pessimism / hope

Question 1

“i don’t even close my eyes. out there or inside my head…..”

Answer 1

“out there or inside my head, it’s an equal darkness. Or light”
• the world is the same whether she sees light or dark, giving the impression that the situation is hopeless. the state of society is at a standstill.

Question 2

HT
“the third group never gave up. They’d peck themselves to death, rather than quit” (70)

Answer 2

pigeons metaphor, the third group (with randomised grain) is similar to the handmaids.
• there are never consistent results with producing offspring, the society would continue just as it is even if something changed and made it impossible for the women to produce children (just as the man cut off the grain)
• this metaphor suggests atwood is criticising the structure of Gilead and how it could lead to the death of humanity
• just as the pigeons would “peck themselves to death” the society would continue trying to reproduce the way they are rather than find an alternative

Question 3

HT- birds symbolism
“like birds with their wings clipped” - hanging bodies of women

Answer 3

flight symbolises freedom, a bird cannot control whether it’s wings get clipped, just like how the women are most likely hung for no reason.
• the scene is compared to a dance giving it an ironic twist, dancing usually symbolises celebration. this hanging is a sick celebration of the control that the Eyes have over the women

Question 4

when does offred first mention feeing hope

Answer 4

when she sees serena joy smoking a cigarette- since gilead bans all things that could be seems as vices.
- serena joy is rejecting the strict rules and using the black market, even the most pious and devoted supporters can break the rules