Comparison of 'White Writing' and 'Handmaid's Tale'
Idea 1 - The exploration of a sense of rebellion against authoritative institutions
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘White Analysis
Tale Writing’
Quotation Quotation
“Alma. - Individual identities - Recurring their past “No vows - Each first line begins with a declaration of
Janine. lives written to what Duffy and Kay's relationship is not. -
Dolores. - Connection beyond just handmaid's - wed you,” E.g; Duffy not being able to marry due to the
Moira. connection between individual women - anti-LGBT marriage laws within the UK at
June.” Sense of friendship and mutual the time of writing. - Frustration towards the
understanding of one another restrictions of society, particularly Patriarchal
- "June" - Protagonists Name - Can't keep structures. - Rejecting the typical institution
their names - psychological repression - of marriage. - Duffy highlights the stigma
Gilead's motivation to destroy / diminish surrounding smae-sex relationships. (2002)
identities. - The people are viewed by their - Throughout the poem - Duffy places "you"
role, not as autonomous individuals - at the end of the first line, and "I" at the start
Society encourages a lack of personal of the second - the close syntactic position
identity / freedom - more control. mirrors the close relationship of the lovers -
- Literature is used as a tool of subversion, passionate partnership.
the use of a name is powerful and - Starts with "no"
suggests subconscious rebellion, or the
potential for it. Reclaiming feminine power
through control of her own thoughts
“Waste not “my lips on - Duffy offers something that the relationship
want not. I - Rhetorical question - asking why she yours,” has lacked, but then contests this by
am not can't confront personal rebellion through demonstrating that the experiences they
being her thoughts. - Sexually conditioned - have had together make up for the loss of
wasted. Why removed personal sexual desire - only the original idea. The strength of personal
do I want?” sexual relations granted are for the experience over societal experiences.
purpose of producing children. - Sensual experiences
- "My lips on yours" - physical intimacy and
- Indoctrinated values passion - may not be a traditional
relationship, but still demonstrates her
- "Waste not want not" - Idiom used - WW1 commitment through sensual, intimate acts
- rationing and recycling - using her fertility and experiences - mirrors the way a
- recycling the 'useful' part - women and heterosexual couple demonstrates love -
their fertility are the commodities.Thoughts they are equal.
of rebellion - willing to undermine the - Although society may disagree with their
authority of Gilead, although her desire for relationship, there is a subtle sense of
rebellion is repressed and Offred rebellion suggested by the display of
demonstrates an outward conformity to physical intimacy.
expectations. Offred's creation of a
narrative provides hope for the future. -
She has found the only avenue of rebellion
in her totalitarian society: she denies
Gilead control over her inner life.
Idea 2 - The exploration of ideas of freedom and entrapment
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘White Analysis
Tale Writing’
Quotation Quotation
“There is - Freedom suggests anarchy - no rules - “I write - "I write them white" - anaphoric line -
more than But, in Gilead all is suppressed and them Empowering, demonstrates that Duffy is
one kind of restricted white” claiming this control and authority. -
freedom, - Aware of the false sense of freedom that Repetition almost becomes reminiscent of
said Aunt Gilead establishes - allows its citizens to vows.
Lydia. believe they are 'free' - pseudo positivity - - "White" - polysemous qualities within the
Idea 1 - The exploration of a sense of rebellion against authoritative institutions
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘White Analysis
Tale Writing’
Quotation Quotation
“Alma. - Individual identities - Recurring their past “No vows - Each first line begins with a declaration of
Janine. lives written to what Duffy and Kay's relationship is not. -
Dolores. - Connection beyond just handmaid's - wed you,” E.g; Duffy not being able to marry due to the
Moira. connection between individual women - anti-LGBT marriage laws within the UK at
June.” Sense of friendship and mutual the time of writing. - Frustration towards the
understanding of one another restrictions of society, particularly Patriarchal
- "June" - Protagonists Name - Can't keep structures. - Rejecting the typical institution
their names - psychological repression - of marriage. - Duffy highlights the stigma
Gilead's motivation to destroy / diminish surrounding smae-sex relationships. (2002)
identities. - The people are viewed by their - Throughout the poem - Duffy places "you"
role, not as autonomous individuals - at the end of the first line, and "I" at the start
Society encourages a lack of personal of the second - the close syntactic position
identity / freedom - more control. mirrors the close relationship of the lovers -
- Literature is used as a tool of subversion, passionate partnership.
the use of a name is powerful and - Starts with "no"
suggests subconscious rebellion, or the
potential for it. Reclaiming feminine power
through control of her own thoughts
“Waste not “my lips on - Duffy offers something that the relationship
want not. I - Rhetorical question - asking why she yours,” has lacked, but then contests this by
am not can't confront personal rebellion through demonstrating that the experiences they
being her thoughts. - Sexually conditioned - have had together make up for the loss of
wasted. Why removed personal sexual desire - only the original idea. The strength of personal
do I want?” sexual relations granted are for the experience over societal experiences.
purpose of producing children. - Sensual experiences
- "My lips on yours" - physical intimacy and
- Indoctrinated values passion - may not be a traditional
relationship, but still demonstrates her
- "Waste not want not" - Idiom used - WW1 commitment through sensual, intimate acts
- rationing and recycling - using her fertility and experiences - mirrors the way a
- recycling the 'useful' part - women and heterosexual couple demonstrates love -
their fertility are the commodities.Thoughts they are equal.
of rebellion - willing to undermine the - Although society may disagree with their
authority of Gilead, although her desire for relationship, there is a subtle sense of
rebellion is repressed and Offred rebellion suggested by the display of
demonstrates an outward conformity to physical intimacy.
expectations. Offred's creation of a
narrative provides hope for the future. -
She has found the only avenue of rebellion
in her totalitarian society: she denies
Gilead control over her inner life.
Idea 2 - The exploration of ideas of freedom and entrapment
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘White Analysis
Tale Writing’
Quotation Quotation
“There is - Freedom suggests anarchy - no rules - “I write - "I write them white" - anaphoric line -
more than But, in Gilead all is suppressed and them Empowering, demonstrates that Duffy is
one kind of restricted white” claiming this control and authority. -
freedom, - Aware of the false sense of freedom that Repetition almost becomes reminiscent of
said Aunt Gilead establishes - allows its citizens to vows.
Lydia. believe they are 'free' - pseudo positivity - - "White" - polysemous qualities within the
