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Post by sgalle on May 17, 2010 11:03:21 GMT -5
As you read, you may find some quotes that seem particularly disturbing, insightful, interesting, or amusing. Here's the place to comment on them.
Include the quote, the page number(s), and your response to this quote.
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eliza
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by eliza on Aug 24, 2010 21:22:05 GMT -5
Quote: "Why is it that night falls, instead of rising like dawn? p. 191
I thought that this quote was quite insightful and rather interesting because it's written as a question which may go further than just night and dawn, but other opposites in life. It made me think about two things that are completely opposite, but each one has a positive aspect about it, and this way we consider both in order to make a decision. In this case night might fall in order to bring mystery, romance, and fear, but dawn on the other hand might bring hope, light, and monotony. It also explains how human kind is constantly expecting more than what they are given, so they want more. You can also see it as a simple expression where night or darkness are symbols of pain and despair and dawn on the other hand is a symbol of happiness. It also represents life in a way because not everything is nice and easy because we are constantly presented with obstacles in order to understand what is of real value. In conclusion this quote inspired me to think about life and choices. ELIZA BURBANO; 11th Grade International
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Post by gmolina on Aug 29, 2010 19:27:09 GMT -5
Quote: "What you don't know won't hurt you," pg. 53
I found this quote very interesting; in a way it made me think about politics because today many governors tell people only what they want to hear instead of what is really happening. By telling people those things they assure people won't rebel against the government. In the case of The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred is often told very little information about what is happening out of the center, that way she would not worry about it. I also found this quote as a sign of cowardice because by not telling the truth they are just evading the complications of explaining what is really happening and also the reactions of the other person. Also this quote represents how aunts in a way manipulate the handmaids so they are kept passive and relaxed. In my opinion that is exactly what they want in the center, have a community of people were they have little knowledge about the outside world. That way they would have more and easier control over these women used for reproductive purposes. Gabriela Molina 11th grade
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Post by antonella damone on Aug 29, 2010 20:45:52 GMT -5
“My red skirt is hitched up to my waist, though no higher. Below it the Commander is f**king. What he is f**king is the lower part of my body. I do not say making love, because this is not what he´s doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate, because it would imply two people and only one is involved. Nor does rape cover it: nothing is going on here that I haven´t signed up for. ” p.94 Gilead is a society formed with one simple goal, control and increase birth rate, reproduction. Here, women are no longer valued as individuals, but as making babies machines. This quote made me think about how in this book women are considered objects, let´s say. They have no rights, no rights to vote, nor read, nor own any possessions. Women´s bodies are used as tools for reproduction and they are considered inferior to men in this society. The Handmaid tells us in this quote how she feels about what is happening with the Commander in this scene. Even thought she was the one who approved this, she feels used, disgusting with herself and her body. Sex is no longer an act of love between two people. It is an unsentimental scene where women are used and where no feelings towards each others are involved. Gilead is suffering because of women sterilness, and handmaids have the responsibility to make the population grow. This is why Offred is involved in this scene with the Commander.
Antonella Damone, International
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Post by antonella damone on Aug 29, 2010 20:50:57 GMT -5
“Once a week we had movies, after lunch and before our nap.” P.199-21 In chapter 20, the Handmaid mentions what kinds of movies are showed. Old porno films from the 80´s and 90´s, women tied up or chained or with dog collars, hanging from trees, women being raped, beaten up and even killed. And then I make myself a question, what is the point of showing them these types of movies? To make them afraid? To get them the idea of what could happen to them if women tried to escape or do something the wrong way? What is the point? If we talk about the previous scene with the Handmaid and the Commander, aren’t they being raped? Treated like dogs with collars? Just like the movies... Women have no rights to speak, to ask questions, to do something they wished. They are like robots working for the chiefs of the house. Same routines, same schedules, same classes, same everything. If I was a Handmaid, I would probably represent myself with one of those women from the movies, because I am no longer considered a person like everyone else, I am considered an object of reproduction.
Antonella Damone, International
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Post by mariemancero on Aug 29, 2010 21:11:26 GMT -5
Quote: "There is more than one kind of freedom... Freedom to and freedom from". Page 24. I found this quote to be truthful due to the fact that everyone has freedom, but we as well, live it in different ways. As most people grow up, they learn about freedom and they decide how to handle it. People are always being told what the best is, but at the end each one chooses what he/she wants to do. This as we know is "freedom to", to decide what we think is the best for us. However, this is not the case for everyone. As we all know, in some countries, like Cuba, many laws prohibit people to do what they desire because the opinion of most would be to have a country where no one is told what to do and to have an equal power between citizens and government; yet, the government only likes power for them and no one else. As well as in dictatorship, in the novel "The Handmaid's Tale", none of the citizens had a voice; they all lived from "freedom from". This is because the new army, known as the Eyes, ruled the Republic of Gilead and wanted a country that gave them no problem, but yes power. The women were no longer able to work in companies and get profit for their effort, now they were forced to cook, to clean, or to have babies, but none of that for them, just for the high rank people such as the commanders and their wives. Men of low rank were forced to be guards or drivers of the important people. So, what before everyone had was "freedom to", to have families, to work, to have bank accounts, to everything; but now people got "freedom from"; the important people told them what they could or could not do. Women were restricted from magazines, beauty products; men were restricted from women, and both were restricted from a family. The Commanders and their Wives only used the Handmaid's and the cook and drivers to make their lives more comfortable. The difference between the types of freedom is huge, not only do people get their rights taken away when they have "freedom from", but, they are forced to leave their life. Not that this might happen any time soon in Earth, but little by little people are being restricted from their ideas and opinions, and no one will like to live in silence or get killed when an idea is expressed, not even in a fiction novel.
Maria Emilia Mancero
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Post by nathalyrobalino on Aug 28, 2011 0:10:09 GMT -5
“It’s a risk,” I say. “More than that.” It’s my life on the line; but that’s where it will be sooner or later, one way or another, whether I do or don’t. We both Know this.” P. 206 Serena Joy, the Commander’s wife, has been waiting for so long time a baby. She knows that her role is to take care of the Handmaid’s baby as her own son. She knows that her husband may not be able to a have one. On the other hand Offred knows that in or order to save herself she must conceive a baby. Her time to fulfill this mission is running out. Serena Joy begins to feel desperate in her waiting, so she proposes Offred to have a baby with another man. This man is Nick. Offred is taking a huge risk if she agrees to defy the rules that have been established and even more important defy her Commander. She is conscious that if she is caught she can be murder, but on the other hand she knows that if she doesn’t have a baby soon she can also die sooner or later. Serena Joy knows that this deal will benefit both of them and that is the reason why she proposes it to the handmaid. She knows that Offred will agree.
Nathaly Robalino
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Post by jmoralse on Aug 29, 2011 22:35:13 GMT -5
"They are very interested in how other households are run; such bits of petty gossip give them an opportunity for pride or discontent." pg. 27
As i read this quote it caught my attention because in my perspective she uses sarcasm as a tool to communicate how opposed she is to this.One of my favorite elements in a book is the use of sarcasm and its not easy you can't easily use this tool wrong. For me its very interesting ,that on the time this book is involved she uses sarcasm. That gives it and edge and a new perpective because it show that the book is unexpected with for me its the best quality a book can have because when a book gets predictive i just get board an uninterested. This quote also function as a hook, even though its not so close to the beginig it makes the reader remember why was he so interested to this book from the begining
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