The Handmaid's Tale

PART A

When Offred and the Commander play Scrabble, Offred spells a series of complex and seemingly random words- larynx, valence, quince, zygote, limp, and gorge. However, to anyone who examines them closely, it becomes apparent that the words are not random after all, but extremely meaningful.

Larynx is the windpipe, where the voice box lies. In Gilead, Offred doesn't have a voice, which makes the larynx precious because it is something she wishes for but knows she will probably never have. Valence, in chemistry, refers to how many electrons the atom must gain or lose to feel stable. In other words, the valence electrons are expendable. Also, they hover around the atom's nucleus, never really on the inside but unable to leave unless the atom as a whole wills it to. Offred probably feels like the valence electrons- she is expendable (after all, she's already on her 'third chance') and she knows that, being a woman, she will never be able to gain a position of power in her society.

Quince is a pear-shaped fruit used in making preserves. This, I believe, is important for two reasons- the shape, and what it is used for. The quince is pear-shaped, just like the uterus, which is important to Offred because that is where babies develop. (The importance of this will be discussed during the next word, zygote.) Also, the quince is used in making preserves, which I think is important to Offred because she and the other Handmaids have been brainwashed to believe that it is their job to help preserve and rebuild their society. Zygote is a fertilized egg- the zygote will eventually develop into a baby. The whole society in which the book is set revolves around babies- the Handmaids' sole purpose is to have babies, so obviously they- and thereby zygotes (and the pear-shaped uterus)- would be important to Offred.

Limp is defined as "to move slowly and with great difficulty". Offred, being a woman, is denied so many opportunities in the Republic of Gilead. If she sees any opportunities at all to move up in life, she cannot run at them full speed, but must limp towards them, struggling every step of the way. Gorge means "the throat or gullet", so gorge would be important to Offred for the same reason that larynx was- it stands for her lost voice.

PART B

There's a hard little cushion on it, with a petit point cover: FAITH, in square print, surrounded by a wreath of lilies. FAITH is a faded blue, the leaves of the lilies a dingy green. This is a cushion once used elsewhere, worn but not enough to throw out. (page 57)

To me, this quote really described how religion was treated in The Handmaid's Tale. It was used and misused until it wasn't the same as it once was, then used in a different capacity, placed somewhere out of the way so you don't have to look at it all the time, but it's always there if you need it. Religion is used to justify the more extreme actions this society has taken, but religion rarely plays a role in the citizen's everyday lives.

PART C

I was lukewarm towards The Handmaid's Tale. It was interesting, but at the same time it was offensive and I didn't want to read it. It was simple, but at the same time much too complex. I wasn't ever really able to connect with the characters, and I simply didn't have any strong feelings for this book what so ever.