As I mentioned in class, your challenge tonight is to predict Offred's fate. Is her increasing bravado going to be her saving grace--or her downfall? Will she make it out of this regime alive? Will she thrive? What is going to happen to Offred??
The key here is to ground your prediction in textual evidence. Last night's reading provides lots of little clues--for both sides. Focus in on some key passages/words that you feel like are deliberately preparing us for the end of this novel.
I feel like Atwood is setting us up for a rebellion. And it’s going to work, but it won’t be pretty. Offred says, “Every night when I go to bed I think, In the morning I will wake up in my own house and things will be back the way they were. It hasn’t happened this morning either.” This is that hope she’s searching for. Atwood is readying us for that day when she wakes up at home, describing it, showing Offred’s lust for it. But the road to home won’t be pretty. These last chapters are dark, gruesome. “But I tell time by the moon, lunar not solar.” Night is Offred’s ‘Time off’ to drift back to her past life, to enjoy and dwell in her memories. But night is dark, she measures time by the dark, not by the sunlight; foreshadowing a dark passage of time before she arrives at home. IT will be dark, but it’s still a matter of passing time. Ofglen and the others have to be planning something begging Offred to find out, “anything you can.” We as the reader know something’s about to burst. These handmaid’s have been plotting and planning, and they’re about to call mayday. It’ll be a dark time, that’s what night is. But night is also Offred’s memory of the past. And therefore, to regrasp that memory, to get back to where she came, will be a dark passage ending in the light of the future.
ReplyDeleteAtwood is foreshadowing an attempt by Offred to retaliate against this society, but unlike Lauren, I believe it will lead to her death. Offred's death is foreshadowed by her obsession with the suicide of the handmaiden before her. She even pictures hanging herself on "a hook, in the closet" (195). Offred also says, "I feel buried" (211). These references support that Offred will not survive this regime. Her obsession with knives is also very troubling. The first time she sees Rita chopping, Offred thinks "I would like to have a knife like that" (47). Then she thinks about stealing a knife from the kitchen the night she sneaks into the sitting room, but decides she's "not ready for that" (97). Atwood also takes care to mention the paring knife being used by Rita when Offred asks for a match (207). Based on the continued mention of knives, Offred will steal one eventually and either use it to kill herself or escape. The fact that she is keeping the match in her mattress for a later time shows that Offred is leaning towards escape, especially since the idea that "[she] could burn the house down" excites her so much (209). Offreds increased bravado is going to be her downfall because she is going to try to make "an escape, quick and narrow," that will lead to her death (209).
ReplyDeleteI think that Offred is going to run away. She’s tried to do it before, and although it caused her to lose her family, she doesn’t have a family to lose this time. Therefore, she doesn’t have a reason to not run away. Plus, she’s considered suicide numerous times which makes me believe that she is not too concerned with her fate of being caught if she did try to escape. Furthermore, she has learned from her last escape what to do and what not to do. Also, she has learned from Moira’s mistakes as well. Because of this, I have confidence that if Offred does escape, she will succeed. She says, “These days I script whole fights in my head, and the reconciliations of afterwards too” (258). This shows her inner thoughts. Offred’s mindset is about being free and doing whatever she has to do in order to make it that way. Offred is well aware of what the consequences are if she were to get caught. But, she’s willing to risk that. We also see her rebellious mindset when she talks about burning the house down. She says, “Such a fine thought, it makes me shiver” (271). This is another example of how she is willing to do whatever in order to be free. She knows that burning the house to pieces would be wrong, but her attitude is such that she would be willing to do it anyway. When she goes to the Prayvaganza and walks toward the river she says, “I wish I could go that far, to where the wide banks are” (276). Offred tastes her freedom. In fact, she can see it. It will only be a matter of time before she plots her escape.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in The Handmaid’s Tale, I think that Margaret Atwood is starting to leave clues that show that there will be an uprising among the handmaids that will eventually led to Offred’s death. One clue that Atwood leaves is the title of section twelve. This section is entitled Jezebel’s. This name is a biblical allusion. In the Bible, Jezebel was a woman who dominated over her husband King Ahab. She was seen as evil because she forced him to worship false idols while she personally made sure all the prophets of God were killed. Jezebel met her end when a man named Jehu encouraged her court officials to murder her by throwing her out of a window and leaving her corpse in the street to be eaten by dogs. This can be seen as foreshadowing. In section twelve, we see the handmaid’s starting to form alliances and band together. I think this will lead to an attempt by the handmaids to control the society of Gilead. These rebellious women will be viewed as Jezebels because they are going against a society that is supposedly glorifying God. In the bible, Jezebel was also a prostitute. This is another parallel that can be drawn between handmaids and Jezebel. Like Jezebel, a handmaid’s job is to have sex. These similarity between Jezebel and handmaids is Atwood’s way of showing that like Jezebel, Offred will be eventually be brutally murdered.
ReplyDeleteLiving a life full of memories, Offred’s main goal is to reunite with Luke and her daughter. She used to live life hoping for some sign of her loved ones, but now she has evidence that at least her daughter is alive. She is finally able to live in the present because her hope has been verified. She no longer hopes without any evidence, but now she can picture the future with her living daughter. Serena Joy says that she can get Offred “A picture…Of her. Your little girl” (206). After finding out that her daughter is alive, Offred “can’t lose sight, even of so small a thing. [She] can’t let go of this hope” (206). Thus, she has something to keep her motivated. Because she now has this desire and hope, Offred will prosper at the end of the novel. Knowing that her daughter is so close, she will no longer have the temptation to give up her search or give into this society.
ReplyDeleteAlso, after realizing this newfound hope, Offred finds power in the little things. It is as if she is collecting all forms of power she can find no matter how small they may be. After Serena Joy gives her a cigarette and she collects a match, the reader can sense power in Offred’s voice as she discusses “mak[ing] a small hole in the mattress” and “sleeping on it” as she thinks, “I could burn the house down. Such a fine thought, it makes me shiver” (209). Offred is now able to control the household and control her own destiny with this one match by possibly escaping in the fire. Also, she finds power in “the whispering of obscenities, about those in power” (222). It “reduces them to the common denominator” and elevates her to a superior position. It is something small that she can do to escape her suppression. Whispering these profanities is “delightful…naughty, secretive, forbidden, thrilling” (222). It not only gives her a sense of power but also lets her feel some emotions.
With all of this power gathered together, Offred will eventually have enough control and will to escape. Her confidence is building and she is feeling stronger as she discovers ways to bring others down and empower herself. With this new motivation and her family in sight, nothing will stop her.
However, there is also a final glimpse to the future at the end of Chapter 34. Offred is instructed by Ofglen to “‘find out and tell [them]’” (223). This alludes to the future when Offred will understand the fundamentalist society better. In this understanding, she will know how to escape and break free because with knowledge comes even more power.
I believe Offred is going to escape this society, but I don't think it will be through rebellion. Though Atwood keeps dropping hints that other handmaids are beginning to secretly join together against this society, I think it's unrealistic that a group of (probably) unarmed woman could successfully rebel against a society run by powerful men. Like Offred says, the secret code words and whisperings seem “childish even, like something you'd do for fun; like a girls' club, like secrets at school” (202). Instead, I believe the Commander will end up being Offred's chance at escaping this society. It is clear that the relationship between them is becoming more informal and Offred is feeling a little more comfortable around him each time they meet. He even acts “silly” around her (209). She has gone from being intimidated to ask for lotion to being able to ask him some tough questions. But more importantly, the way the Commander talks about the society has changed as well. Instead of easily answering Offred's questions like he was able to do during the first couple times they met, he now feels he has to “justify himself” and he asks Offred what she thinks as well (210). Perhaps the Commander doesn't feel as strongly about the society as the reader may think. Perhaps Offred can get inside his head enough to convince him to help her escape.
ReplyDeleteI think that Offred will kill herself by the end of this book. Her death is foreshadowed by the death of the Handmaid before her. Offred talks a lot about the empty chandelier cover, and says “But you could use a hook, in the closet. I’ve considered the possibilities. All you’d have to do, after attaching yourself, would be to lean your weight forward and not fight.” (195). On the same page, Offred asks God “How can I keep on living?”These two passages show that Offred is considering killing herself. Like Morgan, I believe that her hoarding the match represents her desire to escape. However, I think that since Offred is so rebellious, she will kill herself for the ultimate rebellion. As a Handmaid, the only purpose that Offred serves in the Republic is that of bearing children. Offred says “If my life is bearable, maybe what they’re doing is right after all.” (187). This statement says that if Offred’s life was bearable, “they” would not be right, and therefore not in power. Offred wants to take the power away from the Republic in order to make her life bearable. If Offred kills herself, she cannot have children. By losing her power to have children, she is showing her power over the Republic. Not only would they lose Offred, they would not have the children she might have had. One last act of rebellion on Offred’s part would have long-lasting consequences.
ReplyDeleteAs the book progresses Offred becomes more open to ideas to be freed from the society she is currently living in. These ideas include banding together with other handmaid’s to form a secret rebellion and getting pregnant by a person other than the Commander. Because of her new consideration of these ideas I believe she is getting more adamant about escaping and will soon attempt it. I do not believe her escape will be quick and dramatic, but rather a carefully planned drawn out process. Throughout the book she shows the care she puts into planning things, things as simple as smoking a cigarette. She ponders, “Where should I do it? In the bathroom, running the water to clear the air, in the bedroom, wheezy puffs out the open window?” (209). This passage shows that she is still a rational person, and will not act carelessly or without planning. The book foreshadows that she may choose pregnancy as her way out through her conversation with the Commander’s Wife. Before the conversation between the two, Offred was given a chance to be impregnated by the doctor when he came on to her in the office, but she denied him. However, when the commander’s wife mentions the possibility of Offred getting pregnant by Nick she does not dismiss the idea. She says, “This idea hangs between us, almost visibly, almost palpable” (205). As readers we can see that Offred is seriously considering all her options and seems to be determined to get out as effectively as possible.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought that Offred was going to commit suicide. After all, she kept making comments about knives and hanging herself. But the further I read I realized that she does not have the guts to kill herself. "Is this what I would die for? I'm a coward, I hate the thought of pain" (99). I believe that the handmaids are going to come together along with non-believing men and at least attempt at overthrowing the society. There is already an underground network of people where Ofglen is getting information "'the grapevine' she says…There's a password"(202). Offred is gaining the trust of others as well as trusting more people. If everyone works together a revolution could free them. There are already so many connections being made. Offred is getting ready to put her trust in Nick and Serena by trying to have a child with Nick. She has to trust Ofglen and the other handmaids because they know she is secretly seeing the Commander. With all of these connections and secrecy, they can free themselves from this society.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious from the text that there is a rebellion cooking. From Ofglen's group to Moira's daring escape, it is obvious that it is possible to beat the system and there is the possiblity of escape. Since Offred never found Moira, it is possible that she made it out alive and is part of the brewing rebellion. I believe that Offred will join the rebellion and gain her freedom and help to overtake the government.
ReplyDeleteOffred is constantly comparing herself to Moira. "If I were Moira," (171). This phrase appears many times in the text and are followed by stories of Moira going against the grain, trying to rebel and get out of that society. I believe this connection between Moira and Offred shows that Offred has the ability and the hope of escape.
I disagree with Katie in a sense when she says, "she doesn’t have a family to lose this time. Therefore, she doesn’t have a reason to not run away." I believe that the urge to see her family again would give her more reason to run away. She hasn't lost them, but if she conforms to this society and does as instructed, then she will lose them. I feel like the need to locate her family would give her more reason to stay alive and try to get out of this society. I believe that she will use Moira's influence and her need to see her family to give her courage to join the rebellion and escape from the Regime.
Like Suzanne, I believe Offred's story will end in the taking of her own life. However, I don't think it will be just in an attempt to take away her ability to have children from the Republic. I believe it is more about her own desire to escape this place, not just her desire to put a dent in the Gilead system, because she could easily be replaced by another handmaid, as she replaced the one in her room before her. In her prayer to God, after mentioning the possibility of hanging herself on the chandelier, she goes straight from saying, "All you'd have to do, after attaching yourself, would be to lean your weight forward and not fight" to saying, "Deliver us from evil," a line from the Lord's Prayer. (195). Until that final line it seems as though she has only contemplated the idea of suicide, speaking of what "you," would have to do to kill yourself. She does not make it personal by saying what she personally would have to do, which makes suicide seem like merely a thought that has crossed her mind. But the fact that she placed this part of the Lord's Prayer here is important. She is asking God to take her away from this evil, meaning the evils of Gilead. This is a plea to God to allow her to die, if she were attempt suicide, and to be delivered from this place. Then, at the end of her prayer, she mentions to God that "it's not a joke," (195) so He is sure that she actually is serious about killing herself.
ReplyDeleteOffred will make it out of the regime alive. First of all, she is a follower; she cares about what others make of her more than she lets on. When Moira attempts to escape, Offred has a startling response. As opposed to being happy for her and trying to join her, Offred says, “I think we found this frightening. Moira…made us dizzy. Already we were losing the taste for freedom, already we were finding these walls secure” (133). In this passage, Offred reveals to the reader that she has separated herself from the rebellious part of herself that she had with Moira. She says “we” and “us” repeatedly, referring to the other handmaids. She was now part of that group; a group that found safety and security in abiding by the rules set for them. Now that she is part of this group, she won’t have the courage to leave it. Offred has also found some small purpose to her life, other than the purpose the regime sets for her. On page 135, when Offred has returned from the Birth Day experience, Offred, referring to Cora, says, “she depends on me. She hopes, and I am the vehicle of her hope.” Offred is very invested in having personal relationships with the people around her, and this small connection with Cora is the closest she’s had in a while. She would not sever this bond by killing herself because of how badly she wants the affirmation of personal relationships. She has had plenty of opportunities to get out through suicide, but she would have done it by now if she were ever going to. The suicidal fantasies she has are simply keeping her entertained while she waits for the regime to end; it’s the only thing she has control over.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of chapter 31, Offred talks a lot about time. She says that she doesn’t keeps track of the days anymore because “ there’s no time here that can be done and finished with” (199). What would happen if we didn’t know what day it was, what time it is, what year it is? It’s as if Earth would stop rotating. Time the center of our lives. It was once the center of Offred’s life, too. But now, the center of Offred’s life—her everything— is her family. She lives off the hope that she would once see them again. But she hasn’t yet. “Every night when I go to bed I think, In the morning I will wake in my own house and the things will be back the way they were. It hasn’t happened this morning either” (199). If she doesn’t see her family soon, her hope(the main thing that keeps her alive) may die. Therefore, I think that Offred will kill herself by the end of this book because she will lose all hopes of seeing her family.
ReplyDeleteAtwood gives us another clue about Offred’s fate in early chapter 31. “When I was younger, imagining age, I would think, Maybe you appreciate things when you don’t have much time left…. Some days I do appreciate things more, eggs, flowers” (200). Offred just names a couple of items that she now appreciates (not to mention that she also misses the fights with Luke), signaling that she doesn’t think she has much time left. Offred is already predicting her future. She blatantly tells us here that she will die soon. She doesn’t have much time left.
I believe that Offred is going to rebel against the regime. Atwood has set us up to believe that Offred has intentions of killing herself with the constant references of hanging herself, her obsession with knives and the excitement she gets after obtaining a match. “I could burn the house down, such a fine thought”, “the wreath on the ceiling…like a frozen halo”, “but never a knife…I have both [skills and teeth]…that’s why I’m not allowed a knife” (Atwood 209, 200,228). But in Chapter 28, when Offred discovers that there is a secret alliance among the handmaids she says, “hope is rising in me…we have made an opening” it becomes clear that her obsession with violent acts are not intended to be done to herself, but towards the regime. And as Bronte stated, Offred now has a reason to survive and hope for an end to her situation, her daughter. “Still, I can’t bear it, to have been erased like that” (228) proves that Offred urns for change. She won’t allow it to go on further.
ReplyDeleteShe is planning to rebel or escape with the help of other handmaids and possibly the Martha’s. When Serena Joy shows Offred a Polaroid of her daughter Offred reflects that “It must have been a Martha who got it for her. There’s a network of the Martha’s…that’s nice to know” (228). Over the past few chapters, Offred has become more and more outgoing, especially with the Commander. She is comfortable with him and finds that “the Commander likes it when I distinguish[es] [herself]” (183). I think that by the end of the story, Offred will distinguish herself as a successful escapee from the corrupt society of Gilead. She will do it with the help of other women and with her obsessive nature towards violence.
Offred’s future is a mystery that has tempted us from the beginning. Is she going to be part of a rebellion that brings Gilead to its knees? Or meet her demise at the hands of the sharp objects she is so preoccupied with? There have been many good points made in favor of both sides, but I lean more towards being part of the rebellion because it gives her a purpose. And much like Bronte said, I believe that she is also fueled by the hope of seeing her daughter again.
ReplyDeleteThe revelation that the Commander’s Wife is holding her daughter over her head both infuriates her and gives her hope. "She knows where they’ve put her then, where they’re keeping her. She’s known all along… The bitch, not to tell me… But I can’t say this, I can’t let go of this hope”(206). Her anger at this fuels her passion against the regime, but her hope keeps her from killing herself with garden shears, arson, or part of her electric fan. Her fellowship with Ofglen gives her even more hope that an overthrow is possible. The idea of a network of other handmaids seems incredibly exciting for her to think about. And this cause, this companionship gives her a mission to focus on. She must “find out and tell us… anything you can”(223).
Her mission and her desire to find her daughter, much more attainable now than ever, will keep her alive and keep her fighting for as long as possible. And while there is a possibility that Offred will die during an uprising, there is a much lower possibility of her committing suicide with the next available weapon of choice.
Well, I have already read the book so I know what happens… but I originally predicted that she would end up assimilating to the society. Even though I hoped more than anything that she would run away, I felt like it would be a more valuable message if we saw this woman who loved her daughter and husband so incredibly much but stayed in the society because she had no way out, it would be an even more scary message. Also, she is now with Nick on the regular and it makes things more bearable. She is getting attention now from someone and that makes everything more bearable. She also talks about how she is the one getting appeased now after the Wife gives her a cigarette and she gets a match, the commander is giving her things to help from feeling guilty about how terrible her life is, and one of the Marthas give her an ice cube. "I am surprised: she normally doesn't offer me anything. Maybe she feels that if I've risen in status enough to be given a match, she can afford her own small gesture. Have I become, suddenly, one of those who must be appeased?" (208) People are taking care of her now. She is becoming more comfortable in this society now that she is being allowed to rebel in so many ways. At the start of the story, Offred just talks about how she hopes this wife treats her better than the last. And in the end, she is getting this. The wife is giving her little things and she is getting attention now. She sees no way out and she is not as involved in the MayDay thing as she could be. Even whenever Ofglen says something to her about it, she does not try to pursue it much further. She does not try and join the group or anything. She is comfortable and is appreciating things a little more. She says on page 200, "Maybe you appreciate things more when you don't have much time left. I forgot to include the loss of energy. Some days I do appreciate things more, eggs, flowers… etc." I feel like this is saying that because of the new life she is in, even though she thinks it might just be 'an attack of sentimentality', I think that it is just her appreciating the things she can't have all the time anymore more so than she would if she had everything in abundance. I think that she has the potential to just assimilate with the society at this point if there is not some dramatic change.
ReplyDeleteFrom the clues from the book, it suggests that Offred will die a tragic death. The name of a section right before chapter 30 is Jezebels, which suggests that in the Bible Jezebel was unfaithful and was killed because of her sins that she committed. All signs point to disaster. Ofglenn also pointed out that they all know about what Offred does when with the Commander. Ofglenn and the others turned her in after the incident and therefore the Eyes will get her and then have her killed. She is unfit to be an unwoman because she broke many rules. The Eye bus will drop by the house at any time and pick her up and take her away. Every time a car passes, Offred freaks out and thinks that they are coming for her.
ReplyDeleteAtwood has a plan for Offred. She does not intend to let Offred suffer without reason. “Things have to get worse before they can get better” is a perfect description of Atwood’s reasoning behind letting Offred struggle. Atwood has to place Offred in the most desperate situations in order to make her rebel. Offred is steadily realizing just how desperate she is as she contemplates suicide multiple times. “I’ve considered the possibilities. All you’d have to do, after attaching yourself would be to lean your weight forward and not fight” (195). This is her most serious contemplation yet, and she debates this while praying to God. This passage is specifically used to show just how desperate Offred is becoming. She wonders, nonchalantly, about the possibilities of suicide, and she no longer sees it as something to fear. Offred’s tale would end in death if she didn’t have Luke and her daughter hanging over her head. Her hope to be reunited with them and her desperation will lead to messy but successful rebellion.
ReplyDelete“There’s a password so you can tell who is and who isn’t” Ofglen informs Offred that there is an entire network of women who do not support the new society and have chosen not to conform (202). This is the first clue that there will be a rebellion. Offred has never trusted anyone else or even known of anyone else who didn’t believe in the new world. The discovery of a network of believers is able to give Offred the real hope she is looking for. It will give her the courage to finally do something about her current situation. “I can’t let go of this hope” (206). She can’t let go of the hope to escape this society. Offred is too determined to die.