--Feels limited by her life and not satisfied living with maxims taught. Longs for something more, “Waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?
(Rhetorical and ironic) Playful alliteration.
--She is determined to survive, even if this means denying the truth sometimes, “Thinking can hurt your chances, and I intend to last.” [Somewhat pathetic, we feel for her]
Compares “rationed” environment (limited supplies) to “rationed” thought
She is optimistic – recognizes the good, “But a chair, sunlight, flowers:; these are not to be dismissed.” (Expresses danger of too much adaptation as well)
Her language is simple and little imagery. Many of the sentences are short in incomplete. Confiding quality suggests we already know what she is talking about and who “they are” when in fact we know nothing. (An intended audience?)
She likes to play with words and double meaning with humor, “The circumstances have been reduced: for those of us who still have circumstances.” This self deprecating tone makes us like her.
“I am alive, I live, I breathe…,” /Use of simple subject verb repetitive phrases underscores her imprisoned state as what she celebrates are nothing more that being alive. They are not examples of a vibrant life.
Her attention to how they prevent suicide, “shatterproof glass” no glass in picture frames, partially opened windows, stresses her depressed state of living
“Not a prison but a privilege” (ironic use of alliteration) stresses her vulnerable state
Absurd ideas controlled by Aunt Lydia who is in love with either/or. These are statements of choice and clearly she has not freedom to choose. From the moment we meet Offred we feel her lonely sadness and we want to set her free.
Offred describes her living quarters and ponders her situation. Read the extract and compose a compentary on everything you learn about her as a person and as a story teller. How does Atwood try to engage your sympathy for Offred? Is she successful? Read the opening of chapter 2, “A window, two white curtains. Under the window,….who was in love with either/or.”
--Offred describes her surroundings in great detail ex. “… which I made of wood, in narrow strips, highly polished.” Or even noticing how the room changes when the window is opened vs. closed, “makes the curtains move” (Symbolically suffocating as only partially able to open/partial air)
Often sparks interior monologue about past
Plenty of time to do so, nothing else occupies time
--Can’t control inner thoughts (area of freedom) – stream of consciousness fitting, although her memory is spotted (hint of brainwashing involved)
--Separates herself from the people in authority, “they” “them” (anonymous) Even though they control her life, she does not offer them respect
--Feels limited by her life and not satisfied living with maxims taught. Longs for something more, “Waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?
(Rhetorical and ironic) Playful alliteration.
--She is determined to survive, even if this means denying the truth sometimes, “Thinking can hurt your chances, and I intend to last.” [Somewhat pathetic, we feel for her]
Compares “rationed” environment (limited supplies) to “rationed” thought
She is optimistic – recognizes the good, “But a chair, sunlight, flowers:; these are not to be dismissed.” (Expresses danger of too much adaptation as well)
Her language is simple and little imagery. Many of the sentences are short in incomplete. Confiding quality suggests we already know what she is talking about and who “they are” when in fact we know nothing. (An intended audience?)
She likes to play with words and double meaning with humor, “The circumstances have been reduced: for those of us who still have circumstances.” This self deprecating tone makes us like her.
“I am alive, I live, I breathe…,” /Use of simple subject verb repetitive phrases underscores her imprisoned state as what she celebrates are nothing more that being alive. They are not examples of a vibrant life.
Her attention to how they prevent suicide, “shatterproof glass” no glass in picture frames, partially opened windows, stresses her depressed state of living
“Not a prison but a privilege” (ironic use of alliteration) stresses her vulnerable state
Absurd ideas controlled by Aunt Lydia who is in love with either/or. These are statements of choice and clearly she has not freedom to choose. From the moment we meet Offred we feel her lonely sadness and we want to set her free.