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?

Blog #5

I did not expect the book to end like that. Even though i found out that Estraven was going to die before I read it, it still took me by surprise because it was a sudden and simple death. I prefer books with happy endings or with a conclusion and afterward, so I have a clue what is going to happen. Le Guin probably ended it this way so our imaginations can continue the story. Maybe that is why on the very last page of the story p. “301” is missing the page number (unless it is a mistake).

Before I read chapter 20, I thought that Genly would go home after he accomplished his mission since Estraven is dead. Now I think he is going to stay in Karhide with Estraven’s family and Faxe, because when he saw the physician he said that he was glad that it wasn’t a man or a woman, it was a human. So I guess he is more comfortable with androgynes and Gethens would be more of a home to him than Earth. If he doesn’t stay in Karhide then maybe he will continue traveling to different planets to form more alliances.

Blog #4

After the chapter about the escape I found the book really boring, and reading it was kind of unbearable. It was really hard to concentrate on reading without getting distracted. And when I was reading in bed, it put me to sleep after a page or two . But chapter 17 and 18 is a lot better because more interesting information such as mind speech is reveal. In these past few chapters, I feel the love hate relationship between Estraven and Genry [mostly hate from Genry and love from Estraven]. Estraven is protective of Genry and Genry gives Estraven attitude. When I picture it in my head I think of them as husband and wife. Ch 17 was short but interesting, it sounds like other creation myths but then its also unique. In most creation myth I feel like the people start off in a utopia/ pure world for a while and then something happens, but in this one it’s from the beginning. It makes me feel like everyone is born with darkness and there is no such thing as being pure.

Also, why is Estraven in pain when he mindspeak with Genry? I wonder what happened to Arek, or why Estraven feels that way? If it's the same Arek from the previous chapter, is it because he feels guilty for letting him die?

Blog #3

Each time I read a chapter narrated by Estraven, I trust him more. Even though I am still a little suspicious of his motives, I actually feel like he really does want an alliance between his world and Genry’s worlds. What ever his true intentions are, I think he wants to help and protect Genry. And speaking of Estraven, is he Therem of Stok or Estre from chapter 9 because on p. 152 he said he “have thought continually of Estre” and “had again and again a sense of Arek’s presence.” But is that even possible? It was an east Karhidish tale and it happened a long time ago, unless a long time ago isn’t as long as they make it seem. Or maybe the people of that world live longer lives. If he is one of the Therem from chapter nine shouldn’t he or his son/father(depending on which one he is) be the King of Estre? And the son that Estraven is writing to, is that his son with Ashe or the other Therem from chapter 9 or a son with someone else like ? How many kemmering partners does he have/had? Two, three or four? 1. Ashe 2. Arek 3. Foreth(unless that’s another name for Ashe) 4. the first person that he vowed kemmer to(unless that was Arek)

I also find it ironic that the only people that I think are sincere are the Estravens(the traitors) besides Genry.

Blog #2

I realize that even though each chapter is confusing in different ways, the confusion eventually clears up in later chapters (such as kemmering). I don’t think any of the Estravens should be considered traitors because Arek only vowed kemmering with Therem of Stok. Therem of Estre only vowed peace and killed his three “brothers” who were trying to kill him, so it was just self-defense. And the Therem/Estraven from previous chapters didn’t seem to do anything wrong (I feel like his intentions were good, like he is trying to protect Genry or something along that line). In Ch. 9 both Estravens say that they we mortal enemies to Therem of Stok but they haven’t seen each other before. Even though they are “mortal enemies” the Estravens still vowed something to Therem, so I feel like those words are meaningless. Since they never seen one another before there is no real reason for them to actually hate each other because the feeling is not there. This reminds me a lot of the drama that happens in life because when a person hates someone, their friends usually hate that person too for no personal reason but just because their friend does. I think people should dislike someone only if they have their own reasons otherwise they are not being true to themselves or fair to the person being hated on. At the end of CH 10 when Genry is feeling uneasy or like something is off, I feel that way too because everything seems to go a little too smoothly, which seems suspicious.

Blog #1

Ch. 5 reminds me a lot of "Bead Women" because of the question about the meaning of life (p.60). In both stories there are negative views on the question, but it is presented differently. In "Bead Women", Beth knows the purpose of life but she is not allowed to tell people because they do not want to know and in The Left Hand of Darkness, the question is not answerable. I like the way Le Guin answers the question because it is more realistic. If they did know the meaning of life then that would mean they know everything, and what Faxe says about religion on p. 71 will be true. Everything will be facts instead of beliefs and opinions. If you know everything, what do you have to look forward to?

Although I am curious to learn about the unknown, I think it is better to leave some things a mystery. For example, if Lord Berosty rem ir Ipe (in Ch. 4) wasn’t so obsessed with finding out his death date, then maybe he would have lived longer (unless he is fated to die anyways). After reading the part about Erhenrang (p. 50) and how they keep everything at a slow pace, made me realize I don’t enjoy half the things I should. I am usually rushing from one place to another, even when I don’t have to because it is a habit. And since the people in the book are enjoying life slowly, the book is full of details and colors because they actually take to time to notice them.