Key Quotes from The Handmaid's Tale

Questions and Answers

What does the phrase 'Habits are hard to break' imply in Chapter 3?

It suggests a change in routine.

It means the Handmaids enjoy their roles.

It signifies a repeated behavior. (correct)

It refers to the dress of the Handmaids. (correct)

What does Offred mean by 'Waste not want not'?

She feels like she is being used up to avoid wasting her fertile body.

What does Offred imply by stating, 'I am a reproach to her; and a necessity.'?

She expresses her lack of self-worth as a Handmaid who is both disliked and essential for survival.

Why does Offred change the tense regarding Luke in Chapter 6?

She changes the tense because she hopes that Luke is still alive. Signup and view all the answers

What does the quote 'Nobody dies from lack of sex. It's lack of love we die from.' suggest?

It suggests that love is essential for life, which is absent in Gilead. Signup and view all the answers

What significance does the night hold for Offred?

The night is her own time for reflection and control. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred mean by 'We lived, as usual, by ignoring'?

She highlights the difference between ignoring something and being ignorant to it. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Offred need 'My room' to feel sane?

She needs a personal space to think and hold onto hope. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred's statement about her feelings towards the Commander imply?

It shows her complex emotions that do not fit neatly into love or hatred. Signup and view all the answers

What biblical reference does 'Give me children or else I die' make?

It references Rachel's plea in Genesis to her husband Jacob. Signup and view all the answers

What does the quote 'I put my face against the soft hair at the back of her neck and I breathe her in' signify?

It signifies Offred's deep longing for her daughter. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred's statement about the Commander indicate about societal structure?

It indicates that the Commander holds the highest position within the household hierarchy. Signup and view all the answers

How is the ceremony described in Chapter 16 perceived by the characters?

It is seen as serious business rather than recreation. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred question in 'Which is it worse for, her or me?'?

She questions whether participating in the ceremony or watching it is more painful. Signup and view all the answers

What belief does Offred hold in 'I believe in all of them, all three versions of Luke.'?

She believes Luke is still present in her life in different forms. Signup and view all the answers

What does the tense shift in 'She was my oldest friend. Is.' imply?

It implies Offred's resistance to letting go of her past relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What does Offred mean by 'I am only a shadow now, far back behind the shiny surface of this photograph.'?

She feels disconnected from her daughter's life, represented as a shadow. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Offred tell Nick her real name?

She reveals it as a sign of trust after they begin their affair. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Quotes and Contextual Analysis from The Handmaid's Tale

"Habits are hard to break" highlights the monotonous life of Handmaids, emphasizing their enforced routines and the significance of their red attire.
"Waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?" reflects Offred's feelings of being reduced to a mere vessel for reproduction, symbolizing her struggle with identity and purpose.
"I am a reproach to her; and a necessity" indicates Offred's dual role in Serena Joy's life as both a target of disdain and an essential figure for fulfilling the desire for children.
"Luke wasn't a doctor. Isn’t." Through tense shifts, Offred expresses her hope that Luke is alive, revealing her unresolved emotions tied to her past.
"Nobody dies from lack of sex. It's lack of love we die from" stresses the emotional desolation in Gilead, where reproductive acts lack genuine intimacy and affection.
"The night is mine, my own time, to do with as I will" denotes Offred's rare moments of autonomy at night, allowing her to reflect on her past and maintain a sense of self amidst oppression.
"We lived, as usual, by ignoring" contrasts ignorance with active neglect; reflects societal complacency towards feminism and anti-feminist figures embodying Gilead’s ideology.
"My room, then. There has to be some space, finally, that I claim as mine" underscores the importance of personal space for Offred's mental health and her need for individuality in an oppressive environment.
"I ought to feel hatred for this man... I don't know what to call it" shows Offred's conflicted emotions towards the Commander, revealing the complexity of power dynamics and her struggle with societal expectations.
"Give me children or else I die" recalls biblical themes, linking Offred's plight to the biblical story of Rachel and Leah, emphasizing fertility's significance in Gilead.
"I put my face against the soft hair at the back of her neck and I breathe her in" illustrates Offred's deep attachment to her daughter, highlighting her longing and separation painful enough to render her child nameless in thought.
"The commander is the head of the household. The house is what he holds" establishes the patriarchal hierarchy in Gilead, with the Commander as the dominant figure in family and property.
"This is not recreation, even for the Commander. This is serious business" conveys the grim reality of procreation in Gilead, stripping away the notion of pleasure and serving a grim societal duty.
"Which is it worse for, her or me?" presents Offred’s contemplative comparison of her suffering during the ritual with Serena Joy’s emotional turmoil, bringing attention to the shared pain between women in this society.
"I believe in all of them, all three versions of Luke" signifies Offred's psychological coping mechanisms, invoking spirituality and multifaceted identities of Luke to maintain hope.
"She was my oldest friend. Is." The tense shift reflects Offred's resistance to allowing the regime to erase her past connections and friendships, marking the importance of personal history.
"I am only a shadow now, far back behind the shiny surface of this photograph" emphasizes Offred's feelings of disconnection from her daughter, reducing her to the status of a mere observer in her child's life.
"I tell him my real name" signifies a crucial moment of intimacy and trust between Offred and Nick, marking her reclaiming of identity when she exposes her true self.

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Description

Explore key quotes and their contextual analysis from 'The Handmaid's Tale'. This quiz highlights Offred's struggles with identity, emotional desolation, and the rigid roles enforced by Gilead. Test your understanding of the themes and language used in this dystopian narrative.