Handmaid tale Blog #3: Who holds the power?

Ross Schonberg

Ms. Gubanich

English

April 29, 2016

Who holds the power?

In the book, Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, we read about Offred’s and the commander’s “new arrangement”. In this part of the story we see that Offred and the Commander have a new and interesting bond. This delves more into Offred’s psyche, as she is trying to understand who really has power and control in this relationship that she has with the Commander. There is more to this relationship than meets the eye and to Offred, there is always that wonder of what the structure of power is in this relationship.

First, earlier in the story we learn that the commander wants to meet with Offred. Offred has no idea what the meeting about, or why it’s even happening, but she is scared for it, since she is unsure of what is to come, she is also not allowed to go into the commander’s room. Offred comes into the commander’s room and there are “books and books and books, right out in plain view, no locks, no box”(Atwood 137), so she is already shocked when she comes into the room, because all of the things in his room are not allowed in this new society. So as offred is coming into the room, she sits down, with the commander opposite of her. He says to Offred that “You must find this very strange,”, because she really is confused. After that the commander asks Offred if she would like to play Scrabble with him, which is not allowed. It is clear that offred is enjoying this very much, and after that when they are getting ready to finish up the night, the commander says to Offred “I want you to kiss me” (Atwood 139). In the beginning of their secret relationship, it seems that the commander has power over her, because he is getting her to open up with him, even though she wanted to “put my arms around him and slip the lever out from the sleeve and drive the sharp end into him suddenly between the ribs” (Atwood 140), so her emotions are mixed and she is unsure of how she really feels.

As their relationship continues, we see that he is treating Offred kindly and they feel more equal since the commander finds sex impersonal. Although the power has been evened out more, it will always be that the commander has more power, since he could just end it with Offred whenever he feels like, and have her sent away. We learn throughout the meeting between the two of them that the power on either side has been put in a state of equality as their bond progresses there is probably less tension, as they get more comfortable with each other. The stereotypes of a typical man and woman meeting are put into play here. In the new society Offred, the handmaid, is a servant to the commander and doesn’t get treated with any respect, but when the two of them meet in private, the commander is very polite and respectful, by offering a seat, when she is usually supposed to stand, and when she takes her seat, he pulls the chair out for her. So in a society that doesn’t care for women of her level, the commander is still a gentleman and treats other with respect.

In conclusion, only time will tell how the power is distributed in the secret relationship, but it seems that they both like the direction it is heading. This bond between the two of them is very interesting, it gives us more insight into the commander, and how he is not just the ruler of the house, but rather, a person who might also miss the olden days, since he still enjoys to play scrabble. So even though, in this relationship, the commander is the one in charge socially, it is still blurry as to who really has the power and control.

Handmaid #2: Who was it worse for?

Ross Schonberg

Ms. Gubanich

English

April 22, 2016

Who was it worse for

In the book, The Handmaid’s Tale, the story revolves around one character, named Offred. As the we get more into the story we learn that she has been forced to live as a Handmaid, in a new society. The is one part in the book, chapter sixteen, on page 95, that illustrates what her purpose in this world is. While reading this part there is a quote said by Offred, which is “who was it worse for, her or me?”. this is meant to delve deeper into some of the characters perspectives, and we will solve who the “her” is and which of them it was worse for.

First, In the new society Offred is basically a procreating servant, who sole purpose is to make children. Than as we are getting to the part when Offred says her quote, it appears that she is with the commander and his wife, and they are reading the bible. The commander was reading from the book of Genesis, more specifically, the part about Rachel and Leah, and how Rachel was infertile, so her husband had to have sex with their maid in order for them to have a child. This is setting up for a parallel between what’s happening in the bible and what is going to happen in the story. After the commander has read from the book the commander’s wife, Serena Joy, is said to be infertile, therefore can’t have children. The commander decides to have sex with Offred, in the hopes of getting her pregnant. So they have sex and afterwards Offred is with Serena, who is grabbing Offred very tightly, to the point where it kind of hurts. Serena let's go and then Offred says “who was it worse for, her or me?”.

In my opinion, I would say that it was worse for Offred. It was worse for Offred because she is being forced to submit her body to sex. Also, the sex is solely for procreation, not for love and passion, and Offred doesn’t even get to keep the child, since the commander and his wife will take the child. On the other side of the spectrum, In Serena Joy’s case, it really wasn’t that bad for her, this, in a way, was kind of what she was hoping for. Even though she wishes that it was her having sex with the commander, which is probably why she grabbed Offred so hard after the sex had happened, she is unable to have children, so she wanted Offred to have sex with him, which would allow her to have a child. Serena joy is selfish and was using Offred and she only seems to care about having child. So it seems very clear that this was much worse for offred. When you really think about it both women have it bad. Offred is forced to have and bare a child, and Serena truly wants to have child, but will never get to experience of having her own (biological) child.

In Conclusion, this part of the book, definitely shows how all women have to struggle with this new society and that even people as high as being a commander's wife, or as low as a Handmaid, can still have troubles. In these chapters we also get a better feel for the characters and how they act in situations, and what people's true goals and purposes are. So even though I believe that Offred did get the worse of it, both Offred and Serena didn’t walk away clean and happy.

Handmaids tale blog #1: Then and Now

Ross Schonberg

Ms. Gubanich

English

April 15, 2016

Then and Now

In the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, the author, Margaret Atwood, likes to use flashbacks as a means of giving the reader information (which is just exposition). Atwood will do this throughout chapters and will then transfer back to present day. This is a very effective way of writing, it allows us to see the changes that have happened to the main character and the world in which she lives, while also giving us some background information.

First, the story begins with a flashback, so we start out in the past. Later on in the story we learn that our main character’s name if Offred, and she is a Handmaiden. It begins in the past and Offred seems to be in a gymnasium, with guards, called Aunts, surrounding them, it appears that she is going through (with what I can assume is) Handmaids training. Then she talks about how they walk around on a football field, but there are fences with wires all around them. We begin to get the feeling that she was in some sort of prison. This helps us realize what sort of world that she is living in. We know that it takes place in the future, but it seems that they don’t really care about education if they are using a school for prison-like facility. It can also be inferred that there used to be a society similar to ours (not so long ago), since there are mentions of pictures (of the high-school girls) that would reference a different type of living, and use of the gymnasium. Also, there is a flashback that goes even further back. Its is when Offred is a girl and is watching television and remembers about a singer, who in the present has become a wife, which is higher than a handmaid. In the story, giving information about the past is very helpful for the reader to have a much better understanding of what Offred's present is like.

Next, The story transitions back to the present, and Offred is in a room. We learn that this room is also like a prison, in which there is no escape and is basically suicide proof. What is different in the present that isn’t mentioned in her past is that she seems to serve a purpose that is sexual. In this present we also learn that everyone has a job, like how Offred is a handmaid, there are two other characters, Rita and Cora, who are Marthas, which is a job, higher than a handmaid’s job. So it is clear that there isn’t much choice or freedom within the world Offred lives in this future society. There is a big similarity between the flashbacks and the preset, which is that this world is very much centered around control.

In conclusion, flashbacks can be a very helpful means of storytelling, it can help the story progress without having the reader get lost or confused (including myself). It can also help us get an understanding of the characters and world that we are presented. Also, like with most dystopian literature there is some form of control over the people, and how the story tells us that Offred has been under control almost her whole life. Many (dystopian) novels don’t use flashbacks in their stories, and (I think) that this story uses it in a good and helpful way.

Anthem Blog #2: Discovery

Ross Schonberg

Ms. Gubanich

English

April 8, 2016

Anthem Discovery

In the book Anthem the theme of discovery is a very important one. The reader is taken on a journey, with our main character Equality, about figuring things out and realizations. Many of the things that Equality “discovers” are concepts that the reader already holds as fact. Within this story Equality discovers so much about the past, his present, and who he is, or at least, who he wants to be. 

First, in the story we learn that Equality has always thought differently and “that the learning was too easy”(Rand 9). So he is also able to process ideas at a much higher thinking level. He realizes this about himself rather quickly, because he always says that he wants to be a scholar rather than just a petty street sweeper. Early on in the story Equality was sweeping a street behind a theatre and as he is doing so he finds a dark underground tunnel, but uses a candle to see, and as he was walking around “the flame of the candle stands still in the air. Nothing moves in this tunnel save our hand on the paper”(Rand 5). He begins to write in his journal, filled with curiosity and wondering if this is a place from the unmentionable times, but for the first time in his life he realizes that “We are alone here under the earth” and in his society “it is a fearful word, alone” (Rand 5). In Equalities society, everything is based around the community, like sharing ideas, and if someone brings up an idea that no one else has thought of than the idea is useless and no longer exist. This is the first time that Equality is alone, so this really gives him time to think about who he is and what he thinks life should be about, which is to find new things.

Another discovery that Equality makes throughout the story is his love of learning. He continuously goes into the tunnel from the unmentionable times and Equality makes a discovery that was unimaginable to him before, he discovers electricity. As he was working on figuring out this new found wonder he was learning that “This discovery haunted us. We followed it in preference to all our studies” and so he is so infatuated with it that, and he craves more knowledge, and so for him to learn more about electricity “We worked it, we tested it in more ways than we can describe, and each step was another miracle unveiling before us” (Rand 36). So rather than him just believing what the rest of society is supposed to believe, he has seen actual proof of new things, so he can make them facts and say that this logically makes sense (as Ayn Rand Would say).

Later on in the book once Equality has realized who he is and how he wants to live his life, with the Golden One, he does not want to live by the rules of his society. No longer does he use the word We when referring to himself (with the government), instead he finally decides that he is his own person and uses the forbidden word by saying “I am.”, that he is his own person, “I think.”, he has his own thoughts and ideas, rather than the collective people, and “I will.”, which is saying that he will do whatever he wants. (Rand 71). Equality has discovered that he can be himself and not what some government assigns him to be.

In conclusion, I believe what Ayn Rand was trying to convey within this story would be to discover your true self and work on becoming the best “you” you can be. Also, that we should have our own ideas, identities and desires, and no one should just be a follower, rather that a person should do what drives them the most, to learn and love. Discovery isn’t just an important theme within this story, but it is an important theme in life as well

Anthem Blog #1: Rand Philosophy in moder world

Ross Schonberg

Ms. Gubanich

English

April 1, 2016

Rand’s Philosophy

Ayn Rand, the author of the book, called Anthem, has a much different philosophy on life and how someone should live their life. Ayn rand believes in a philosophy called objectivism, which is the belief that certain things, especially moral truths, exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them. A lot of her beliefs, back when she was alive to speak about them, were looked at as not being a good way to live life or just not morally correct. Some of her ideas and philosophies can relate to, or go against with our modern world.

First, Ayn Rand always believed in looking at things logically, which is something that most people today can relate to. In today's world we are always looking at the facts, it helps us process things simpler, especially when it comes to things like science, the news, and life in general. When something is logically correct, it makes much more sense, rather than people who are religious and will say the reasoning behind things because god did them, with no proof behind them. When Ayn Rand said that believing things only if it makes logical sense, that can be true in today's world and a lot of people can relate to that idea.

Than, another belief of hers was that you can only love someone if they have overcome their weaknesses. This belief does not work now, nor did it work back when Ayn Rand was alive. If people, who also have overcame all of their weaknesses, only loved other people who have overcome their weaknesses, than many people would be alone forever and the amount of relationships in the world would be far less. Nobody is perfect, everyone has at least one flaw, so then the world would be a loveless and lonely world. Also, a lot of people accept other people because of their flaws and accept them for that and will try to help them overcome it. So this belief of Ayn’s certainly does not relate to this modern world.

Lastly, One of Ayn Rand's strongest beliefs is that you must only care about yourself and should not help other people in need. She believes this because she thinks that if you help other people it will slow you down from becoming the best version of yourself. Now (we discussed this in our english class) Ayn doesn’t mean that you can’t help some old lady across a street, since that hes little affect on you, but say that you decide to go Africa and help poor and starving towns, Rand would probably not believe in that. This philosophy so does not work today because so many people need help and it would come off as just being mean to other people, being selfish and having very little altruism. This completely clashes with the idea of being kind and considerate to one another in today's world.

At first it seems that it is easy to see that she makes her ideas present and very straight forward, but it is clear that not all of them can make a whole lot of sense it today's society. A lot of her beliefs are meant to help make a better you, but it would be such a struggle to succeed in doing that, while living in the world that we do today.