Waiting Room IIII Flashcards
Key events
Chapter 8- walks back from shopping, we learn the history of Serena Joy- right wing tv evangelist from the time before- and the commander is waiting for her in her room
Chapter 9- history of Offred and Luke- we find out about the affair. Finds inscription within the closet of her bedroom
Chapter 10- happy memories of Moira; Faith cushion
Chapter 11- Dr’s appointment and offer to ‘help’ her
Chapter 12- the bath; getting ready
Key methods
Biblical allusions
Genesis
Chapter 11 Doctor’s appointment impact on bodies, power, choice
Body- invite judgement over value/worth, jealousy from the other Handmaids, purpose is in their body, her body has to go through the check- lack of dignity, the body is for function
Power- the doctor has the power to speak to her, report her, change her test results, Offred is completely vulnerable- lying their naked, power is corrupted by those in power
Choice- Forced to go to the doctors once a month, no control over the actions of the doctor, Handmaids don’t have a choice but to bear children otherwise they die, is allowed the choice for the doctor to not impregnate her- “next month”- sense of inevitability, if he wants it, it will happen
Implication for women in Gilead on motherhood pg. 63-64
a shock to remember her again
Can’t enjoy the basics- bathing her child, shopping
The woman stealing Offred’s baby in the shop is symbolic of how Gilead stole her child- same feelings
Sentimental items- hair, clothes, photos together (all are taken away)
Lost time with child- can’t watch her grow up
Motherhood is gone- no control/choice, ironic, the issue is infertility yet they take the child away from the mother
Escape to think of her child again- remembers the good times
‘Easier to think of her as dead’- so painful to remember
Why has Atwood used the biblical allusion to Genesis so significantly in her book?`
Anti-religion
Twists the message from the Bible
Religion is used as justification for murder, rape, imprisonment and oppression
Reads the Bible before the Ceremony
New Right
Serena Joy past
Organized prayer- prayvaganza
Soul Scroll shop
Reads the Bible before the Ceremony
The woman who was raped and had to confess in the center
Feminist
Salvaging- redeeming your sins, repent
Stories of the bible
Moira and her mother- link to Nazis
Jezzebelle
Warning of where freedom could lead
Slip into a totalitarian society with religion as the justification- threatens democracy
