realization of a purpose for his life. Taking philosophy this year makes me question the idea of existence, as an empty shell, and I liked this book mainly because it caused me to question my life and the society in which we exist.

To draw a slight parallel, I find this book similar to George Lucas' first film THX-1138. Although not extremely popular, the film shares a similar story to the book. Basically, THX-1138's (Robert Duvall) escape from the uniform, domineering society in which he lives, to a greater world, that he knows exists. I hope to post the end scene of the film as soon as I figure out how.

We - Passage Selection

"I had no business being here, a criminal, a poisoned man. Never again was I to blend into the precise mechanical rhythm, never to sail on the serene mirror-like sea. My fate was to burn forever, to rush hither and yon, searching for some corner to hide my eyes -- forever, until I found the strength at last to go through..." (82)

It is at this moment in the novel where D-503 comes to the realization that he is no longer the minion of OneState; it is here he realizes that he can no longer view the world in a simple mathematical sense. The quote, although short, conveys a strong feeling of a man loosing control of what is around him. D-503 starts out with a basic statement. He knows his "pure" mind has become tainted with the influence of I-330. He uses the noun criminal because, in essence, that is truly what he is. His infatuation with I-330 has caused him to separate from the very state he was so easily attached to. What I-330 has done to him is like a poison. The feelings of lust, passion, or love, whichever he may have for I-330, have made him a poisoned man. He does not think about his job or OneState; all he focuses on is her. As the quote progresses D-503's thoughts turn into a frenzy of images that show just how far his mind is wandering.

Throughout We, Yevgeny Zamyatin uses the literary technique of stream of consciousness to reflect D-503's constantly changing mental state. Ellipses are used frequently in the novel to show the unfinished end of one idea into the next. The ellipses in this quote, in particular, I find very interesting. "...searching for some corner to hide my eyes -- forever, until I found the strength at last to go through...". I find it intriguing because of where it falls in the progression of the novel. At this moment, D-503 realizes he cannot go back to his old mathematical mind (or so he thinks), therefore one question what he feels he needs the strength to go through. Two speculations arose in my mind. At first I believed D-503 was making reference to the other side of the green wall; to the wild and random jungle the lay just outside the city. However, this thought poses a slight problem. First, D-503 knew nothing of the civilization gathering beyond the city limits; and second, D-503 was literally petrified to think of what lay beyond the green boundary. Although witnessing the birds fly overhead, he also saw the eyes of wild animals and this untamed chaos was enough to drive him mad. Therefore, my second conclusion was that D-503 was waiting for the strength to go through the procedure to wipe clean his mind. The process he experiences at the end of the novel. Although unwanted by the mathematical rationalizing portion of D-503's changing mind, his physical and emotional attachment to I-330 gives him pleasure in the sense that it's such a new feeling to him. This is why D-503 accepts his fate of burning forever, because he doesn't want to give up his emotions. Therefore, to gather the strength to make his mind a blank slate is what will be the most difficult and unwanted thing for him.

I found it interesting that both in Anthem and We references are made to eternal damnation in a sense. In Anthem the Golden One tells Equality that he is damned but that she wishes to be damned along with him. Here in We, D-503 writes "My fate was to burn forever...". This fate of burning forever can be paralleled to eternal damnation and the fact that D-503 believes he can no longer return to his once obeying, simple, scheduled life. What is also interesting is that although both works allude to biblical and religious references, neither society practices a set religion. Therefore it is interesting that characters from both works make reference to hell, even though the concept is not preached. Because Equality 7-2521 and D-503 believe in such a thought of eternal damnation, were they more easily turned from their respective societies because of the feeling that their existence is not simply enough?

Anthem Quote

My favorite quote from the novel (pgs 82-83; the Golden One talks to Equality 7-2521)


"We have followed you," they said, "and we shall follow you wherever you go. If danger threatens you, we shall face it also. If it be death, we shall die with you. You are damned, and we wish to share your damnation... Your eyes are as a flame, but our brothers have neither hope nor fire. Your mouth is cut of granite, but our brothers are soft and humble. Your head is high, but our brothers cringe. You walk, but our brothers crawl. We wish to be damned with you, rather than blessed with all our brothers"


I liked this quote out of Anthem because of how powerful the Golden One's statement is. As drones in an equal society finding the words for emotion let alone love can be difficult. This quote especially the first part is probably one of the most romantic pieces of dialogue I've ever read because of how deep in sincerity it is. The Golden One, like Equality 7-2521, does not know how to express emotion. That, as well as personal gratification, is strictly forbidden in their city. Therefore this quote, although not littered with elegant, mellifluous dialogue is touching because of its depth in meaning. The Golden One loves Equality, enough to where she risks her life as well as the life promised to her in order to be with him. When finally reaching him, she knows the both of them are forever doomed in regards to the rest of their emotionless and in essence, lifeless, brothers.

The word choice of "damnation" I particularly like. I feel that it is strong and particularly strong in this instance. Damnation when examined brings about the thought of an eternity of suffering. As in Equality 7-2521's position, choosing to leave his society, his home, would lend itself for a journey into the unknown. Not only into the uncharted forest that lays outside the city, but also into the mystery of freedom that Equality has never been able to experience. The Golden One, telling Equality that she wishes to share in his damnation is an extremely powerful statement, and quite possibly one of more love than a simple "I love you." The knowledge of never being able to go back, and knowing how much of herself she is offering Equality, is more a sign of passion than any words could truly be ascribed.