Moment 3 - Madame "spiders" Flashcards
“she was afraid of us in the way someone might be afraid of spiders”
Dehumanises herself by comparing to vile pest. Reflects the lowliness of societal perception towards clones.
Spiders vulnerable to humans-easily killed- and are unwarranted fear. Physically cause revulsion and widespread fear.
“It’s like walking past a mirror you’ve walked past every day of your life, and suddenly it shows you something… troubling and strange”- Kathy
Encounter so powerful that her self-perception has changed and became foreign to her - “suddenly” adverb, shock.
Everyday action now deeply affected, showing the deep ramifications of her encounter.
Dehumanises herself, “something”.
“the shudder she seemed to be suppressing” “at the very thought of you”
“shudder” - physical revulsion. Sibilance creates harsh tone towards clones, carrying malice and cold emotions.
“suppressing” - what are her true feelings when the clone’s feel so dehumanised even when she hides them. Connotes shame and guilt by Madame as even she herself can’t help but dehumanise the clones.
Very strange reaction. Children invoke highly positive emotions however such contrasting emotions reflects societal disparity - dystopian sense expressing extent of dehumanisation.
Very “thought” produces such feelings of repulsion that they are actualized physically.
“A few storm clouds starting to gather”
“like we’d walked from the sun right into the chilly shade”
Pathetic fallacy - recurring device.
Q1 - foreshadowing burst of bubble of bliss. Storm builds up harshly to a large sudden release, suggesting significant turning point approaching.
Q2 - “right” adverb reflects complete and sudden change in surroundings as the clone’s self-perception is dynamically changed.
Shade does not provide comfort but rather discomfort. “Sun” = warmth and bliss, “chilly” = penetrating, unsettling and now vulnerable as left fully exposed to cold.
“her briefcase held tightly to herself in both arms
“tightly” adverb- unnecessary protection against no threat, reveals her insecurity. Excessive use of “both arms”. Considers them threat and criminal-like - relegated to crime never committed.
“why doesn’t she just leave us alone? Who asks her to come here anyway”
Repeated rhetorical questioning demonstrates her desperation and emotional damage. Pleading tone.
“Ready to burst into tears…Even Ruth looked really shaken”
Ruth reveals private face, to the shock of Kathy - “even”.
Shocking for Ruth as leader of group and individual who maintains facade - reveal that all clones have felt same questioning of humanity after this shocking experience
