https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v Made with no regrets, whatsoever en-us 2019-11-21 01:05:37 UTC 2026-01-28 11:58:27 UTC hello@padlet.com lee144971 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414407705 "To be asked to play Scrabble., instead, as if we were an old married couple, or two children, seemed kinky in the extreme, a violation in its own way."

Scrabble is seen as taboo, because of the law that women cannot read. Offred finds his request, a request for intellectual stimulation strange: "his needs were obscure to me." She is instead, expecting "something unspeakable, down on all fours perhaps, perversions, whips, mutilations." 

It's strange that something as simple to us as playing Scrabble is displayed as more provocative than sexual acts.
 ]]> 2019-11-21 01:07:12 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414407705 lee144971 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414407728 "Three eggs, a bee, a cow. Milk and Honey."

We understand the associations of the imagery of eggs, a bee and a cow with the name of the store, yet it's foreign to us because of the way words are used in...]]> 2019-11-21 01:07:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414407728 lee144971 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414408108 Offred writes down this phrase for the commander to see. "Here, in this context, it's neither prayer nor command, but a sad graffiti, scrawled once, abandoned."

The idea of a phrase being etched into the ground holds significance of the rebellion and the willpower of the previous handmaid. Offred makes a comment about  the  difference in meaning etched into the ground, and simply written down.

The meaning of “Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum” is significant, meaning "don't let the bastards grind you down." This again, is representative of the willpower and strength of the previous handmaid, and the phrase serves as a reminder of strength throughout the entire novel.]]> 2019-11-21 01:08:31 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414408108 whitm7200 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414408462 "Zilch", shows remnants of the old world and old knowledge still exist. More complex which would be learned through education, which Gilead does not have anymore.

The idea of complex words is foreign to The Commander. Shows how easy he has integrated and moved to Gilead's society as he does not expect people to know words as such. For men, transition is easier as they are given more power. ]]> 2019-11-21 01:09:37 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414408462 lee144971 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414408532 "The library is like a temple. There's a long flight of white steps going up. To either side of it, on the wall, there are angels."

The library seems representative of something holy. This is ironic, as we see that women in Gilead are not given the right to read. This almost emphasises the societal hierarchy, putting men far above women, even up to the point that they are considered sacred.]]> 2019-11-21 01:09:49 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414408532 whitm7200 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414409063 "Oh, there's not much to say about me. I'm just an ordinary kind of guy."

Commander suggests that he is nothing special. The word "guy" is extremely casual, which contrasts from the formal structured nature of Gilead society. Everyone knows that everything isn't normal, even though he suggests so.

"Ordinary" is a false concept in this society as things have changed so drastically so quickly. Unable to distinguish what exactly is ordinary. In the context of a person, Handmaids do not interact much with any guy, hence their concept of ordinary may be different to ours. Ordinary is subjective.

Commander has false facade of power, really just weak and bland. The name "Commander" is apart of the facade.]]> 2019-11-21 01:11:36 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/414409063 lee144971 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/415985838 Eye refers to an organ used to see and experience the world.

Eyes can have connotations of freedom and ability, yet also have the contrasting connotation of surveillance and lack of freedom.

Therefore, the fact that the Eyes are called the Eyes is fitting, yet contrasting.

]]> 2019-11-25 04:09:53 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/415985838 whitm7200 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/415985841 Handmaid means female servant or personal maid. Someone inferior to the person they work for. The inferiority is carried across to the novel but the meaning is changed. Instead of managing a household, this handmaid serves only to help produce children and maximise childbirth rates. Thus, changing our perception of the word as it is different from what we know. ]]> 2019-11-25 04:09:54 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/415985841 lee144971 https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/415986457 The Handmaid's are taught to greet each other with the phrases "Blessed be the fruit," and "May the Lord open". 

"Blessed be the fruit" refers to the handmaid's fertility, almost wishing her good luck. This shows the importance that Gilead places on children and fertility, even so that even their greetings are revolved around this. 

"May the Lord open" refers to the faith which the whole society is built around. Handmaid's hope that the Lord is able to bless them with fertility, as that is their purpose and their end goal as handmaids. This shows to the reader how faith is intertwined with everything they believe in and the society as a whole. ]]> 2019-11-25 04:13:40 UTC https://padlet.com/lee144971/w3me0etb1u5v/wish/415986457