The Handmaid's Tale: Blog #6

I did not know that the historical notes was a part of the story, so when I finished the last chapter I was disappointed again, just like the Left Hand of Darkness. I felt the story was incomplete. I was really hoping that Offred would rebel or do something out of the ordinary. Although the historical notes cleared up some confusions and let us know that the society will eventually be “normal” again, it still left a lot of information to our imaginations. I wish that Atwood would at least give us Offred’s real name at the end.

I guess I have to get use to the fact that life is unfair and not like a fairytale, even in books. Even at the end of some people’s lives, some things still remain a mystery. Also just the some stories, some lives end in a tragic ending. Although I know this about life, I still like to start every book with the possibility there is a fairytale happy ending.

The Handmaid's Tale: Blog #5

The more I think about it I realized Atwood incorporated a lot of historical events in the book. The Holocaust (the Jews), the underground railroad (trying to sneak Moira out by bringing her house to house) and the Salem Witch Trails (they hang people on the wall when they are accused of something), terrorism, etc. I find it kind of fun trying to find the connections between the book and reality.

When the Commander brought Offred to Jezebel, my opinion of him changed. Before I thought he might actually be a decent guy, but after that I find him kind of repulsive and annoying. The Commander is a jerk for using Offred like that. I guess he never really cared for her either, he is selfish just like Serena Joy.

I was not really surprised when Moira showed up again, although I did not expect her the be so accepting of her current situation. Even though she did succeed in escaping once, after two fail attempts, maybe she just accepted the fact that she cannot run away from the lifestyle.

The Handmaid's Tale: Blog #4

I did not expect Nolite te bastardes carbondorum( Don’t let the bastard grind you down) to be a joke, and a joke I do not even understand. I thought it would be a key detail to complete the story at the end. I was actually disappointed when I found out the real meaning, because I let my imagination run wild to explore any possible meanings and it did not reach my level of expectation. It is like planning a trip with your friends and then doing nothing on your agenda. Even so, I still have a little hope that it will mean more in the end.

I did not think Serena Joy would ever talk to Offred either. Why would she all of a sudden decide to offer her help and a cigeratte? I have a feeling she is up to something. She either wants to set her up or get rid of Offred as soon as possible. I think her intentions are selfish.

When I was reading the part about the Jews I thought of the Holocaust. I wonder what Atwood's intentions are with these historic references, but whatever her reasons are I like it because it gives me a chance to use the information I learned in history classes to provide me incites to the story.

The Handmaid's Tale: Blog #3

As more of her past is revealed, I find the book more interesting. I find it ironic how she talks about the old times and her past when that was the modern time and now her future and present has the old-fashioned setting. I really didn’t expect the information that I found out from reading these chapters. Is it even possible for the president and Congress to be dead all at once? Even though this is just a story, its still hard to imagine because when I think of the President of the United States I think of body guards and high security.

Now I understand how life became like that for them and why it does not seem like anyone wants to be there. I hope nothing like that actually happens, I mean who does? To have everything taken away from you just because of your gender. I feel like I take a lot of things for granted, the things I have and the freedom I have.

I still wonder how Offred separated from Luke and her daughter. And why did the Eyes just all of a sudden attack/kidnap that guy. From that incident I guess it’s safe to assume the Eyes are associated with the people who killed the President and Congress and now they are keeping an “eye” on them.

The Handmaid's Tale: Blog #2

The more I read, the more confused I am about how their society became that way. It does not seem like any one of them actually wants to be there. Things in our everyday life are prohibited to them. The women cannot read (besides the Aunts), even the Commander is unhappy. I also notice that they all break the rules. The Commander spoke to Offred alone, the doctor offered to help Offred conceive a child, Nick talks to Offred, and there is a black market where Serena Joy gets her perfume and where the alcohol from Birth day came from.

Even though I dislike Janine’s character, I cannot help but feel sorry for her. She has to give birth to a child that will not be hers. She didn’t even get to hold the baby after birth or have a say in the name. The only time she has with the baby is when she is breastfeeding her.

As for Moira, I am happy that she escaped. She seems out of her mind to do that, but I think all the handmaids should have follow her example instead of dreaming of it. There isn’t much the Aunts could do to them, they sound older and weaker than them, and they cannot kill them because they need them.

Handmaid's Tale Blog #1

When I am reading this book, I feel like I am actually in her head. The past is mixed with the present and I have to reread it to double check what it is. I also noticed that there are quotations after some of the things people say but other times there isn't.

I wonder what really happened to have a society like that. The book hints that it was war/crime, but it still doesn't make sense. It doesn't seem like any of them wants to be there, and it is obvious that everyone in the world doesn't live like that. There are tourists visiting and the TV has censored channels.

I feel sorry for the handmaid because it seems really boring. She examines her room for fun and she can only go out once a day and she has to have a partner with her. And no one seems to truly care for her, she is just a living tool to produce babies.

I also wonder what does the commander do? It doesn't seem like he is at the house a lot. Does he have a job?

"When It Changed"

When I was reading this story, I thought the narrator was a male in the beginning. This idea made me realize how easily I jump to conclusions and it is probably because of the way our society acts and thinks. The majority of books and stories I read are narrated by "hetersexual" people (in fact i think all of them are because I cannot think of one that wasn't besides this one). When narrators talk about their husbands or boyfriends, they are usually females. And it will probably be a rare case to come across a regular storyline with a male narrator talking about his husband or boyfriend.

I also find it weird how Janet(the narrator) doesn’t claim Katy’s child as her own even though it has her traits too. This made me wonder, do all of the inhabits of Whileaway only have one parent/mother? And how would this affect their family’s connection/chemistry? Does Janet care for Katy’s kid as much as her own and vice versa?