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Questions and Answers

What is said about the young ones in relation to their jobs?

The young ones take their job the most seriously and consider all they are told as fact.

How are the young ones described in terms of danger?

The young ones are considered the most dangerous, the most fanatical, and the jumpiest with their guns.

What should the handmaids show towards the Guardians?

Respect.

What does looking a young Guardian in the eyes represent?

A small defiance of rule. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about men's interactions with women in this society?

Men must be of a certain age/class before they can touch women. Signup and view all the answers

How does she feel about her power over the men?

She enjoys having a little bit of power. Signup and view all the answers

How are the lawns in the community described?

Tidy and with gracious façades. Signup and view all the answers

What metaphor is used to describe the street?

The street is almost like a museum. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by model towns in this context?

They wish to have no children. Signup and view all the answers

How does the society react to the war's impact?

The heart of Gilead acts as if the war cannot intrude. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aunt Lydia say about the Republic of Gilead?

Gilead knows no bounds. Signup and view all the answers

What has happened to legal representation in society?

There are no lawyers anymore, and the university is closed. Signup and view all the answers

How is the concept of freedom described?

Such freedom now seems almost weightless. Signup and view all the answers

How are poorer women referred to?

Econowives. Signup and view all the answers

What does the presence of a woman in black signify?

A widow. Signup and view all the answers

Where do the Commanders' Wives commonly appear?

Only in cars. Signup and view all the answers

What does she remember about her past freedoms?

She could wear what she wanted and had her own purposes. Signup and view all the answers

What unwritten rules do women follow for safety?

Don't open your door to a stranger, even if he says he is the police. Signup and view all the answers

What does she think about having money she earned herself?

She thinks about having such control. Signup and view all the answers

What kinds of freedom does Aunt Lydia discuss?

Freedom to and freedom from. Signup and view all the answers

How has the war affected the availability of oranges?

Oranges have been hard to get. Signup and view all the answers

What does making oranges happen signify?

A small achievement. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of seeing a familiar face?

It's an encouragement, knowing they still exist. Signup and view all the answers

What does seeing a pregnant woman represent?

A magic presence and an object of envy. Signup and view all the answers

What does a pregnant woman not have to do?

Go out or go shopping. Signup and view all the answers

Why does a pregnant woman need special security?

Jealousy could get her, it's happened before. Signup and view all the answers

What is the status of tourism in the world?

Tourism is still a factor in their lives. Signup and view all the answers

How do tourists appear in their dressing?

Their heads are uncovered and hair is exposed. Signup and view all the answers

How do they feel about the tourists' appearance?

They are fascinated but also repelled. Signup and view all the answers

What do they know about the interpreters?

Most of the interpreters are Eyes. Signup and view all the answers

How do they walk in the controlled environment?

They walk sedately. Signup and view all the answers

What effect do their 'wings' have on their view of the world?

They break up their view, making it hard to see everything. Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition of the place where they slept?

They slept in what had once been the gymnasium. Signup and view all the answers

What did she remember wanting that she can't have anymore?

I remember that yearning, for something that was always about to happen and was never the same as the hands that were on us there and then. Signup and view all the answers

What did they yearn for?

We yearned for the future. Signup and view all the answers

What talent have they learned regarding their emotions?

How did we learn it, that talent for insatiability? Signup and view all the answers

How were the army cots described?

...we tried to sleep, in the army cots that had been set up in rows, with spaces between so we could not talk. Signup and view all the answers

What did Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth carry?

They had electric cattle prods slung on thongs from their leather belts. Signup and view all the answers

What is mentioned to demonstrate the lack of trust?

No guns though, even they could not be trusted with guns. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the guns reserved for?

Guns were for the guards, specially picked from the Angels. Signup and view all the answers

How are they treated in comparison to the rest of society?

We weren't allowed out, except for our walks, twice daily, two by two around the football field which was enclosed now by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Angels represent?

The Angels stood outside it with their backs to us. They were objects of fear to us. Signup and view all the answers

How did they learn to communicate?

We learned to whisper almost without sound. Signup and view all the answers

What did they long for in the darkness?

In the semi-darkness we could stretch out our arms...and touch each other's hands across space. Signup and view all the answers

What drastic measures were reflected in society before?

They've removed anything you could tie a rope to. Signup and view all the answers

What does the partly open window signify?

When the window is partly open - it only opens partly. Signup and view all the answers

What type of art is mentioned regarding women's craft?

This is the kind of touch they like: folk art, archaic, made by women, in their spare time, from things that have no further use. A return to traditional values. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Waste not want not' mean for her?

I am not being wasted. Why do I want? Signup and view all the answers

What happens if she thinks too much?

I try to not think too much. Like other things now, thought must be rationed. Signup and view all the answers

What is the danger of thinking?

Thinking can hurt your chances, and I intend to last. Signup and view all the answers

What does self-destruction imply in their society?

It isn't running away they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a cutting edge. Signup and view all the answers

How are they described in comparison to the past?

...ladies in reduced circumstances. That is what we are now. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to have reduced circumstances?

The circumstances have been reduced; for those of us who still have circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

What reflects her sense of life?

I am alive, I live, I breathe, I put my hand out, unfolded, into the sunlight. Signup and view all the answers

How is being held captive viewed?

Where I am is not a prison but a privilege, as Aunt Lydia said, who was in love with either/or. Signup and view all the answers

What has replaced clocks?

The bell that measures time is ringing. Signup and view all the answers

What does the color red symbolize?

Everything except the wings around my face is red: the colour of blood, which defines us. Signup and view all the answers

What prevents them from seeing others?

The white wings too are prescribed issuances; they are to keep us from seeing, but also from being seen. Signup and view all the answers

What is her position in the sitting room?

A sitting room in which I never sit, but stand or kneel only. Signup and view all the answers

What do the different umbrellas symbolize?

There are several umbrellas in it: black, for the Commander, blue, for the Commander's Wife, and the one assigned to me, which is red. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Martha's dresses compared to?

She's in her usual Martha's dress, which is dull green, like a surgeon's gown of the time before. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the veil for Marthas?

She puts the veil on to go outside, but nobody much cares who sees the face of a Martha. Signup and view all the answers

What does the red dress signify?

Her face might be kindly if she would smile. But the frown isn't personal: it's the red dress she disapproves of, and what it stands for. Signup and view all the answers

What does Cora say to justify their situation?

Anyways, they're doing it for us all, said Cora, or so they say. Signup and view all the answers

What demonstrates the distribution of 'real' goods?

...in the houses of the Commanders there is still real coffee. Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator long for in conversations?

How I used to despise such talk. Now I long for it. At least it was talk. An exchange, of sorts. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Marthas do to gain information?

The Marthas know things, they talk among themselves, passing the unofficial news from house to house. Signup and view all the answers

What is forbidden for them to touch?

I hunger to touch something, other than cloth or wood. I hunger to commit the act of touch. Signup and view all the answers

What does fraternizing imply in their society?

The Marthas are not supposed to fraternize with us. Fraternize means to behave like a brother. Signup and view all the answers

What colors are the tulips mentioned?

The tulips are red, a darker crimson towards the stem, as if they have been cut and are beginning to heal there. Signup and view all the answers

What do Wives channel their instincts into?

Many of the Wives have such gardens; it's something for them to order and maintain and care for. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Commander's Wife appear to be when Offred observes her?

Sometimes the Commander's Wife has a chair brought out, and just sits in it, in her garden. From a distance it looks like peace. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred fear about encountering the Commander's Wife?

I don't like to come upon the Commander's Wife unexpectedly. Signup and view all the answers

What is believed to be a woman's purpose?

Maybe it's just something to keep the Wives busy, to give them a sense of purpose. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred envy about the Commander's Wife?

But I envy the Commander's Wife her knitting. It's good to have small goals that can be easily attained. What does she envy me? Signup and view all the answers

What does the Commander's Wife think of having a handmaid?

She doesn't speak to me, unless she can't avoid it. I am a reproach to her; and a necessity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the back door signify for them?

On the first days we are permitted front doors, but after that we're supposed to use the back. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aunt Lydia suggest about Offred's position?

Yours is a position of honour, she said. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aunt Lydia say about speaking?

Aunt Lydia said it was best not to speak unless they asked you a direct question. Try to think of it from their point of view... it isn't easy for them. Signup and view all the answers

What does she suggest about exchanges in society?

There's always a black market, there's always something that can be exchanged. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Commander remind Offred of?

She then was a woman who might bend the rules. But what did I have, to trade? Signup and view all the answers

What family connection does she wish for?

I wanted, then, to turn her into an older sister, a motherly figure, someone who would understand and protect me. Signup and view all the answers

What scripture allows for punishment?

They can hit us, there's Scriptural precedent. But not with any implement. Only with their hands. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred remember from childhood?

I would watch the Growing Souls Gospel Hour, where they would tell Bible stories for children and sing hymns. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when she sees Serena Joy?

One of the women was called Serena Joy. She was the lead soprano... she could smile and cry at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred think of Serena's past?

The woman sitting in front of me was Serena Joy. Or had been, once. So it was worse than I thought. Signup and view all the answers

What does the gravel path symbolize?

I walk along the gravel path that divides the back lawn, neatly, like a hair parting. Signup and view all the answers

What does the white picket gate represent?

I open the white picket gate and continue... Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Commander's status significant?

That must mean that the Commander is in the house, in his own quarters... Signup and view all the answers

What does black signify in their society?

It's black, of course, the colour of prestige or a hearse... Signup and view all the answers

What does Nick's status indicate?

Low status: he hasn't been issued a woman, not even one. He doesn't rate: some defect, lack of connections. Signup and view all the answers

What risky behavior does Nick display?

He begins to whistle. Then he winks. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred wonder about Nick's actions?

Perhaps it was a test, to see what I would do. Perhaps he is an Eye. Signup and view all the answers

Why do they travel in pairs?

We aren't allowed to go there except in twos. This is supposed to be for our protection... we are well protected already. The truth is that she is my spy, as I am hers. Signup and view all the answers

What does she say about knowing the truth?

...answers are not usually answers you want to know. Signup and view all the answers

What does she crave regarding news?

But I'm ravenous for news, any kind of news; even if it's false news, it must mean something. Signup and view all the answers

What is said about the role of Guardians?

The Guardians aren't real soldiers. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Handmaid's Tale Key Quotes

Gymnasium repurposed as living quarters symbolizes lost freedoms: "We slept in what had once been the gymnasium."
A yearning for a different future indicates a sense of hopelessness: "I remember that yearning, for something that was always about to happen..."
Desire for change reflects an underlying hope: "We yearned for the future."
Insatiability becomes a learned behavior in oppressive environments: "How did we learn it, that talent for insatiability?"
Prison-like conditions are evident with military goods organized systematically: "...we tried to sleep, in the army cots that had been set up in rows..."
Authority figures patrol with cruel tools, emphasizing their control: "Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth patrolled; they had electric cattle prods..."
Safety is limited by the absence of firearms, showcasing a paradox of protection: "No guns though, even they could not be trusted with guns."
The hierarchical structure is emphasized by the presence of the 'Angels' as guards: "Guns were for the guards, specially picked from the Angels."
Dehumanization is further illustrated by the close confinement and regulated movement: "we weren't allowed out, except for our walks, twice daily..."
The intimidating presence of 'Angels' creates fear among the oppressed: "The Angels stood outside it with their backs to us."
Silent communication becomes a necessity for survival: "We learned to whisper almost without sound."
Physical connection is sought after, despite the oppressive environment: "In the semi-darkness we could stretch out our arms...and touch each other's hands."
Restrictions on self-harm indicate prior desperate actions taken: "They've removed anything you could tie a rope to."
The inability to fully open windows symbolizes limited freedom: "When the window is partly open - it only opens partly."
Anonymous authority reflects a return to outdated gender norms: "This is the kind of touch they like: folk art, archaic, made by women..."
Resource management reflects society's harsh realities: "Waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?"
Overthinking leads to vulnerability, mirroring oppression in totalitarian regimes: "I try to not think too much. Like other things now, thought must be rationed."
Internal rebellion suggests existential threats rather than physical escape: "It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself..."
Current experiences reflect a qualitative decline from previous life conditions: "...ladies in reduced circumstances. That is what we are now."
Alienation is evident for those rendered outcasts in society: "The circumstances have been reduced; for those of us who still have circumstances."
Connection to life is emphasized through simple physical existence: "I put my hand out, unfolded, into the sunlight."
Confinement is likened to a twisted privilege, complicating perceptions of freedom: "Where I am is not a prison but a privilege..."
Time is monitored differently, symbolized by bells instead of clocks: "The bell that measures time is ringing."
The color red dominates as a symbol of fertility and societal identity: "Everything except the wings around my face is red..."
Visibility restrictions highlight fears of communication and connection: "The white wings too are prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing..."
Feelings of exclusion are reinforced by physical space within the home: "A sitting room in which I never sit..."
Differentiated social status is illustrated through personal property like umbrellas: "There are several umbrellas in it: black, for the Commander, blue, for the Commander's Wife..."
Disparities in status are accentuated by dress codes and expectations: "She puts the veil on to go outside, but nobody much cares..."
Social role assignments tied to fertility create tension: "Her face might be kindly if she would smile..."
Employment roles overlap with societal expectations, reflecting broader themes: "Anyways, they're doing it for us all, said Cora..."
Realistic luxuries for privileged classes magnify class disparities: "...in the houses of the Commanders there is still real coffee."
Lost interpersonal communication becomes a source of longing: "How I used to despise such talk. Now I long for it."
Gossip among lower tiers acts as a survival mechanism in isolation: "The Marthas know things, they talk among themselves..."
Forbidden touches and yearnings complicate interactions: "I hunger to touch something, other than cloth or wood..."
Social connections are seen as threats to societal stability: "The Marthas are not supposed to fraternize with us."
The colors of nature metaphorically reflect the society's disintegration: "The tulips are red, a darker crimson towards the stem..."
Gardening symbolizes the role of women denied motherhood in a nurturing capacity: "Many of the Wives have such gardens, it's something for them to order..."
Distance creates a false appearance of peace, masking inner turmoil: "From a distance it looks like peace."
Power dynamics are complicated by personal feelings toward authority figures: "I don't like to come upon the Commander's Wife unexpectedly."
Women's societal roles are reduced to reproductive capabilities, leading to existential crises: "Maybe it's just something to keep the Wives busy..."
Envy stems from the Commander’s Wife's small joys and freedoms: "But I envy the Commander's Wife her knitting..."
Interpersonal conflict arises from the presence of handmaids, challenging intimate relationships: "She doesn't speak to me, unless she can't avoid it..."
Social status is illustrated through entrances and behavior in public spaces: "On the first days we are permitted front doors..."
Aunt Lydia reinforces the narrative of honor in servitude, complicating personal narratives: "Yours is a position of honor..."
Survival instincts navigate risky exchanges, hinting at underground economies: "There's always a black market..."
Casual violations of norms suggest underlying rebellion within societal constraints: "He begins to whistle. Then he winks."
Doubts arise about loyalty and betrayals from within personal connections: "Perhaps he is an Eye."
Social restrictions are enforced under a guise of safety while enabling mutual surveillance: "We aren't allowed to go there except in twos..."
Ignorance is portrayed as a strategy, where knowledge is undesirable: "Answers are not usually answers you want to know."
False narratives become acceptable, emphasizing ignorance over knowledge: "But I'm ravenous for news, any kind of news..."
Guardians function as figures of intimidation rather than authority, altering perceptions of power: "The Guardians aren't real soldiers..."
Youthful naivety is particularly dangerous under oppressive regimes: "The young ones are often the most dangerous..."
Respect is mandated due to the roles played by handmaids, reflecting societal structure: "They are supposed to show respect, because of the nature of our service."
Small acts of defiance become personal rewards in oppressive situations: "It's an event, a small defiance of rule..."
Status and age govern social interactions, implying unequal power dynamics: "As we walk away I know they're watching..."
Manipulation of sexual allure symbolizes empowerment amidst oppression: "They touch with their eyes instead and I move my hips..."
The subtle enjoyment of limited power reveals complex interactions with authority: "Then I find I'm not ashamed after all. I enjoy the power..."
Community structures conceal underlying realities and societal dysfunction: "The lawns are tidy, the façades are gracious..."
Nostalgia for past times highlights societal decline over recent history: "The street is almost like a museum, or a street in a model town..."
Longing for children reflects deeper societal issues regarding reproduction: "As in those pictures, those museums, those model towns, there are no children."
The illusion of a perfect society contrasts sharply with its grim realities: "This is the heart of Gilead, where the war cannot intrude except on television."
Realization of inescapable societal influence hints at psychological control: "The Republic of Gilead, said Aunt Lydia, knows no bounds..."
Lack of education and representation perpetuates systemic oppression: "There is no were for people to be educated..."### Freedom and Its Illusions
The concept of freedom has shifted, now described as "weightless," implying a lack of real substance.
Poorer individuals might experience more freedom but lack social class distinctions; women tied to poorer men are referred to as "Econowives," free from functional roles.
A decline in the visibility of widows noted, suggesting societal changes impacting women's roles and customs.

Societal Restrictions on Women

Commanders' Wives rarely appear in public, symbolizing their seclusion and heightened status.
Reflection on past freedoms highlights the ability to walk and dress as one chose, illustrating lost autonomy.

Perceptions of Safety and Protection

Women in the past operated under unwritten safety rules that provided a sense of security despite lacking formal protection.
Ability to earn and manage personal finances is now a distant memory, emphasizing the loss of simple freedoms with significant meaning.

Varieties of Freedom

Different types of freedom exist; Aunt Lydia distinguishes between "freedom to" pursue personal desires and "freedom from" oppressive choices, stressing it should not be undervalued.

Effects of War and Trade

The aftermath of Central America's loss led to diminished access to certain goods, notably oranges, impacting daily life.
Ongoing conflicts restrict food imports, further complicating everyday choices and experiences.

Interpersonal Connections in a Scarce Environment

The presence of familiar faces in shopping areas serves as a rare emotional connection to a lost past.
The pang of uncertainty regarding friends’ fates creates an atmosphere of longing and despair for social ties.

Symbolism of Pregnancy and Desire

A pregnant woman embodies hope and possibility, representing what remains achievable despite societal restrictions.
Envy surrounding the pregnant woman underscores the tension between desires and harsh realities of their world.

Tourism and Cultural Disconnect

Tourists, particularly from Japan, exemplify a world unaffected by local norms, showcasing contrasts in clothing and societal practices.
Exposure to styles deemed forbidden creates fascination tinged with repulsion, highlighting rapid societal changes.

Awareness of being watched leads to a cautious demeanor when interacting with individuals who may be spies (referred to as "Eyes").

Women’s mobility is restricted, leading to a sedate, almost robotic manner of walking, reflecting the emotional and psychological constraints.
"Wings" or blinkers symbolize the limitations imposed on perceptions, obstructing the view of broader experiences.

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