Analysis of Symbols of Choice

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale was written as a representation of a time when the ideals of independence, liberty, and freedom are stolen and government joins with religion to create a theocratic regime.  Embracing the teachings and traditional values of the Old Testament, the Republic of Gilead exists following a nuclear war.  The United States of America and all of its founding principles are abolished, and strict religious standards are upheld by a government run only by males.  Mass pollution and toxic radiation has caused a frightening drop in the number of healthy births.  This introduces a vast number of biblical allusions found within the text, dating back to the Old Testament of the Bible in reference to Jacob, Leah and his wife Rachel and his two Handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah, and Abraham and Hagar.  Women have been assigned a place in society; if ovaries are in good condition, they are sent to a Commander’s home to become Handmaids.  Each month, sexual intercourse through the procedure of ceremony is in occurrence between the Commander and the Handmaid, who lies upon the wife mating with the male through her.  In this way, if the Handmaid becomes impregnated, she bears the children through her own body to bestow upon the wife of the Commander.  This ritual is held as an allusion to those figures of biblical history.  Neither the Commander nor the other members of the party are comfortable in this situation.  Moreover, if a woman remains unable to produce offspring, she is declared an “Unwoman.”  This incredible loss of womanhood, apart from the general restrictions and oppression laid upon women by this society, is a main theme.  During one scene of the novel, Offred hides butter in her shoe after stealing it from the dinner table.  She reflects on her usage of it: 

I look for the pat of butter, in the toe of my right shoe, where I hid it after dinner . . . I rub the butter over my face, work it into the skin of my hands.  There’s no longer any hand lotion or face cream, not for us.  Such things are considered vanities.  (Atwood 96) 

This moment is Offred’s attempt to regain her womanhood, or a piece of femininity recognizable from past experiences.  This society deprives women of the ability to feel good about themselves.  In fact, it even turns the women against each other:  “Stabbed her with a knitting needle, right in the belly.  Jealousy, it must have been, eating her up” (11).  In Offred’s case, those who become pregnant become the subject of envy among other Handmaids.  Econowives are either jealous of Handmaids, or disapprove as Martha often do:  “Beneath her veil for the first one scowls at us.  One of the others turns aside, spits on the sidewalk.  The Econowives do not like us” (44).  Survival is essential for all members of Gilead, unless one seeks to liberate themselves with suicidal actions, which are also regulated by official Guardians.  The color a Handmaid wears, red, is the representation of lust and adultery.  Although declared legal and morally accurate, the position of the Handmaid is a vulnerable, exposing, humiliating act and is as close to rape, infidelity, and deceitfulness as anything can get!  The fruit of the Garden of Eden, also part of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible, can be compared to the “Fruit of a mother’s womb” ideal; fruit is fidelity.  The underlying indication present in this situation, however, is that woman who can not give birth to healthy children are blamed as they were in earlier times, although it is a man’s sperm who is the dominant, controlling factor in the process.  Anyone who objects to this is considered to be committing an act of treason against the Republic.  Other Biblical allusions may be found near the beginning of the novel where Offred and her walking partner Ofglen walk to the marketplace to shop for the Marthas.  Process signs such as “All Flesh” (27) and “Milk and Honey” (25) are observed by Offred while walking.  This connection is made to the Biblical land of milk and honey found in Exodus of the Old Testament.  Greetings are significant, as well.  Upon greeting, Ofglen says to Offred, “‘Blessed be the fruit,’” (meaning of the womb) with a reply of “‘May the Lord open,’” (19) in reference to sexual fertility. 



Personal Commentary

Altogether, I see Atwood’s version of the struggle for independence and freedom without persecution or amidst oppression a lovely example of a novel embracing feminist principles when male dominance has become overwhelming.  It focuses on the struggles of a woman in a completely totalitarian government situation, performing small acts of rebellion against what she believes to be corruption—even an act as small as stealing a stick of butter to hide in her shoe.  I loved the symbolic connections, good pace within the novel, constant Biblical allusions, point of view, and Offred’s character.  The title itself, The Handmaid’s Tale is interesting in itself.  A tale customarily represents a fable or story, commonly like a fairytale.  If one were to make a connection between Handmaids and a fairytale, a classic would be in reference to the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.”  The girl of this classic wears a long red cape to her grandmother’s house in the woods, and ends up being eaten by the wolf, who pretends to be her grandmother.  This connection is the embodiment of deception, false pretences, secrets, control, and innocence/vulnerability.  Just as Little Red remained vulnerable at the wolf’s hands, Handmaids remain at the mercy of their Commanders and their government. 

The Feminisms opinions made unmistakably obvious throughout the storyline is only the focus of one woman’s point of view during a near-futuristic time of male domination over the female sex: 

The pen between my fingers in sensuous, alive almost, I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains.  Pen Is Envy, Aunt Lydia would say . . . warning us away from such objects.  And they were right, it is envy.  Just holding it is envy.  I envy the Commander his pen.  It’s one more thing I would like to steal.  (186)

Offred admires the Commander, and all men for that matter, their sexual orientations!  The idea pondered here is asking how differently life may have been for her had she been born a man.  Offred’s womanhood is the thing that condemns her to this life of misery, and holding the sexuality of a man is equivalent to the same amount of power sing a pen or writing utensil may possess.  In essence, this novel was spectacular.  The writing was appealing and context fascinating to decipher.  Atwood’s thoughts were clear, decisive, and organized.  The novel presents highly advanced diction and questioning allusions, but all symbols and themes are clear.  The novel, once again, is the representation of feminist individualism and the effects of oppression by gender and societal status. 



Favorite Citation with Explanation

A story is like a letter.  Dear You, I’ll say.  Just you, without a name.  Attaching a name attaches you to the world of fact, which is riskier, more hazardous:  who knows what the chances are out there, of survival, yours?  I will say you, you, like an old love song.  You can mean more than one.  You can mean thousands.  I’m not in any immediate dancer . . . I’ll pretend you can hear me.  But it’s no good, because I know you can’t.  (40)

This passage reflects on Offred’s personality.  It reveals concern to her listeners—her readers and audience.  It reveals remorse and longing—even the mention of an old love song of the time before would lead to the assumption that Offred yearns for the life she had before with her daughter and husband Luke.  It reveals her hope that her audience is comprised of thousands of individuals, who will read this story and share the news of this atrocity to others.  Finally, it unearths regret.  Offred is aware of the fact that her story may never touch the life of another person.  She is completely alone in this world, and no one will she be able to relate with about her experiences; no one will ever feel remorse for a tale they have never heard of.  Ironic, as well, that the people who do end up reading her memoirs at the very end of the novel and who study such endeavors over a period of time during an educational course find points of this journey humorous.  This insensitivity is heightened the analytical tone of the text: 

This . . . was unearthed on the site of what was once the city of Bangor, in what, at the time prior to the inception of the Gileadean regime, would have been the state of Maine.  We know that this city was a prominent way station on what our author refers to as ‘The Underground Femaledroad,’ since dubbed by some of our historical wags ‘The Underground Frailroad.’  (301)

Another quote offers the same evidence:  “[Offred] appears to have been an educated woman, insofar as a graduate of any North American college of the time may be said to have been educated” (305).  The reader feels a sense of outrage and confusion after having felt pain and sadness for Offred and other Handmaid’s throughout the reading experience.



Personal Commentary

I was completely unhappy with the novel We.  Although I respect Yevgeny Zamyatin as a dignified, well-known author, my reading experience was difficult; the unpleasantness residing in unsynchronized sentence structure, unnecessary detail, annoying changes in mood swings by the characters, perplexing or odd diction, and lack of connection between the reader and the character D-503.  This entire novel was written in the point of view of D-503, his thoughts utterly contradictory and hypocritical.  I found it interesting the way the author trails off sentences so often to show word of thought, but because the human mind is such a complex tool and the thinking process very intricate, I often became confused with the storyline.  I understand that this was the author’s intent; it was not, however, favorable to my humor.  This novel was challenging, and although I admire this in an author for being able to provide such a challenge, it is a time-consuming endeavor.  D-503’s miscommunication with the reader, of course, was another distracting factor throughout the course of the novel.  Not being able to understand D-503’s set and distinct attitude towards someone or and ideal is incredibly frustrating while trying to relate.  I also found myself constantly growing tiresome of the storyline in general.  The ending of the novel, however, I found tragic yet exciting; despite all unnecessary observation to detail and unnecessary gratuitous descriptions of scenes.  Overall, I found the novel quaint and an abnormal selection piece.  Still, I must conclude that I enjoyed the subject matter and viewed the novel as immensely creative.

Favorite Quote with Explanation

One of my personal favorite quotes from Record 11 of Zamyatin’s novel is spoken by R-13, during an explanation of the definition of One State: 

Those two in Paradise . . . were offered a choice:  happiness without freedom, or freedom without happiness.  [They] chose freedom . . . [and] were homesick for the chains.  We helped God . . . overcome the Devil—because that’s who it was the pushed people to . . . taste freedom and be ruined.  And we’re simple and innocent again, like Adam and Eve.  None of those complications about good and evil . . . The Benefactor, the Machine, the Cube, the gas Bell, and the Guardians.  All those things represent . . . all that is . . . crystal pure.  Because that is what protects our nonfreedom, which is to say, our happiness.  (63)

Ironic—is it not?  In order to be completely without world conflict, there must be no freedom among man.  Furthermore, the quote goes on to compare the Benefactor and One State to people worthy of an almighty God.  So convinced is ‘R’ that One State has thoroughly cleansed the world of all imperfections, he believes this society has helped God successfully overcome the world.  Also ironic, I find, is it that traditionally, math is classified as a complicated subject altogether.  In this passage, one may assume the writer feels differently; thusly, viewing math as peace of body, heart, and of mind.  Finally, although Adam and Eve’s transgression was against one of God’s commandments, idolization of another figure other than the Almighty Lord is another contravention of divine law.  This quote shows corruption among the minds of the people, specifically due to the influence of government—especially how all poems must be written in favor of this particular society. 

Analysis of Symbolic Theme of Choice

The novel We written by Yevgeny Zamyatin written in 1921 presents a dystopian world upon which mathematical principals are associated as equations with puzzling thoughts or actions, used to deal casually with during the routines of a systematic, generally exposed lifestyle.  No longer are people sensitive to the greater workings of the human spirit; they are but trapped in their own ideals and false belief that the society One State with which they themselves dwell, idolize, and praise constantly is perfect in its entirety.  To further enhance a person’s sense of reasoning in regards to the proportional logic pertaining to a person’s role in society, emotions have been thoroughly discarded, numerous operations and scientific advancements underway in a gathered effort to remove one completely of his imagination-or, of what is all the more precious- a soul.  A person is only worth what their bodies and intelligence can provide.  Personalities are one thing, but opinions that do not match those of the state are both unlawful and obsolete, considered completely incorrect and treason against the great Benefactor.  Dimensional figures, mathematical equations, and visually sequenced sentence structure (often times that in the form of a mathematical equation) contributes to the text and theme by which adhering to D-503 (the leading protagonist’s) views of what life is, as well as how to define tender moments in it using only variables and numbers.  “First, I did in fact get an order to be in that very auditorium 112, just as she had told me.  Although the probability was something like:  1500/10,000,000= 3/20,000” (Zamyatin 16).  Furthermore, the mathematical attachment D-503 has to use in dealing with thoughts and concerns is found even within the names of the society.  Males have consonants preceding odd numbers, while females’ vowels come prior to even numbers.  People are referred to as “numbers.”  Throughout the course of the book, irony is also evident while noting D-503’s initial reaction to irrational thought followed by bias ideals contradicted with every weak move and vague dream around or about I-330, a rebellious, flirtatious woman with a careful understanding of human psychology and sociology.  Her interactional skills and mindful intuition allow her to possess power over people (particularly men), including D-503, the Integral’s (One State Spaceship) leading mathematician and mechanic.  At one point in the novel, there is an attempt by the character S-4711 to try and explain the human soul to ‘D’ in the only language or English text he can refer to: 

Take a flat plane, a surface, take this mirror for instance . . . everything penetrates into it, inside, into that mirror world that we peer into with such curiosity, like children.  The plane has taken on mass, body, the world, and it’s all inside the mirror, inside you:  the sun, the wash from the aero’s propeller, and your stand, the cold mirror reflects, throws back, while this absorbs, and the trace left by everything lasts forever.  (87)

Of course, because a soul is virtually indefinable, it is considered a malfunction by the state.  Moreover, ‘D’ hears about a recent medical treatment discovered for irrational thought.  Because D-503 considers himself ill on account of having dreams/nightmares/feelings, he too considers the operation.  “‘Have you heard about this new operation they’re supposed to have developed—the one where they cut out the imagination?’” (79).  Finally, after having an imaginative-removal procedure performed on his brain, D-503 looses himself during the procedure—his emotions, sympathy, and essential spirit.