Household VI Flashcards
Key events
The Commander read the Bible interspersed with Offred’s memories
THe Ceremony
Revealed the Commander wants to meet with Offred privately in his office- Nick informs
The commander’s description pg. 87-88
Completely contradictory- escapism? Tring to make sense of him?
Reading the Bible pg. 89
‘Bilhah…shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her’
Subverts the biblical stories- fits their regime
The servant has the child
Reinforces the power
The Commander is interrupted by the memory of Moira and Offred talking in the toilet stalls pg. 90- top 91
Feels scared about the ceremony
Finds safety in Moira
Wants to detach herself from the moment- think about a happy memory
Aunt Lydia interrupts her- like the Commander’s voice
Her safety is interrupted by Gilead
Serena Joy begins to cry pg. 91
Shows how she feels about the Ceremony
Memory of Moira going to the hospital in an ambulance and being returned to the Centre
Bottom pg. 91-92
The ceremony and memory of how badly they are treated in the Centre- hideous events side by side being told at the same time
Shows Offred’s hatred for the regime
Emphasizes how awful it is
Ironic- the words of the Bible used by Gilead are being subverted
Massive parody of what he’s saying
Offred’s perspective on the ceremony pg. 94-95
‘The ceremony goes as usual’
‘I wish he would hurry up’
Unfazed and her emotions are detached
Not shocking as she has no choice about it as has had to endure it for 3 years completing it once every month.
Makes herself detached as a coping mechanism due to the traumatic nature
Serena Joy’s reaction to the ceremony pg.95-96
‘Serena Joy grips my hand…as if she finds it either pleasurable or painful’
‘Get up and get out’
‘She’s supposed to let me rest, for ten minutes’
‘There is a loathing in her voice’
Acts almost violently as she is possibly angry.
Might be sad as she can’t have children- has to have someone to do the role for her
Anger at Offred as she is with her husband but can maybe infer a frustration with the system because of the regime- complicit
She is complicit but whether happy in it is questionable
The Commander wants to meet with Offred in his office pg. 100
Subverting the regime
Dangerous is caught
Sneaking around at Night
Parody in household
Household is meant to be safe- rape, physical and emotional pain
The reading of the bible is meant to bring people together- causes division and upset
Ceremony is meant to be for celebration- instead it is for rape
A parody of traditional ideas
