HMT Quotes
Establish Gilead
Patriarchy (society in which men hold power and women are largely excluded)
- The positions of power in Gilead, ‘the Commanders of the Faith’ are
held by men
- The state was created because ‘there was nothing for [men] anymore,’
showing that the sole reason for the creation of this state was to benefit
men.
Totalitarian (government that asserts total control over citizen’s lives)
Theocracy (laws based on religion)
- The Bible quotation in the epigraph ‘ she shall bear upon my knees, that
I may also have children by her. (Genesis 30:3)’ is used as justification
for the state’s handmaid system, as well as the reason for the
degradation of women who are unable to have children.
Oppression of women throughout time
Gilead
- All blame is placed on women - ‘it’s only women who can’t, who remain
stubbornly closed, damaged, defective’
Post-Gilead
- Professor Pieixoto’s lecture in which he says that ‘[they] must be cautious
about passing moral judgement upon the Gileadeans’ which is followed by
‘applause.’ By not judging their actions, he is excusing and justifying them. The
applause that follows shows that everyone else agrees with this.The ideology
of Gilead is still being justified shows that their society too is still misogynistic
and unfair towards women.
- ‘Our job is not to censure but to understand’
Offred
Hope
- When Offred thinks about what happened to her daughter, she says that she 'would
like to believe this is a story [she’s] telling. [She] need[s] to believe it. [She] must
believe it.' This shows that Offred’s main driving force for survival is the hope
- ‘I intend to get out of here’
Rebellion
- When Offred flirts with the guards at the gate on her daily walk, she acknowledges
that 'such moments are possibilities, tiny peepholes.' The smallest acts of rebellion
are what drive Offred
- ‘I move my hips a little’ ‘then I find I’m not ashamed after all. I enjoy the
power’ (daily walk, guards)
Establish Gilead
Patriarchy (society in which men hold power and women are largely excluded)
- The positions of power in Gilead, ‘the Commanders of the Faith’ are
held by men
- The state was created because ‘there was nothing for [men] anymore,’
showing that the sole reason for the creation of this state was to benefit
men.
Totalitarian (government that asserts total control over citizen’s lives)
Theocracy (laws based on religion)
- The Bible quotation in the epigraph ‘ she shall bear upon my knees, that
I may also have children by her. (Genesis 30:3)’ is used as justification
for the state’s handmaid system, as well as the reason for the
degradation of women who are unable to have children.
Oppression of women throughout time
Gilead
- All blame is placed on women - ‘it’s only women who can’t, who remain
stubbornly closed, damaged, defective’
Post-Gilead
- Professor Pieixoto’s lecture in which he says that ‘[they] must be cautious
about passing moral judgement upon the Gileadeans’ which is followed by
‘applause.’ By not judging their actions, he is excusing and justifying them. The
applause that follows shows that everyone else agrees with this.The ideology
of Gilead is still being justified shows that their society too is still misogynistic
and unfair towards women.
- ‘Our job is not to censure but to understand’
Offred
Hope
- When Offred thinks about what happened to her daughter, she says that she 'would
like to believe this is a story [she’s] telling. [She] need[s] to believe it. [She] must
believe it.' This shows that Offred’s main driving force for survival is the hope
- ‘I intend to get out of here’
Rebellion
- When Offred flirts with the guards at the gate on her daily walk, she acknowledges
that 'such moments are possibilities, tiny peepholes.' The smallest acts of rebellion
are what drive Offred
- ‘I move my hips a little’ ‘then I find I’m not ashamed after all. I enjoy the
power’ (daily walk, guards)
