Haiku's

Winter
Winter time is here
There's lots of joy, lots and cheer
Bringing a new year

The Sky
The sky is changing
Emotional, blissful or glum
Shinning or Raining

My Boots
My boots are soft, furry
My boots always keep me warm
My boots I really need

Neologisms, Biblical References, and Language Musing

Neologisms, Biblical Language, and Language Musing

            Margaret Atwood utilizes neologisms, biblical language, and language musing throughout The Handmaid’s Tale to accentuate that Gilead is a different world. A neologism is a newly coined term. Atwood uses neologisms to emphasize Gilead’s different lifestyle. Some neologisms include “The Commander” and “Unwomen”. Many neologisms have to do with the Bible, which is often referenced in The Handmaid’s Tale. Offred refers to the Bible when talking about the ways of Gilead. Other Biblical references include greetings, such as “Praise Be”. The republic of Gilead manipulates its population through the Bible and Biblical Language. Another literary element that Atwood uses is language musing. Offred spends a lot of her time thinking about words and their true meanings. This language musing shows the importance of literacy to Offred, but also shows her defiance to Gilead’s ways (which bans reading and writing amongst women), making the reader wonder the true extent of Offred's unhappiness.

Foils

Who is a foil to Offred?

            Moira, Offreds best friend, is a foilsin many ways.  Offred often flashes back to times with Moira, to when the two girls were young, wild, and free. Throughout the novel, Moira constantly contrasts Offred. The first time Moira shows up is in chapter seven. Moira is exotically dressed, smoking, and pushing Offred to go drinking. But Offred is hesitant to go out because she has schoolwork to tend to; she wants to follow the rules. Moira helps the reader realized that Offred has a personality that leans toward what she has to do before doing what she wants to do. Moira is outgoing and flashy, having “underwhore part[ies]” (66 Atwood). This acts as a foil to Offred’s demure and reserved lifestyle. 

            Offred always tags along with Moira, going along with her fun, going to get a beer, and attending the Underwhore party. Offred synchronizes with Moira in thing such as when Moira exclaims her need for a cigarette, Offred answers “Me too” (83 Atwood). This shows that Offred has similar feelings as Moira; leading to the conclusion that Offred feels just as suppressed as Moira, but does not have the courage to withstand Gilead’s ways like Moira does. Moira expresses the way Offred feels, but reveals Offred’s cowardice. Furthermore, Offred states that it makes her “feel safe, that Moira is here” (81 Atwood). Moira is Offred’s backbone. But when Moira escapes, who will be Offred's backbone then?  

Why is the Bible locked up?

Why is the bible locked up?

            The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood, takes place inside of a dystopia. This is an extremely religious dystopia, but it is law to keep the Bible locked up, only allowing The Commander to read it. Gilead, the dystopia, is heavily influenced by the passage from Genesis, 30:1-3.  This passage expresses the want for children and the willingness to do anything in order to reproduce. The jobs of women are divided up. The women of Gilead are oppressed and have their rights taken away from them. For example, they are not allowed to read. Therefore, they cannot even read the Bible.

The Bible is locked up to assert control. This dystopia has interpreted the Bible in a very specific way. Everybody is different and everybody interprets things differently. Some people could take passages a different way, or even find a passage to contradict Gilead’s way. The society does not want to risk a possible rebellion.

Also, if women were allowed to read the Bible, it wouldn’t be a far cry for them to read other things. They are not giving the women in inch, in order to make sure they don’t go a mile. In the eyes of a government trying to keep control, it’s better not to take risks in any way.

Offred Letter

Be one of the characters

Offred

            This is my life now. I am a handmaid. Gilead is the place where I eat, sleep, and breathe. But Gilead is not the place I live. I am forced to give myself to the Commander. My body, my name, my purpose, it belongs to him. So who am I?

            I’m a lost soul. A miserable soul, torn apart. My husband and daughter have been taken away from me. I can no longer feel. Love is nonexistent in this world.

This new way; it was supposed to make everything better. The world was supposed to be better. But the values of Gilead are sacrilege. The ways of this world take the emotion out of life.

            Let me ask you, what is life without feeling? What is life without emotion? It nothing. I no longer have a life. I go through the motions, waiting for the day to be over. To the future: don’t take away the emotion, or destroy relationships. These things are what make life worth living.