https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s Respond in at least a thoughtful paragraph. en-us 2019-03-15 11:26:31 UTC 2025-11-14 02:23:23 UTC hello@padlet.com roya_aliha https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342489659 She realizes he must create an it when there was a he or she or them before. You have to kill it in your head first, make it something without thought or feeling and make it impossible to empathize with it, and then you are able to kill it. This gives her insight into how the government was able to treat women the way they do. They don’t see them as humans anymore but as an it that is sub-human and only available for one purpose. This is also related to how humans in real life wage war and genocide on other humans or repress people as we’ve discussed in class. Everything is easier when you view whatever you’re hurting as an object. ]]> 2019-03-18 16:23:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342489659 roya_aliha https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490084 Serena offers to help get Offred pregnant. She thinks her husband might be sterile and offers for Offred to have another man’s baby, such as a doctor or Nick’s. I think she can be trusted because she hates Offred and all the handmaids and she wants her gone. She wants her husband to stop having sex with another woman in front of her and she wants a baby to take care of but to most importantly get rid of Offred. It wouldn’t be salvation for only Offred, but salvation for the whole household, and most importantly Serena. She has so much more to gain by doing this than she does by reporting Offred. 

]]> 2019-03-18 16:24:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490084 roya_aliha https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490264 He means that sex became so available to men in the normal society that it lost all meaning for them. They were able to have too much meaningless sex with random people that they couldn’t feel anymore. When men and women were equals, and men weren’t the caretakers of the house or society anymore, they lost all meaning to their lives and didn’t know what to do with themselves anymore. His reasoning explains why the society was created but it does not justify it. No reasoning could justify this society, especially since both men and women have lost rights, albeit women have lost a lot more. By making women have no rights and making themselves the caretakers of society again, men have restored “meaning” into their lives. So, in an effort for men to reduce the amount of meaningless sex they have, they created a society in which they have meaningless sex with only one specific woman at a time. 

]]> 2019-03-18 16:24:50 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490264 roya_aliha https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490427 She lost the baby after it was born. It wasn’t normal after all, and died. Janine blames herself, thinking that the reason the baby died was because of her and her sins, because the baby wasn’t her Commander’s. Offred suspects that people will do anything rather than admit that their lives have no meaning. She talks about there’s no use for that, and how there’s no plot once that happens. If Janine accepts that her life is meaningless than she will literally have no reason to live, and no hope. She’d probably try to kill herself. People love to use the “Just World Fallacy” to explain why things happen, after all, good things don’t happen to good people. If Janine had been truly good she wouldn’t have lost two babies. She must have done something wrong to deserve the hell she’s in. It’s easier for people, especially Janine, to believe that.]]> 2019-03-18 16:25:09 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490427 roya_aliha https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490477 He means that before, in a normal society like the one we know today, women had more rights but were unhappy. He explains the ‘trouble’ women had before, and the ‘terrible gap’ between those who could get a man and those who couldn’t. He explains that the ones who couldn’t starved themselves or got plastic surgery or did all these terrible things to themselves. Then he talked about how men treated women, and now in this new society all women get one man, and all men get one woman. It’s fairer this way. I think this argument is complete nonsense and lies. Women are not defined by the men in their life. This argument is nothing more than a meager justification of the terrible things that this society has done.]]> 2019-03-18 16:25:16 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342490477 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342624393 Offred realized that in order to do something horrible, in this case killing, you need to put the feelings and life aside. She creates an "it" because that takes away all the emotion and attachment. This realization gives Offred the insight and explanation for how the people in this society are treating the women so terribly. Once they put their feelings aside, it is not hard for them to perform terrible acts.]]> 2019-03-18 21:42:51 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342624393 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342627434 Serena offers advice to Offred about getting pregnant. She explains that she should try a new way and that the reason she hasn't gotten pregnant yet could be because of her Commander. She gives Offred the idea to get pregnant with Nick's baby. I would trust Serena because it seems that there are real friendships made with the women and they sometimes do only want the best for their friends. Serena recognizes that Offred doesn't have much time left. ]]> 2019-03-18 21:58:25 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342627434 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342628829 The Commander explains that when there were tons of women in the society with men, everything was so easy for them. There was no competition and no challenge in order to have sex. Once it became easy for them, they lost interest. I think he is trying to justify what happened in this society in a way that makes Offred feel a little better and makes her think everything is not all the women's fault. However, I think the Commander is trying to just sweet talk her and he knows very well that the reason the society became what it did is because of the issues with women and pregnancy.]]> 2019-03-18 22:06:43 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342628829 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342629868 The "Just World Fallacy" relates to the idea of someone blaming themselves when a terrible thing happens to them. Janine blames herself for her baby Angela dying because she used a doctor, which is considered sinful. Offred suggests that she does this because she is trying to add dynamic and meaning to her life, rather than living a pointless life.]]> 2019-03-18 22:12:59 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342629868 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342636316 When the commander says that they've given them more than they've taken away he means that they have rid them of all the outside drama and distractions. By taking them all into this one society with one job to do they now have one main focus and they don't need to worry about anything else. They have one goal and once they achieve it they will feel accomplished. I think this argument is valid in the sense that the commander said it because he is odd to begin with, but obviously from the women point of view it is not valid. The distractions and unexpected events in the real world is what keeps people alive and what makes people stay interested in their lives. Once that is all taken away, in a sense, so is the entirety of their life. ]]> 2019-03-18 22:48:45 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342636316 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342867167 Before killing their cat, Offred and Luke realize that they have to put their personal feelings aside and dehumanize a living creature in order to commit a horrible act. Instead of looking at the cat as a him or her, they have to label the animal as an 'it.' Subsequently, by doing this they are taking away whatever attachment they have to the cat and are trying to look at it as an object. This gives insight into what the government is doing to the citizens of Gilead, they are dehumanizing them and looking at them as objects in order to rationalize their behavior towards them. They look at the citizens as subhuman which is why they have no trouble abusing and hurting them. This behavior is similar to the discussion we had about the Black Mirror episode Nosedive, where people would dehumanize and disrespect others with a lower than average score. They are able to justify their actions because they believe those with a lower score aren't normal and they deserve the disrespect and abuse they receive. ]]> 2019-03-19 14:09:44 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342867167 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342876391 Serena helps Offred by giving her insight on how to get pregnant. She suggests that her husband might be sterile, which is a dangerous thing to say. She tells Offred that she should get pregnant with someone else, like Nick. This leads me to believe that Serena can be trusted because she also may be jealous that her husband is constantly trying to impregnate Offred at the ceremonies, which she has to watch. ]]> 2019-03-19 14:23:00 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342876391 nicole_birnbaum https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895053 She realizes that the government is forcing you to kill or let go of something close that belongs to you. The government is getting in people’s heads, forcing them to put their feelings aside. This gives her the insight that the government has brainwashed people into thinking how they treat women is not bad, and it’s “easy” to do this by not getting emotionally involved. They are also taught that it is for the “greater good” and what they do to women is just a way to maintain society without being sinful.]]> 2019-03-19 14:51:10 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895053 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895181 The Commander is suggesting that the main problem was that men lost sight of the meaning of sex. It became too casual and there was virtually no competition. As a result, the men couldn't find purpose and the society was created. Though I understand the purpose and intent of the creation of the society, I don't think it can justify stripping everyone of their constitutional rights as well as basic human rights. In retrospect, it is almost hard to believe that this society was established because I can't see anyone in authority actually thinking it would be a good idea. ]]> 2019-03-19 14:51:22 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895181 nicole_birnbaum https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895708 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant with advice. I think she is to be trusted, in reality, this will be Serena’s baby and the whole point of having Offred is to get her pregnant. So, I don’t think she would try and sabotage her in anyway. Just like how we saw in yesterday’s episode, Serena defended Offred while she got beat up by Aunt Lydia. She clearly cares for her baby’s well being, so that means caring for Offred as well.]]> 2019-03-19 14:52:11 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895708 nicole_birnbaum https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895982 I think he is explaining to Offred that men lost meaning in sex. When he follows that statement with “There was nothing for them anymore”, it leads me to believe that men got “bored” with women. I think in some way he justifies the new society by simply saying men almost have to work for it now. Sex gained it’s menaing back by being the only thing that holds society together. Only a small percentage of the population is able to have children, making sex have meaning.]]> 2019-03-19 14:52:37 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342895982 nicole_birnbaum https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342896237 The whole point of the “new society” is to savor the women who are still capable of producing babies, before the infertile numbers increase. Janine lost her baby and is blaming herself because of her sins. She was so brainwashed with the idea that using a doctor to help has killed her baby, that she forgot about how low the chances are to even get pregnant. Offred suspects that Janine thinks if she didn’t commit the sin and the baby died, she would just assume she was unlucky. Instead, she blames herself instead of looking at the whole picture]]> 2019-03-19 14:53:00 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342896237 nicole_birnbaum https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342896391 I think these are the Commander’s true feelings and he is expressing them to Offred to make he feel better. He is implying that a lot of the hardships that people go through are longer there to deal with. He is referring to being single, trouble finding relationships and changing yourself for society. At first, I didn't agree with him. I think the “trouble” he was describing such as blind dates, being single, and the gap between not finding a lover, are just things that everyone goes through and help develop you as a person. When he started to talk about the physical changes people (especially women) would make during their desperate times or just to “fit in”, I started to agree with him that it was removed in this new society. Overall, I don’t think creating this society was the answer, rather than life is just a journey of learning to like/find yourself.]]> 2019-03-19 14:53:14 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342896391 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342898286 Janine interprets the "Just World Fallacy" as the reason for the death of her baby. She feels that she is being punished for her sins as a result of her being a doctor. Offred looks at this as Janine trying to feel like she has control over her life, and that she is the product of her actions throughout her life. She would rather believe she brought this upon herself rather than she not having any control over what happens in her life. ]]> 2019-03-19 14:56:22 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342898286 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342902923 The night before Luke and Offred are going to escape Luke reminds her they must do something about the cat. He explains that he must kill it or people will become suspicous. Offred then begins to realize what the government was doing. The government is forcing people to dehumanize their soceity. They are convincing people to commit these horrible acts for the "greater good". They are getting into people's heads and controlling them. This reminds me of the episode of Black Mirror called Men Against Fire. They were forced to kill inocent people and were able to do it by agreeing to be controlled by the governmnet. They viewed the people they were killing as creatures instead of Humans. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:02:58 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342902923 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342909709 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant. She suggests that the commander may not be fertile so she should try with another man. Offred says she refuses to try with the doctor but Serena suggests Nick. Serena also says if she does this she will help her keep it a secret . I believe she should be trusted because she wants more then anything and Offred's baby would be hers. if she agrees and gets pregnant then they both have to keep the secret for their own protection. Also, she will get in trouble if she says no and could be sent to the colonies. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:12:59 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342909709 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342910812 Offred realizes that Luke has to change his view of their cat from an animal to an object so that killing the cat will be easier for their conscience. Offred also realizes that the government is doing this to the people living in Gilead. They don’t look at them as people, but as objects and as an “it”, so that their horrible, inhumane acts are seen as normal. If there’s no emotional attachment to something, it’s a lot easier to get rid of it or treat it horribly, and that’s how the leaders of Gilead control the handmaids. This is related to the black mirror episode with the roaches because the army changed the views of the roaches for the soldiers from a human to a monster so it was easier for them to kill them. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:14:48 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342910812 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342913591 When Offred was in the Commander's office he was explaining to her this society. He was saying that men began to lose intrest and the meaning behind sex. Sex was so avalible for men that it no longer became something that was special. They became bored because there was no more chase. He is implying that now sex has a purpose by being the only thing that keeps the society alive. I do not believe he justifies this new society. I do not believe anything could justify stripping someone of all their rights, freedom, and dehumanizing them. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:19:36 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342913591 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342914803 Serena offers to help Offred by telling her to get pregnant with Nick because the commander may be sterile. I think that Offred should trust Serena because Serena isn’t doing this to get Offred in trouble, she just desperately wants a baby and is afraid that Offred will go through menopause soon.  She also probably wants this so that Offred and the commander will stop doing the ceremony and Serena will have the commander all to herself. Serena won’t tell anyone about this because she is doing this for her own benefit. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:21:35 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342914803 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342917328 Janine uses the "Just World Fallacy" to justify why her baby died. She believes she is being punished for her sins. She believes the fact that since she used a doctor to help is what killed her baby. Offred believes that if she never committed that sin she would have just believed she was unlucky. But because she has been so brainwashed she forgot how unlikely it is for women to get pregnant. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:25:51 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342917328 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342919670 When the commander says “The main problem was with the men”, he means that men became bored from sex so they had to create this new society to gain the excitement back. They lost the meaning behind sex and since men could get it so easily, it wasn’t exciting for them anymore. Now, since the whole point of this new society is to have children, sex has gained it’s meaning back. I don’t think this justifies the new society because it is still taking away the rights of women, but I do understand why reproducing is so stressed since more babies were dying than living in the old society, I just think different and more humane measures could’ve been taken to achieve this. ]]> 2019-03-19 15:29:56 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342919670 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342954344 Offred realizes that in order for Luke to kill the cat he must look at it in a different way. He could not look at it as something that has feeling or emotion, otherwise he would not be able to do it. This gives Offred insight about what the government is doing because it reveals how the government is degrading women. Instead of being seen as equal human beings, women are now being seen as only serving one purpose, and that is to reproduce. This relates to the conversations we've had in class how in other countries and religions rape is seen as acceptable if the person being raped is of different beliefs. It also relates to the Black Mirror episode where the army has devices in their heads that allow them to see a specific group of individuals as "roaches" so that they are easier to kill. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:26:59 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342954344 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342955262 The Commander believes that society is better for women now then it was before. He believes this new society has given women the respect they lacked before. He says he took away the struggle of dating, blind dates, self doubt, and insecurities. He says that women would change their physical appearance to fit in and that this society gave them a chance to be themselves. I disagree with this argument and I believe that all they did was take away the things that make people, humans. They took away their life experiences and journey to discover who they truly are. They did not give women respect but instead they made them objects and property. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:28:38 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342955262 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342961237 Serena wants to help get Offred pregnant in any way that is possible. Serena has thoughts that the reason she may be having difficulty getting pregnant is because the Commander is not fertile. To solve this problem and get everyone what they want, Serena suggests that Offred try to get pregnant with Nick. I think that Serena should be trusted in this situation because she is doing it for her own personal good. She desperately wants a baby, and she needs Offred to be with someone who can give them that. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:39:29 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342961237 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342965478 Luke and Offred realize they need to get rid of their cat and come to the conclusion they need to kill it. In order for Luke to go through with the act he must look away from the cat as he kills it. This relates to how the government is working. In order to have children, women must be assigned to families as objects instead of people to make the act easier. Offred can relate this to the government by saying that they may care but they are deciding to cut emotional ties with the situation at hand. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:46:57 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342965478 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342967229 Serena believes that Fred might be sterile and because of this, they should have another man try to impregnate Offred. This can be very dangerous but Serena suggests to use Nick. I believe that she is to be trusted because she is willing to give Offred something that she wants since Serena only wants to have a child for herself.]]> 2019-03-19 16:49:48 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342967229 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342968791 I think that the Commander is saying that the reasoning for the change in society is all because of the men in the world. He is saying that because sex was so attainable for men that there was no longer any thrill that came from it. It was just something that anyone could get from everyone. I do not agree with his reasoning because he is saying that men could just get sex from someone whenever. I think this is false and that was just how men saw it. I do not think the new society is sufficiently justified because women are being used for their bodies, yet everyone thinks it is acceptable just because they are trying to create more life. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:52:46 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342968791 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342969808 In this scenario the Commander is referring to the idea that men have lost the meaning of sex. In the society they live in, sex has become meaningless for anything besides conception. He is saying that men have lost the meaning behind sex and the love that should be associated with it. I do not believe that he justifies this new society because using sex to repopulate makes men care less about the act and lose the meaning behind it. ]]> 2019-03-19 16:54:33 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/342969808 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343086429 The “Just World Fallacy” is when a person blames themselves in a tragic scenario. Janine has lost her baby, who she had with a doctor, and she blames herself because it was a sin to be impregnated by anyone but a handmaid’s commander. She has been completely brainwashed because she forgot how difficult it is for a woman to get pregnant and have a healthy baby at this time, but she thinks it’s God’s way of punishing her for her sins. Offred suspects that Janine thinks like this because she wants there to be a reason for her baby’s death that’s in her control.]]> 2019-03-19 20:54:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343086429 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343089934 When the commander said “we’ve given them more than we’ve taken away”, he means that although women’s rights were taken away from them, in return they received safety, guaranteed marriages without violence, and a chance to be themselves with their physical appearance. I don’t think that this was right for the leaders of Gilead to do because people shouldn’t just want a marriage just to be safe and taken care of by their significant other, but they should be with the people that they love. And even though I do believe that a person should learn to love the way they are naturally, if they want to change their appearance with makeup or surgeries, that is their choice and they should be given that freedom. ]]> 2019-03-19 21:06:40 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343089934 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343107064 Janine uses the phrase "Just World Fallacy" as a way to justify the death of her baby. This is a way for Janine to believe it was due to her sins that the baby died and this is used to scare handmaids/people (in general) to act well so that bad things do not happen. Offred suspects the reason for Janine doing this is to ignore the real reason her baby might have died and to believe it was due to her sins instead. ]]> 2019-03-19 22:25:08 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343107064 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343107402 When the Commander says "we've given them more than we've taken away" he is saying that this new way of life gave purpose to the handmaids. He is stating that since they are now able to repopulate for the entire country, their lives are more fulfilled than it was before. I highly disagree with this statement. In this new society, women are not allowed to be educated, to read, to have freedom, openly communicate, and they are treated as objects. This is not a healthy way to live and these women are being enslaved to solely have children over and over. Their lives would be more full in the old way of living and I believe the Commander knows this, but is forcing himself to enjoy the lives the handmaids have been given.]]> 2019-03-19 22:26:52 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343107402 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343110250 Offred realizes that before Luke must kill the cat, he calls the cat an “it”.  This is because Luke had to dehumanize the cat and treat her as an “it” before he does something so terrible. He can’t bear to kill a living innocent thing so he has to detach himself and mentally prepare. After realizing this Offred says “So that’s how they do it. I seemed never to have known that before”. Offred notices that people getting orders from the government may not be such horrible people. Like Luke, the only way to put the living thing out of its misery and what is to come, is to kill them or oppress them or else even more intense suffering will occur. This relates to discussions we’ve had in class such as the poor and dehumanizing treatment of women in the book. The handmaids accept their role in society because they know that if they fight back they will face an even more torturous fate. Also, in the episode of Black Mirror shown in class, all the soldiers have implants in their heads to see their victims as monsters so that it is easier to kill them without any hesitation. ]]> 2019-03-19 22:42:38 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343110250 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343111746 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant. She suggests that the Commander is sterile even though nobody ever admits to a man being at fault. I think that Offred should trust Serena since she is also putting herself at risk. Offred mentions that during this discussion, it is the first time they have made eye contact since they met. Serena wants a child of her own so offering to help Offred and help keep it a secret seems genuine. ]]> 2019-03-19 22:51:40 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343111746 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343113766 He means that men have lost touch with their feelings. There was no longer any meaning in marriage, sex, or love. He claims that there was nothing to fight for anymore and everything came too easy. He does not sufficiently justify this new society because sex is now treated as a chore and the women involved were forced against their will. No matter what they think they are fixing in this new society, people are still being held prisoner and having their rights stripped from them.  ]]> 2019-03-19 23:03:26 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343113766 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343115514 Janine believes that losing her child for the second time is her fault. She believes that she is being punished for her sins. She used a doctor to get pregnant not her commander so she accepts that God is teaching her a lesson. Offred says that people rather blame themselves for their baby’s flaws than admit that it was just circumstantial and their lives have no meaning at all. She believes that it is an excuse to find a way to keep going and strive to good in a world where nothing matters. ]]> 2019-03-19 23:13:27 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343115514 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343117876 The commander refers to all the inhumane things that women do to make themselves reach society’s standards of beauty. He justifies their new system in society by giving everybody an equal chance. They no longer have to ration their meals to stay thin, get surgeries to change their appearances, and stress themselves out over changing who they truly are. Although the concept of embracing others’ impurities and imperfections is good, their society took it way out of proportion. They went too far as soon as they took away people’s rights to express themselves and be who they want to be. This society is just as bad as before because they are forcing women against their will to fit into what they consider natural. This new concept is even worse than before since they do not give anybody a choice to do what they want with themselves. Women in this society are not offered a choice to care or not care about their appearance. ]]> 2019-03-19 23:27:21 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343117876 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343118700 In order to manage to kill the cat, Luke must put aside his emotions. He must no longer consider the cat as life, but rather as an object. This shows her the same sort of thinking the government has when they treat the women of society so poorly. They view women as objects rather than human beings and being to push them around and control them. This relates to discussions we’ve had in class about other dystopian societies. Governments control their citizens and dehumanize them because the do what they believe is necessary rather than pay attention to human emotions.]]> 2019-03-19 23:32:29 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343118700 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343119462 Serena offers to help Offred to get pregnant because she believes the Commander is Sterile. I don’t think Serena can be trusted. While it seems like she may have good intentions in telling Offred this, ultimately she just wants her out of the house. Serena could be lying just so no one else has to have relations with her husbands. She wants Offred to have another mans baby so that she won’t have to share her husband.]]> 2019-03-19 23:37:04 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343119462 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343123799 The night before Luke and Offred escape, they have to kill the cat because it would look suspicious if they didn't. This is kind of hypocritical because the government, while not killing the women, treat them poorly. By killing the cat, they are treating another being below them as well. This relates to what we were talking about in class about whther or not is it acceptable if something hurts a minority to benefit a majority.]]> 2019-03-20 00:04:53 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343123799 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343124560 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant. I think Serena should be trusted because she does not get anything out of exploiting Offred's trust. She comes across as genuine and givers Offed a cigarette. This shows that she is willing to put herself at risk to help Offred.]]> 2019-03-20 00:09:46 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343124560 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343125482 The commander means that all men care about in a relationship now is sex and they have lost the emotion and feelings that should make up a healthy relationship. I think this is justified because in this society, everything is surrounded by sex and reproduction. There is no love and the only purpose of the women in society is to have the man's baby.]]> 2019-03-20 00:15:17 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343125482 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343126185 Janine uses the phrase "Just World Fallacy" to say that the miscarriage was due to sins instead of more appropriate problems with this society. Instead of lack of technology of a proper baby birth, in this society everything has to be natural. Offred suspects that she does this to try to put blame on herself and encourage her to not sin. ]]> 2019-03-20 00:19:35 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343126185 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343126729 The commander means that the women being allowed to have children is more than anything that they've been restricted from. Since the goal of society is reproduction, they are being granted that and nothing can outweigh what they've been giving. I strongly disagree with this because the Handmaids are clearly miserable and living purposeless lives. This just shows the thinking of the commanders and their values in life.]]> 2019-03-20 00:23:49 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343126729 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131469 Offred and Luke realized that they needed to kill the cat before they tried to escape because it would raise suspicions if they didn’t. The government is almost forcing them to do this inhumane task in order to basically survive. Offred can’t watch as Luke kills the cat. The have to separate themselves from their humanity. Some of the short stories we read have similar themes. ]]> 2019-03-20 00:51:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131469 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131545 Serena is so desperate to have a baby that she suggests that the commander might be sterile. She offered to help get Offred pregnant in any way possible, even if it wasn’t the commander’s child. She suggests Nick. I think that Serena could be trusted because she just wants to have a baby desperately. She is even putting herself at risk.]]> 2019-03-20 00:52:03 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131545 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131629 I believe that the commander means that there is no more passion or love in this society that they live in. They are losing a major part of their humanity. According to these people, women only have one purpose, to reproduce. There is no meaning behind sex anymore. They only care about reproducing. This new society is not justified in any way. These women have no free will to do what they please.]]> 2019-03-20 00:52:41 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131629 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131708 Janine’s baby was not her commander’s. She got pregnant from the doctor. Unfortunately, her baby ended up dying after it was born. Janine blames her sins for the reason her baby has died. Offred believes that it is easier for people to find something or someone to blame. It is easier sometimes to blame something than have no explanation at all.]]> 2019-03-20 00:53:11 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131708 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131745 The commander means that although this world is not ideal, it does offer some benefits. Women get to live “safe” lives according to the commander. Some of the struggles that the commander was talking about is part of life that everyone goes through. People lose their purpose in life if everything is handed to them, or in this case forced upon them. This new society guarantees that people won’t be alone. However, I do not believe this society is good in any way because there is no freedom.]]> 2019-03-20 00:53:21 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343131745 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343148504 The men in this society have lost all meaning. They no longer know how to love because they only see women as objects. This entire society is based off the act of sex being a necessity for reproduction. This doesn’t justify the new society, it just takes away the feelings. Men and women are both dragging along their days. While men may have more “power”, the purpose is still lost and no one knows how to truly live anymore.]]> 2019-03-20 02:09:14 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343148504 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343149316 It is revealed that Janine’s baby was not her Commander’s. She uses the “Just World Fallacy” to say the reason her baby died is because of her sins. In their society where most babies have birth defects, Offred believes Janine thinks this to make believe it was something she had control of and blame herself rather than nature.]]> 2019-03-20 02:14:32 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343149316 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343150779 The Commander is referring to the purpose the Handmaid’s were given. While their old lives may have had freedom, their new lives are for the purpose of child birth. They are taken care of and live safe lives. While the women are “safe” I don’t think this lifestyle is ideal. Women should be able to make choices for themselves, go on dates with any man or woman they chose, and provide for themselves. While they are serving society, they shouldn’t be forced to follow the rules of men. They should be able to control their own lives.]]> 2019-03-20 02:23:46 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343150779 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343260990 2019-03-20 11:39:57 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343260990 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343292248 The Commander is attempting to justify their society by presenting the idea that women are more fortunate now then they were before. He insists that by giving the handmaids the ability to be child-bearers that their lives are now more meaningful. Though undoubtedly childbirth has been given more significance in this new society, it does not remotely justify the loss of freedom and basic human rights. ]]> 2019-03-20 12:55:21 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343292248 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343351541 Janine uses the "Just World Fallacy" to justify why her baby died. The baby that Janine gave birth to was not her Commander's, and this is a sin. It is because of this sin that Janine believes she was punished with her baby's death. Offred suspects her reasoning for doing this is so that she had something to blame. Janine would rather believe her baby's death was her punishment for her sins, rather than not knowing the answer and always wondering why it happened. ]]> 2019-03-20 14:31:22 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343351541 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343371744 The Commander is saying that even though the women who are Handmaids have had aspects of their old lives taken away from them, that they are now better off. He is saying that even though these women no longer have their freedom, they have the ability to reproduce which is a miracle and a gift that the whole world benefits from. I disagree with his argument because even tho the Handmaids are given shelter and clothes and the opportunity to have children, they are trapped in a miserable life. They are used for their bodies, have to give up the child they carried for nine months, and then just move on to the next house and repeat the same torturous activities. ]]> 2019-03-20 15:02:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343371744 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343385386 Offred realizes that Luke must call the cat an “it” before killing it. The dehumanizing of the cat allows Luke to kill it and remain sane. He convinces his moral conscious that the cat was an “it” that needed to be removed in order for survival. This gives Offred insight on how the government brainwashes each caste in the system to ostracize and police those socially below them. On a smaller scale, the Marthas/Aunts dehumanize the Handmaids and report any misdemeanors that can get a Handmaid killed. On a larger scale, society dehumanizes women so their lack of freedom is accepted by those around them. The government is dividing its citizens and pitting them against each other to prevent unification and a coup d'etat. The manipulation of citizens and strong control over them relates to our discussions on signs of a dystopian government.]]> 2019-03-20 15:23:56 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343385386 david_kosiborod https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343386750 Luke has the obligation to kill the cat due to the suspicion and inevitable finding and arrest of them. If the cat meows and the government finds the cat alone and without Luke and Offred, they will quickly arrest them after finding them. The risk would be to great. This powerful message, similar to other places in the world, shows how an oppressive government makes regular people kill the things they love. This relates to Venesuela, where the government is so authoritarian that it restricts everything, even to the food you eat.]]> 2019-03-20 15:26:06 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343386750 david_kosiborod https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343390297 Serena finally acknowledges the  fact that the Commander may be sterile. As a result, she decides that it would be beneficial to get her pregnant with whatever means necessary. She should be trusted because they both benefit from this.]]> 2019-03-20 15:31:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343390297 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343393137 Serena is afraid the Commander is sterile, so she offers Offred Nick to impregnate her. She convinces Offred that she would not tell anyone, and she subtly bribes her with a picture of Offred’s daughter. I believe Serena Joy should not be trusted. She clearly does not like Offred, and she makes this clear when she first meets her. If Offred were to have a baby with Nick, Serena would easily ruin Offred out of revenge by revealing the truth. I also think that Nick is an Eye. He wears all black, tried to stop the other Eyes from beating Offred in the show, and knew about Ofglen. Serena might feel threatened by having an Eye in her house, and she could get rid of him if he sleeps with Offred. She would kill two birds with one stone. ]]> 2019-03-20 15:35:58 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343393137 david_kosiborod https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343399365 This is a very warped way of viewing the world and is even prevalent in our society. It is scary that he believes that the feminism and sexual revolution were bad for the men, but his reasoning is not totally flawed. Men have a biological need to be a protector and many people want to have that role in their lives but cannot due to some movements. The issue is that the sexual revolution and feminism, though toxic to men in many ways, are good for men too and are good for everyone due to sociology. Though he he has some coherent reasoning, it is not sufficient to remove human rights and civil rights from everyone. The happiness of all should not be sacrificed for the happiness of one as that one will soon not be happy due to our instincts to please.]]> 2019-03-20 15:45:53 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343399365 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343403957 I think the Commander was referring to a societal problem before the new government took over. Sex was so accessible to males that they did not see a purpose in “fighting” for a relationship or marriage which they were “turning off on”. With several birth control methods, men would have sex and not impregnate women or care to help raise a family. This was damaging to population growth. To add on, the Commander mentions that he is not just “talking about sex”. I assume that unemployment must have also been an issue. Having children forces parents to work and want to provide for their family. Without the responsibility of a family, men were not working and contributing to the economy. I understand that this can be an issue, and without reproduction humanity is at risk. However, this does not justify the new society that strips the freedoms of women in order to give males a reborn purpose. The book is fiction, so I do not think this scenario would ever take place. If it did, the government would just have to pay people to marry and have a family. Humans think money makes everything more appealing. ]]> 2019-03-20 15:54:22 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343403957 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343406725 Offred realizes that Luke must not look directly at the cat when he kills it. He does not call it a cat but calls it "it". This is the same way that the government treats the women in this society because they are treaty poorly and with no respect. The women are in misery and they have no rights. The are considered objects and brainwash people into thinking women are treated the same as everyone. ]]> 2019-03-20 15:59:06 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343406725 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343408964 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant. She thinks that the commander is sterile. Serena is putting herself in an uncomfortable and risky situation, but really wants to help Offred become pregnant. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:03:26 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343408964 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343409792 Janine uses the “Just World Fallacy” to blame her babies deaths on the fact that she was impregnated by the Doctor rather than her Commander. Offred suggests that “people will do anything rather than admit their lives have no meaning”. This suggests that Janine has some biological issue that prevents her from having a healthy baby. Janine does not want to admit this, so she blames the deaths of the babies on her sin. If Janine admitted her biological circumstance of not being able to bare children, she would no longer have a purpose in society. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:04:58 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343409792 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343410399 There are no more real relationships in society. The men are trating women as objects to get them pregnant and there is no meaning to sex anymore. The women think that their only purpose is to reproduce and that they are just an object that will create more life. This society has been destroyed because of the way men and women think about sex and life. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:05:59 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343410399 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343412039 She believe these words are because of her baby dying. She thinks her baby had died because of her sins that she did not have the commander get her pregnant. She thinks that she was not true to God and that he is punishing her. She should not blame herself but she is. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:08:44 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343412039 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343414022 The commander is saying that even thought this is not the lifestyle that would be best for everyone, the women are safe. They were given the job to reproduce and create life but they are safe and are being protected. There is no freedom in this new life and I do not think that this life they are living is balanced. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:12:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343414022 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343415378 The Commander believes that women are better off now, and this justifies all of the freedoms that were taken away. He mentions that women would go through great lengths to compete with other women for a husband, and as mothers society did not respect them. Furthermore, when women did have jobs, they had smaller paychecks which in turn was a measurement of their worth. The Commander believes all of these issues were abolished by the new government, where women were encouraged to “fulfill their biological destinies” as mothers in peace. I think his argument is ignorant and does not justify the stripping of freedoms. Rather than controlling women, the government should have supported the multiple roles women took on in society (not just mothers). ]]> 2019-03-20 16:14:30 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343415378 david_kosiborod https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343419742 She believes the fallacy to rationalize the fact that her baby died. She thinks that because since she slept with the doctor to get pregnant, the baby died to the immorality to punish her. Offred, however, thinks that she is using the fallacy to place blame on a person and have someone to blame for the death.]]> 2019-03-20 16:22:11 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343419742 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343421478 Luke has to kill the cat that's with Offred and himself because it would get them both in trouble with the new government. Luke cannot look at the cat when he goes to kill it because then the cat takes a more real place in his mind as a living being and not just some animal he has to dispose of. This relates to the value and perception of human life and how society treats it differently with each being. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:25:07 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343421478 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343421505 Luke had to call the cat an "it" instead of "her" because he didn't want to make the experience emotional. This is similar to what the government is doing because they are convincing the society to  dehumanize the Handmaids so it isn't as horrible to treat them with no respect. This is similar with other dystopian societies like "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" and how they call the child they abuse an "it" to make it less real.  ]]> 2019-03-20 16:25:11 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343421505 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343421931 2019-03-20 16:25:57 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343421931 olivia_fisher https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343425002 Luke must call the cat "it" before killing the cat. This reflects on the government because in this society they view women as "it" or as an object. This has related to previous discussions in class because in other places around the world women are treated as objects and are viewed less than men. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:31:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343425002 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343425007 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant from another man, and she suggests Nick. This would be cheating the system and could get Offred in trouble, but very likely wouldn't do anything to Serena. I don't trust her because this seems like a very risky move that isn't risky for her, but definitely for all other people involved. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:31:15 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343425007 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343425253 Serena Joy offers up Nick to help Offred get pregnant, even though it is illegal. Although it could be extremely dangerous, it would be a great situation for both Serena and Offred because if Serena has a child she will be idolized by the other wives, and Offred won't be sent to the colonies if she is not successful with this assignment. I think Serena can be trusted because having a baby is so serious that she would not get Offred in trouble. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:31:43 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343425253 olivia_fisher https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343426151 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant even though it is risky to do in this society. Serena thinks that Nick could help. I think she should be trusted because Offred could benefit from this. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:33:11 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343426151 david_kosiborod https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343426315 He believes that the sacrifice of the woman's freedoms is worth it as now they have a purpose. Similarly to the Commander, he believes since he has a fulfilled purpose in life and is happy with it, everyone else is also happy since now they also have a purpose. The issue with this is that it is fundamentally selfish in every way as it relies on the idea that everyone believes in the same things. The reason his ideas are circulated is because additionally, the state brainwashes its citizens so he has the government on his side to forward his twisted agenda.]]> 2019-03-20 16:33:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343426315 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343426796 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant because she believes the commander is sterile.  Having another man inpregnant her would be dangerous because it would mean she has to cheat on the commander. I would still trust Serena because while her intentions may be unclear Offred is in a difficult position and could use the help.]]> 2019-03-20 16:34:27 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343426796 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427414 Offred realizes that Luke must create an it where there was nothing before.  She comes to this conclusion because, as they were discussing options of what to do with the cat when they fled, Luke states that he will “take care of it.”  His lacking of gender shows that he created an object out of a living thing.  Offred then compares Luke’s actions to that of the government and realizes that the government also creates an it, hypothetically in their head, and then they make it real.  This idea further relates to other discussions we’ve had in class in terms of many of the short stories where decisions are made to help the majority while hurting a minority.]]> 2019-03-20 16:35:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427414 olivia_fisher https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427448 The Commander was relating to the problems in society now and wished it could be the way it was. Men have lost the true meaning of sex I believe it has not justified the new way of society because men are treating women like objects and only care about reproduction. Men and women have not experienced a real relationship in this new socie]]> 2019-03-20 16:35:36 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427448 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427756 Serena offers different ideas to help Offred get pregnant.  She mentions that Offred should think about having a baby with a man other than her Commander, possibly a doctor or someone they trust like Nick.  While I understand why some would say she should be trusted because it’s a win-win (Serena would get a baby of which she desperately wants and Offred would be saved from death), I feel that Serena is planning something.  Offred mentions the penalty that comes with having a child with anyone but an assigned Commander, so I have a feeling this may come up again later.  Serena may tell people that Offred’s baby is not of the Commander and, in turn, have Offred killed.]]> 2019-03-20 16:36:12 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427756 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427872 In saying “the main problem was with the men,” the Commander means that the men of society had become bored in their daily lives.  Offred comments that they could have made money; however, the Commander quickly responds with the fact that in terms of women, men were bored.  Men no longer needed to work at sex or fight for a relationship, they could buy the acts on any street corner without having to deal with the intimacy.  I understand his reasoning, but I believe they are dealing with the same issue with a solved aspect of having a higher population.  Men can’t still feel intimacy or love or anything if they must have Ceremonies and handmaids.]]> 2019-03-20 16:36:22 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343427872 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428053 The men in the old society were bored because the could get sex by paying for instead instead of having to "work for" getting a woman. Essentially he is saying that the men created this society because they were bored. This doesn't justify the new society at all, because there is no reason that women should be so objectified and taken advantage of. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:36:43 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428053 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428080 Janine uses the ideas defined by the “Just World Fallacy” in believing that she can control the outcome of her pregnancy.  She believes that having a shredder as a baby, two in a row to be more specific, is her fault because she was sinful.  Because Janine used a doctor instead of becoming pregnant by her Commander, her baby didn’t survive.  Janine wants to believe in the “Just World Fallacy” because she hopes that the next time she gets pregnant by her Commander, her baby will survive.]]> 2019-03-20 16:36:46 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428080 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428118 He is talking about how before there was nothing more to work for, and it was so easy to buy and manipulate and get what they want. This however, is no reason to change the relationship between men and women the way the new society has done by completely outlawing the two from interacting and taking away everything, even the parts that didn't need fixing. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:36:51 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428118 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428282 The Commander means that, in terms of the teenage girls being thrown into the arms of the Angels, society is simply trying to help them.  In his eyes, these girls will never have to suffer through a night out at a singles’ bar or a terrible blind date.  The Commander continues to mention families where husbands just up and left, a fate that doesn’t exist in their current society.  When he questions Offred, she mentions that the idea of falling in love was overlooked in the new process.  I happen to agree with her in this aspect because society has taken away all freedoms from women, divided them into classes, and decided who they will marry, if they even get to marry.]]> 2019-03-20 16:37:12 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343428282 olivia_fisher https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343429456 Janine uses the "Just World Fallacy" as the cause of her baby's death. She gave birth to a child not from her Commander, which is unlikely this society. She blames herself for this action and she believes it is a sin from God. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:39:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343429456 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343429707 Because Janine used her doctor to get her pregnant, that is why her baby died. This is her believing in karma for herself for getting pregnant and giving birth unfairly and cheating the system. She believes that is she gets pregnant by her commander it will survive. Offred thinks that Janine feels this way because she is trying to give her life purpose and make herself feel important within the decision and fate that her baby died. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:40:04 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343429707 olivia_fisher https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343430871 The Commander believes that even though all women's lives have changes, they are better off living in this society. Women are treated very differently than before and I think that women should not be treated like this because women do not get a fair life. They do not get to have the freedom they used to have. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:42:18 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343430871 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343431019 Janine used a doctor to get pregnant instead of her commander, and Janine thinks that because she did so, the baby died. She believes that if she get pregnant with a commander the next time, the baby will survive, because getting pregnant any other way is "sin". Offred thinks she does this because she wants to make it about herself instead of it being outside circumstances that killed the baby because it gives her a reason to be selfish and to give her life meaning after the death of her last two babies. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:42:31 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343431019 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343431753 I think that this is very interesting and would hope our world never gets to this. The Commander justifies his reasoning by saying that the men were bored. This is pretty sad and I personally do not believe that his justifies anything.]]> 2019-03-20 16:43:54 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343431753 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343432489 The commander thinks that because of the new society and the way things are now it is more beneficial nd women should be grateful that the have a purpose with more freedom and will not be objectified anymore. This argument doesn't really hold up because they deserve to make their on choices and live their life as they see fit, good or bad. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:45:17 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343432489 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343433274 The commander rationalizes the new society by saying that women have been given a much fairer chance of having men in their life. Before women would have to get plastic surgery in order to be more attractive to get a partner, but now none of that matters. Gilead has given women the chance to have equal opportunity, and he thinks that is so much better than before. However, I think that nothing can rationalize what the handmaids have to go through, even if it stops them from having to worry so much about their appearance. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:46:49 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343433274 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343433423 Janine justifies her children's deaths using "Just World Fallacy" . She believes that her miscarriages were punishments for all of her sins. This is what she gets for trying to get pregnant from the doctor. She somewhat feels responsible for all of this.]]> 2019-03-20 16:47:05 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343433423 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343436817 The commander is justifying his society in trying to say that the women are very fortunate for the lives they have. While they might have total freedom, they are safe and given a very important role in society. He is very half glass full and tries to find ways to justify the lives they live. ]]> 2019-03-20 16:53:10 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343436817 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343842044 Before Luke kills the cat, Offred and Luke realize that they have become part of this tyrannical government. When he kills the cat, he refers to her as an it, with no gender. Offred says, "you have to create an it, where none was before." This means that you need to first take all living aspects out and away from the cat in order to do something so cruel as to kill a living animal. They have become part of the government.]]> 2019-03-21 15:18:41 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343842044 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343844760 Serena wants to help Offglen get pregnant. Serena wants to protect offred and thinks that the best way to do this is to help her get pregant. In order to get pregnant without the commnander, serena thinks that offred should ask alex, the house boy who drives the truck. this could be a bad idea for offred because serena could be a spy and could be setting her up, especially after she was a suspect in ofglen's case.]]> 2019-03-21 15:23:06 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343844760 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343848061 When the commander says that the problem began with men he meant that before the society, men took sex for granted. He said that even though the main purpose of sex was for reproduction men soon became bored of it and stopped reproducing. the purpose of the society was to fix this. This absolutely does not justify the society because why would you punish the women for what the men did. ]]> 2019-03-21 15:28:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343848061 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343851005 janine blames her failed pregnancies on her sins in the past. she feels like the pregnancy was a mistake because of the fact thatt she used a doctor instead of conceiving naturally. 

]]> 2019-03-21 15:32:52 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343851005 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343852719 the commander agrees that this soceity is not good but he thinks its the best alternative. he beleives that the women are safe from outside problems that occurred in the society before. ]]> 2019-03-21 15:35:18 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/343852719 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344033949 Before killing the cat Offred realizes that Luke must call the cat “it”. This shows the way that women are being treated in this society. The cat was called “it” and treated with no respect and as an object instead of a live creature which is exactly like the way women are being treated. This is also showing how the government is able to change people’s perspective and their actions as well as the way they treat others.]]> 2019-03-21 23:16:50 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344033949 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344034440 Serena offers Offred different ways of getting pregnant. She tells Offred that she should try to get pregnant with another man besides the commander because he might be sterile. In a way I do think she can be trusted because if she really didn’t like Offred she wouldn’t try to help her at all but I do feel that there could be an underlying reason why Serena is trying to help Offred.

]]> 2019-03-21 23:20:32 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344034440 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344035410 When the Commander says "The main problem was with the men” he is talking about the fact that none of the men know how to have a genuine relationship with anyone anymore. Everything seems to be related to “business” in some way or another. They no longer find a need to love and they just see woman as objects that they can reproduce with. I think that he sufficiently justifies the new society because that’s the way the men have been acting so far in the book. Few to none of them have actual meaning. ]]> 2019-03-21 23:28:00 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344035410 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344036234 Janine gave birth to a child that she did not have with her Commander. She says that  "Just World Fallacy" is the reason of her baby’s death. She believes the baby died because she had sinned and it was to punish her.]]> 2019-03-21 23:34:49 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344036234 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344037158 When the Commander says "we've given them more than we've taken away" he means that he believes that this society is not good but is more beneficial than what it could be. He believes that even though women don’t have their freedoms anymore they can still reproduce. I don’t necessarily agree with his opinion because these women are all miserable and most of the time scared for their lives and that’s not how they should be treated or how they should have to live.]]> 2019-03-21 23:41:43 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344037158 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344655755 Luke called the cat "it" before murdering the cat so he doesn't feel that the cat had feelings. By calling the cat "it" he is desensitizing himself to what the cat truly is. This gives insight to Offred because the government is dehumanizing the handmaids making it easier for people to mistreat them. This relates to the discussions in class by lowering something down so it doesn't seem that painful. ]]> 2019-03-25 02:22:48 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344655755 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344656808 Serena offers to help Offred get pregnant by having sex with someone besides the commander. She recommends a doctor or Nick since they can be trusted. I dont think Serena is to be trusted because she doesn't have the best relationship with Offred. This could be a setup to get Offred in big trouble. ]]> 2019-03-25 02:29:43 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344656808 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344657182 The commander means that the men aren't trying to have a real relationship with the handmaids. There is no connection with feelings or any connection with love. The men are simply doing this to get promoted. This justifies with the new society because that is what the men are actually doing. Offred is the only handmaid to really talk to her commander while the other handmaids are just used for the traits. ]]> 2019-03-25 02:33:04 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344657182 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344657746 Janine did not get pregnant with her commander but instead she got pregnant from a doctor. Janine feel that since it wasn't with the commander the baby died and her sins were the cause of it. Since she sinned Janine feels that this is punishment for not obeying the rules. ]]> 2019-03-25 02:37:05 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344657746 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344658205 The commander means that even though the society is not the best as it could be he does believe that it is better than the society prior. The handmaids dont have to worry about the problems from the old society but at the cost of their freedom. I feel that his argument is wrong but the intension he had for protecting the women does show that he is an optimistic guy. His arguments are very peculiar but it seems that he has a just mind when it comes to the safety of the people. ]]> 2019-03-25 02:40:24 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/344658205 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/345192020 When Luke has to kill the cat, he has to make it an "it" in his mind: something that didn't have a conciousness, something that wasn't alive or something that meant anything to them. The government is doing the same thing, but with human beings on a much larger scale. They're taking anything that made them alive, made them human, and completely destroyed it: turning women into objects, and warping how they are viewed by the public.]]> 2019-03-26 11:41:09 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/345192020 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346076374 Serena Joy offers to set up another relationship for Offred to help her get pregnant. She knows that her husband is sterile: if their relationship continues, Offred won't get pregnant and it will "drag on for too long". Her objective is to be done with Offred, but to do it without him finding out or risking too much, so she suggests going out with Nick. I think she can be trusted since she states that her objective is to "be done with Offred, and handmaids". She wants Offred to get pregnant and then leave her estate, so she doesn't have much reason to lie. I can't completely count out the possibilty of a betrayal or lie, due to Serena's general resentment of Offred.]]> 2019-03-28 11:44:24 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346076374 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346353884 When referring to how "the problem was with the men", he was talking about how getting with a women and having sex was easily accessible. They started to treat women more like objects, just another thing to them, just like the new law stated. Eventually, they forgot how to have relationships, and got bored. They took these things for granted, and the Commander says that the new society that "treasures these things" is justified. The new society is not justified at all: Women, especially handmaids, are still treated like objects as they are valued only for their ability to reproduce. Relationships with women are purely for this business, and there is no kind of intimacy or need to love.]]> 2019-03-28 21:54:35 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346353884 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346375666 Its revealed in this chapter that Janine got pregnant from a doctor and not from her commander, but passed it off as that. Her baby was deemed "not suitable for survival", and was to be discarded. She suspected that it was karma for her actions with the doctor, that the baby would just be a "shredder". That is what she means by the "Just World Fallacy".]]> 2019-03-29 00:03:36 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346375666 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346376650 In this scene, the Commander is saying that while the lives that women have in this society aren't perfect (or even good), they are better than the lives they had previously.  He reasons that in this society, where women are more revered and "important" due to their potential to reproduce, they are respected more and objectified less. This argument isn't very effective, or even true, as women are still seen for their ability to reproduce, and still objectified. They trade their freedom, ability to make choices, and interaction with other people for safety and protection. Women among the handmaids are abused and suffer on a daily basis, and women in general do not have the right to even communicate with other people. In a way, they are treated much more like objects in this society rather than the previous one, with complete disregard to anything but their ability to reproduce.]]> 2019-03-29 00:10:52 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/346376650 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347451017 Offred realizes that Luke must detach himself from the cat by recognizing and acknowledging the cat as a thing rather than a pet that he cares about. In order to do so, Luke calls the cat an "it", erasing that personal connection that he has to the cat. Offred then relates this back to what the government is doing; they were detaching themselves from their citizens, treating them as things rather than people. Like Luke, this attitude allowed the government to be able to create such a harsh society and stand by it with ease. This relates to our class discussions of other stories how society is able to reduce a group of people of their humanity, and how the rest of society is able to accept that because the outcasted group isn't seen as human.]]> 2019-04-02 02:41:47 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347451017 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347612100 Serena Joy offers to help get Offred pregnant by suggesting that she sleeps with Nick since the Commander is infertile. Serena offers this possibility since she's aware her husband can't have children and she wants to be able to get Offred out of the house. I doubt that she'd betray Offred with this, especially since she wants a child so much. There's no reason for her to double cross Offred since it'd get in the way of her finally having a child of her own.]]> 2019-04-02 13:27:27 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347612100 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347616536 What the Commander meant by, "The main problem was with the men," was that it was easy for them to have sex, but they didn't feel anything from it. Society had also set up rules that forced men to treat handmaids like objects. Because of this, they grew apathetic towards sex and forgot how to have real relationships. This explains their actions but doesn't justify the new society as a whole. ]]> 2019-04-02 13:36:12 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347616536 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347625118 Janine used a doctor to get pregnant and lied that it was from the Commander. She blames herself for the baby's death and that it was her punishment for sinning. She called this her "Just World Fallacy."]]> 2019-04-02 13:48:51 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/347625118 https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/348304003 He means that women no longer have to worry about making themselves more attractive in order to find a partner or worry about their partner leaving them or their partner possibly abusing them. While they've eliminated the possibility of rejection, they've also destroyed women's freedom to make their own choices.  I heavily disagree with his argument, because although they've gotten rid of all of these problems for women, none of them are happy in their day to day lives.
 ]]> 2019-04-03 22:35:57 UTC https://padlet.com/amurphy_park/ds73malgm82s/wish/348304003