https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes Please add your points under the headings. en-us 2017-12-06 15:19:28 UTC 2018-01-05 10:37:50 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427978 Handmaids cannot read and barely communicate with others. Their lives and well-being is determined by Gilead.]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:11 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427978 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427983 Handmaids clothes, they all have to wear the same thing which takes away their identity. Their not allowed any luxuries so have to use butter as hand cream. They are suppressed from forming any relationship or friendship with anybody. They are suppressed sexually not only the handmaids but almost everyone involved in the new regime. They are not allowed to see their former children or have any connections to their past.


]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427983 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427986 Suppression of women, no freedom
Can’t speak against Gilead or the regime 
Given new identities and names, they all have to wear the same red clothing 
Given a strict diet that they must follow and not allowed things like hand cream and cigarettes
Everyone is suppressed, always being watched and monitored 


]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:13 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427986 williamsa18 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427987 Women are suppressed. They are given new identities and aren’t allowed to read or write. They can only eat certain foods and have to wear the same outfits. All suppressed as they are watched but the eyes.]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:13 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427987 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427994 Handmaids have to eat a particular diet. Every day items are black market now.
Martha’s have to look after the household and can’t even go shopping themselves. Wives have to raise children that are not theirs. Everyone has to wear specific clothing and colours. Commander lacks romance and sexuality. Serena is forced to share her husband and is limited to a garden and knitting.

]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:14 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427994 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427995 The handmaids are not permitted to use certain items or eat certain foods
Nick is suppressed by not having the freedom to marry or have any relationship with a woman]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:14 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214427995 nieldw https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214428075 Handmaids suppressed by not being able to use their real names, instead take the name of the commander. 
They are not allowed to read or write and can't communicate easily with each other.
They are all forced to wear red clothing to be easily identified and wear the wings to stop them from seeing/being seen.
Wives are suppressed as they have to let the handmaid live with them and do their jobs, can't refuse to have one. Could argue commander suppressed as he also doesn't have a choice.

]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:32 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214428075 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214428137 Serena is suppressed, having been relegated to the garden instead of where she was prior to Gilead (the silver screen.) The commander sees himself as suppressed romantically and sexually. Cora is also suppressed, not being allowed to be sick with the flu in fear of the colonies. Everyone is suppressed due to the ever-present eyes. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:00:49 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214428137 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429432 Moria defies the whole handmaid standard by fighting against the aunts ultimately for her freedom.
The commander and Offred defy the state of Gilead by secretly meeting and going to an illegal Jezebel’s
Serena plots a secret plan to get Offred impregnated behind the commanders back with Nick, defying every rule of the society which could prove a fatal mistake for Offred.
Ofglen and the mayday group defy this standard of living and people such as ofglen and the handmaid before Offred make the ultimate act of defiance by committing suicide

]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:01 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429432 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429434 By the handmaids exchanging names this is defiance in their own way by not using the names given to them in Gilead. The commander is defiant by attending the club which he takes Offred to therefore he is leading others into defiance in particular the handmaids. Serena smokes cigarettes which are not permitted under the regime and again convinces Offred to have an affair with nick, this is defiant against both the commander and the regime. The Martha’s are defiant by gaining items from the black market. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:02 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429434 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429458 Offred uses butter as hand cream, goes and sees the commander and nick privately.
Serena and offred’s plan to use nick to get her pregnant instead of the commander, serena gives offred a cigarette and has them herself
Moira attempts to escape
The writing inside offred’s cupboard “don’t let the bastards get you down” (in Latin)

Jezzabelle’s 




]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:08 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429458 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429460 Moira defies everything because she doesn't want to commit her self and her own beliefs to the new regime. The handmaids are defiant especially Offred and Ofglen as they are part of the 'resistance'. Luke and Offred were defiant because as soon as they realised things were changing they tried to escape the situation. All of the handmaids even the ones not involved in the mayday are rebellious because they steal things like butter to use as handcream  and they all possess things which they shouldn't. Nick is defiant because him and Offred meet up on a night to have sex which is against the law and can be punishable through death. Serena is rebellious too because she wants Offred to have sex with nick because her only goal is a child. The commander is rebellious because he has secret meetings with Offred and buys her things off the black market to wear when he takes her to a club and hotel. The medical staff defy the expectations because they offer to sleep with the handmaids to get them pregnant which is also punishable by death. Ofglen is resistant because she commits suicide when she sees the eyes coming for her so that she doesn't tell them anyone's name.

]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:08 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429460 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429467 Serena’s plot with Offred. The commanders trips to the club and nightly visits with Offred. Nick and Offred affair. The term mayday being passed along by the resistance. Offglen and Moiras defiance to the regime. The handmaids exchanging their real names despite the regime not allowing it. The Latin as a secret message of defiance against those who are running the regime. The commander and serenas black market items show that they don’t follow the rules completely. Nicks cooperation with serena, the commander and Offred. The wives making plans with the handmaids for them to get pregnant from someone else rather than the commanders. The suicides of the handmaids. The attempted escape of Luke and Offred. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:11 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429467 williamsa18 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429474 Moria defies the system by fighting for her freedom. Offred uses butter as hand cream and Serena smokes cigarettes. Handmaids exchange names not given to them by Gilead. Offred meeting the commander privately defies the system. Serena and Offred plot to get her pregnant with Nick.]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429474 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429476 The Mayday resistance is a large underground group dedicated to resistance. Jezebel’s is a place for high-ranking commanders to resist the norms. The faith pillow allows Offred to read. Spiking drinks during events. Nick and Offred continuing to see each over. Talking to other handmaids in the red centre. The black market of items and knowledge. Nolite phrase on wall and in past. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429476 nieldw https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429596 Shown earlier in the story through Offred's mother being in feminist protests.
Certain group of handmaids have a communication system with code word Mayday, to pass information and try to help each other.
Serena is defiant when she allows Offred to try to get pregnant with Nick, she also listens to music when she isn't supposed to. Allows Offred to smoke.
Commander lets Offred read and drink alcohol, takes her to Jezebels and gives her hand cream etc.
Moira resisted when she tried to escape the Red Centre, also always fought against what the Aunts were telling her.
Defiance in Red Centre as they whisper their real names down the line of beds.
Suicide is the final resistance as it stops the system from being able to punish them, for example Ofglen committed suicide when she saw the van coming for her, also the previous Offred ]]> 2017-12-08 10:07:43 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214429596 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431477 There is a major lack of identity throughout all of the characters. This is majorly seen through the handmaids through their names being removed from them and the use of the possessive proposition ‘of’ and the commanders first name and the removal of them for their own personal lives and relocated to fit the regime. The lack of identity for the handmaids makes them more replaceable and interchangeable. Women in general tend to be more suppressed throughout the novel as they have to wear clothes in colours as set by the regime and are limited to whom they speak to and when they are able to leave their homes. The absence of preference clothing and speech has made these women lose their identities and become another factor in a suppressive regime. The commander has a certain set of standards to adhere to and through this he loses the ability to speak freely about his thoughts and feelings, and express his need for human contact, which consequently causes him to defy against the regime that he once vastly supported. The guardians such as Nick have their entire identity taken away as they sacrifice all their thoughts and beliefs to the regime and do entirely as told to the majority of the time (except Nick). In a general respect the whole area has lost its identity as a place with the university being removed and shops being replaced with regime friendly ones (soul scrolls), as with the people there is no was to disgunish areas anymore, as you could to disgunish one handmaid from another. The whole conformity to the regime has meant that every area of personal life and identity has been removed for the benefit of the Gilead regime. The repression and lack of identity lead them to rebel in a way that was discreet, using language and their use of language determined their power. Moria is refer to as her own name throughout the novel signifying her power against the regime, she controls her own destiny unlike the others by removing herself from the RED centre and becoming a prostitute in Jezebelles instead, on top of that while remaining still within the repressive scheme Moria continues to rebel by changing lyrics to songs to say ‘there’s a bomb in Gilead’ instead of there’s a a balm. Offred rebels through reading and gaining identity that way, she reads the pillows and the hidden message within the  wardrobe in her bedroom. Throughout the entire novel people seem desperate to reinstate their own identity, such as the commander by receiving black market items, the commanders wife uses power and smoking to achieve it, and Offred uses her handcream  to reinstate her identity as a woman and not just an necessity for another family to have a child. There is a loss of identity through the lies told within the regime, such as the commanders dishonesty about his infertiliy, which he makes no one aware of and potientially no one makes him aware of. Eyes lose the entirety of their identity by appearing to give their freedom to suppress and support others lf the regime, Nick later proves that this isn’t just an act and the reality of being an eye is just a suppressive as being a handmaid. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:17:14 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431477 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431535 Women and femininity is shown through the close circle the handmaids have, even though they may not all be part of the 'resistance', they still look out for each other because they understand each other's situations. Moira also represent this through her rebellion against the regime; Moira and Offred have a strong friendship and the reader can infer that they would do anything for each other. Moira represents rebellion for the handmaids and women in the regime with her strong views throughout the book. Another example of united women is the phrase which has been engraved in Offred bedroom. Although the previous handmaids committed suicide and never met Offred she is showing her support through the engraved phrase 'don't let the basterds grind you down'. The aunts show the strong connection between women in the gilead regime; although they are depicted as cruel characters, they are extremely protective of the handmaids and strongly protest against any harm which could or may have come to them. This is seen in the particicutions, although readers may consider them immoral, the aunts genuinely believe they are doing it for the better of women. 
Each 'group' in the hierarchy throughout the book shows a group of women who stick up for each other. The marthas are always together and look out for each other, as do the wives which is debatable. Offreds mum is the only character thoughout who has been named a feminist, there are videos of her which show what women should not be like. However, Moira and Offred mother appear to share similar views. We know that Offred mother has been sent to the colonies due to her strong view point which goes against the strict regime. Moira and Offreds mother are very similar in terms of rebellious attitude, however it could be said that Offreds mother was more adiment in her beliefs as she surrendered to go to the colonies where as Moira is happy to be a prostitute at Jezzabells. The Quaker house show the connection of women, even though there are men involved, they have come together to create an underground escape for handmaids. We know this because Moira was a part of it until she was caught, this reinforces the rebellion from women throughout the novel. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:17:29 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431535 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431562 Offred talks about her mother throughout the whole book and memories of her. Her mother watched historical and educational programmes, tells her the holocaust isn’t real, just a story
Moira tells her she believes she is in colonies now, suffering. Remembers seeing her in films in the Red Centre in the days before Gilead in feminist protests
Flashbacks / imagining being with her and luke’s child 
We never find out the child’s name, reflects the fact that Offred doesn’t even know the child herself anymore - taken away from her at the age of 5, the child will now be 8 years old
Expresses her love and yearning to see her daughter again throughout the whole of the book, Atwood uses techniques of flashbacks to get this message across
Offred also thinks of her child at random moments, for example when she smells a certain soap and it sparks a memory - ‘I put my face against the soft hair at the back of her neck and breathe her in.'
Serena cruelly shows offred a picture of her daughter, shows that Serena has known where her child was all along, highlights to the reader that Serena does not understand what it’s like to be a mother 

Offred’s daughter is a constant presence - always in Offred’s thoughts, so much that Offred doesn’t feel the need to give us her name or explain whom she’s talking about.
Offred constantly thinks of their attempted escape, and of her child ‘holding her arms out to me, being carried away'. ‘Of all the dreams this is the worst,' Offred tells us; she wakes weeping, and has to ‘wipe my wet face with my sleeve'.

Children are a prized possession in Gilead. Context = whole regime has come about because of low birth rates, infertile women etc. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:17:38 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431562 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431577 The contrast between offreds love for Luke and her lust for Nick and her constant conflictions about whether she still actually still loves Luke or not. Before the regime, Luke and offred had lust towards eachother as they were both involved with an affair. However, this lust turned into love as they got married and had a child together after Luke got divorced. The commanders lust for offred as he takes her to the hotel room in Jezebel also his possible lust for other women at the club as even Moira hints at being with him before. The regime is built around religion yet the sanctity of marriage is constantly broken by the commanders having to sleep with the handmaids so that they can get pregnant. Serena and the commanders marriage has faded due to the regime but you can still see serenas love through her hints of jealousy. All the commanders and people higher up in the regime have lust towards the women working at Jezebel’s for a sense of affection and sexuality that the no longer can have. The guardians lust towards the handmaids as they are not allowed to marry, have and girlfriend or do any form of sexual activities until they are allowed to be married. Offred is aware of the guardians lust so makes eye contact and sways her hips as she know that to them she is forbidden. Marriage wasn’t allowed until you were at a certain level on the hierarchy of the regime. So guardians weren’t allowed to marry until they became angels. However, we don’t know where they would be able to find the women they could marry. Nick has lust and some form off possible affection towards offred as he risks his life by breaking the rules of the regime to see her. 
Individuals who have been divorced or breaking rules by being involved with sexual activities risk the punishments of the regime which was usually execution.
In the handmaid’s tale, love only exists as a memory or a secret as connections have either been severed or are too dangerous to peruse. 
 ]]> 2017-12-08 10:17:44 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431577 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431667 Wives - during the birthing they are all supportive of the wife even though they are not the one giving birth all the other wives are envious therefore show their support as well as it being an emotional realisation for the wife that it is not their biological child. They also tend to to visit one another when they are ill this could be because they have nothing to do or just showing one another sympathy because no one else’s under the regime will. 
Handmaids - the handmaids again all come together during the birthing ceremony to support the handmaids who is having  to give up their child moments after it has been born. They exchange names when given the opportunity and the underground mayday group work to seek one another out in order for a sense of solidarity amongst them. 
Commanders- go to the club where they meet other women and are able to interact with one another and discuss their old jobs something they likely do not get the opportunity to do anymore. Mutual understanding of the ‘tags’ shows camaraderie between men but their lack of respect for women as their property.
Aunts- Aunt Lydia states that what they’re aiming for is a camaraderie among women, this implies the aunts themselves are included under this who are just trying to do what they think is best based on what they believe as well as what they think is best for the handmaids who they are aspiring to work together.

There is a sense of cameraderie between all those under the regime in order to avoid the attraction of the eye and despite it causing distrust between neighbours it also means they keep one another’s secrets in order to not be punished themselves.]]> 2017-12-08 10:18:17 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431667 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431677 Difference between the home she lived in before and the house she’s in now. Offred spends much of the book in her bedroom, which is sterile and super not deadly. Offred cherishes her home before she leaves it with Luke and child, presumably to take some memories with her. Red centre can be seen as home to the handmaids in training, with them sleeping, eating and learning there. Offred’s new house only homely on the outside, with blossoming flowing flowers outside and wilted ones inside. No privacy in the commanders house for Offred as people have to monitor her in the bath and an eye motif were a chandelier should be in her bedroom. No privacy for Serena or the commander as a handmaid has invaded almost every facet of their personal life. Homes usually happy and not filled with death and dissidence, unlike the Commanders and other houses in Gilead. Conversation replaced with hierarchy at the dinner table. Typically, secrets aren’t kept between husband and wife in a healthy household. A consistency between the homes/houses of then and now is that there are richer houses with their own workers and a handmaid and there are poorer houses with econowives. Jezebel’s can be seen as a brothel/hospice for women unwilling to comply with Gilead, thus making it a house of sorts. ]]> 2017-12-08 10:18:19 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431677 nieldw https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431753 Villainy
Aunts could be seen as villainous as they are inflicting the rules on the handmaids and punish them when they disobey. They are very strict and don't allow much freedom to the handmaids.
Angels could be villains as they are feared by Handmaids, they have the power to punish people and are controlling the system.


Vengeance 
would be the particicutions for being a "rapist", being sent to the colonies for disobeying or being unable to have children etc.
Another example is the hangings of the handmaids and wives who commit crimes, e.g. adultery.

]]> 2017-12-08 10:18:43 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431753 williamsa18 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431797 Language as power. People with power can read and write such as the commanders and aunts. Harvard once a place of knowledge and learning is now a detention centre, a place of oppression. Feminists and deformed babies denoted “unwomen” and “unbabies”. Blacks and Jews referred to by their biblical names “children of ham” and “sons of Jacob” - relates to identity. Prescribed ways to greet people and  if these are not followed then you will be suspected to be disloyal. Latin word forbidden but brings a sense of hope. The word “faith” on the pillow.]]> 2017-12-08 10:18:55 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/214431797 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218910637 Vengeance could be seen when Moira ties up Aunt Lydia and steals her clothes to escape the Red Centre. This is not only because she has disobeyed the rules set by the Aunts but because she is specifically punishing them and taking action against their behaviour.

]]> 2018-01-05 10:27:15 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218910637 nieldw https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218910713 Offred’s and Nick’s relationship grows as they think that Offred is pregnant by nick and a sense of love develops between them both. This is shown through nicks jealousy when taking them to Jezebel’s and also by how he helped her escape in the end. The love for each other and their possible child is what kept them going especially in a time when children were rare and only born for the elite. 
Offreds love for her little girl helped form her relationship with Nick as it was Serena joys promise of a picture that made her agree to the whole thing in the first place. The idea of her being able to see her little girl even if in a picture pushed her to break the rules of the regime and inevitably risk her life. 

]]> 2018-01-05 10:27:57 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218910713 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218910857 The home, like much of everything in Gilead is used as theocratical propaganda, with the news on tv and bible readings prior to the ceremony all being done as a means to keep everyone in check, even if they are in the privacy of the home. The red centre can be considered a home for the handmaids as it’s where their ‘born’ and ‘grow up.’ Nick’s home, while smaller, darker and less material than the commander’s, is more homely to the more romantic and human interactions displayed there. The wall is the visual home of dissidence and heresy (a home no one wants to be in, but is ever-present. The commanders home in his office lodgings and Serena’s home in her gardenscape emphasise the gender roles and imbalance in Gilead. Rita and Cora’s lodgings in the home are unspecified, suggesting less importance than Offred or Nick.]]> 2018-01-05 10:29:04 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218910857 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218911040 Commanders and their wives could both be seeen as villainous as they control the handmaids in the home and inflict strict rules upon them e.g. a controlled diet, controlled speech and activities. Handmaids are also very restricted by commanders and wives, for example being treated like children. Offred is fairly lucky to have a commander which will allow her to read, play games and have forbidden items however other handmaids are more oppressed, therefore making commanders and their wives villainous in some ways.]]> 2018-01-05 10:30:25 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218911040 ellie_sutton https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218911164 It can be said that Moira is the strongest representation of femininity throughout the novel, every hand aid or former hand aid; takes the name of their commander ‘offred, ofglen and of warren’. Moirais never referrred to through her adopted name showing her rebellious attitude and adimant belief in uniting these oppressed women. The nuns who refuse to become handmaid show a unity amongst women, they would rather be sent to the colonies than accept the oppressed Gilead regime. The job of the aunts is a group of women who do not want to be sent to the colonies, they are too old to become handmaids and it’s very unlikely that they agree with their job role. To avoid the colonies or prostitution they become aunts, at first they may have not agreed with the regime, however from what we see in the novel it becomes apparent that the power has got too them. Aunt Lydia almost enjoys handing out punishments, this could be because she was undermined by Moira in her escape.]]> 2018-01-05 10:31:19 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218911164 https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218911486 Particicutions are vengeance as the handmaids are able to take revenge on people who have broken the rules e.g. rapists and politicians. They are allowed to kill people with their bare hands and therefore punish the offenders painfully. This shows that revenge is taken seriously in Gilead.]]> 2018-01-05 10:34:25 UTC https://padlet.com/nieldw/handmaidthemes/wish/218911486