Not come up
Theme HMT Quote + analysis St.Car Quote Context
analysis
Conflict Chapter 1 ‘Palimpsest Scene 1 ‘appearance HMT dystopian
2018 of unheard sound’ is incongruous to the setting reflects
‘hoops’ ‘nets were setting’ total control of
gone’ Her mannerisms, the
Setting reflects the lifestyle and beliefs government of
layers of ‘free’ are not welcome in movement and
America hidden by the new south. Use activity.
Gilead’s re-education of setting to
and redefinition of the represent Blanche’s Blanche
world. Removal of relationship with the represents the
recreational activities, modern post-war Old south, how
anything not related to USA. unwelcome it
childbirth or religious is in the
population control. Scene 1 ‘ghoul- bustling
haunted woodland of modernity of
Chapter 1 ‘its not my weir!’ New Orleans
room. I refuse to say Contrasts stella’s ‘New south’.
my’ easy transition into Irrelevance of
Offred’s rejection of life there. Blanche her literary
her new role and the comments upon how references in
setting that represents eerie this way of life largely working
her confinement. Clash is to her. Unsettling class
of old and new as well and gothic, she is population that
as Offred’s mind and repulsed by the would not have
body with her change. the time or
situation. money for
higher
education into
subjects like
literature.
Chapter 2 ‘Jealousy Jealousy between Government
could get her’ Stanley and blanche ensures as
Attwood personifies over Stella/wealth. little
jealousy to emphasise Causes conflict. communicatio
its impact and the n as possible
significance of it within Scene 2 ‘Look at between
Gileadean society, these feathers and Handmaids. By
specifically between furs she comes here making a child
Handmaids. Ominous to preen herself in’ their ticket to
statement implies ‘I got an ‘freedom’,
brutality due to her acquaintance...’ engineers
pregnancy. Population ‘a crown for an jealousy
control, threat even empress!’ amongst
amongst women who Reveals Stanley’s Handmaids.
,could be friends or resentment towards Likened to Nazi
allies ensuring no Blanche for her scheme of
union. upper class motherhood
upbringing and the medals ->
Add quote symbols of wealth children =
Of jealousy between she adorns herself in rewards.
handmaids/ Offred and to fool herself and Encouragemen
Sj others of her t and jealousy
fortune. He is amongst
‘hostile blue’ insecure and jealous women as
‘my husband, that’s it. of her leading to better
Til death do us part’ conflict when he motivation.
continues to confront
her, refusing to
pander to her
instability.
‘now lets cut the re-
bop'
Emphasises his role
in destroying her
‘soft colours’ and
illusions she puts on
for others.
Blanche does not
help matters by
calling him ‘a little
on the primitive side’
(scene 2)
‘He acts like an
animal!... something
sub-human about
him’
He overhears such
declarations in scene
4. This, would argue
is the turning point
of the play, sealing
Blanche’s downfall
by Stanley’s hands.
Scene ten ‘We’ve
had this date with
each other from the
beginning’
Chapter 2 ‘thinking Scene 1 ‘startled Conflict of her
can hurt your chances’ gesture’ knowing she
Submission of Offred’s ‘incongruous’ must accept
, thoughts to the regime ‘panting heavily’ the New south
as the slightest Blanche’s lack of and stella’s
resistance and internal comfort in a loud new lifestyle
conflict can cause a urban environment with her
spiral of hopelessness ‘RED HOT RED HOT’ desires and
at the inescapable ‘cat’ ‘screeches’. Yet instincts.
reality of her situation. despite this she
Fear of her own mind. insists on remaining
This is emphasised by in New Orleans.
Attwood through Desires clash with
Offred’s internal reality.
dialogue.
Scene 1 ‘I want to be
Chapter 4‘enjoy that near you, got to be
power’ ‘will suffer’ with somebody, I
Offred does have can’t be alone!’
thoughts of rebellion,
conflict with her
attempts to suppress
her own mind through
distraction. She likes
to see the Guardians
‘suffer’ in their lust for
her. Also demonstrates
hatred of the ‘hostile’
Serena Joy and her
power over her
(chapter 25). ‘Amused
myself’ ‘mean jokes
about her’ due to how
SJ treats her ‘as if I’m
a piece of furniture’
Isolatio Chapter 2 ‘jealousy ‘Her future is already Creating class
n got to her’ mapped out for her’ barriers in
2024 Attwood personifies Reaction to Gilead.
jealousy to emphasise Blanche’s
its impact and the combination of age, St car.
significance of it within mental deterioration Society’s
Gileadean society, and promiscuity double
specifically between makes her standards for
Handmaids. Ominous undesirable in men and
statement, implies society and shunned. women.
brutality due to her Stanley reflects this Female
pregnancy. Population view that she is seen sexuality or
control, threat even as a lost cause and being sexually
amongst women who irredeemable for her liberal was
could be friends or choices. (scene 7) frowned upon.
allies ensuring no Prostitutes
union. ‘You’re not clean were shunned.
, enough to bring in Pure or
Chapter 2 ‘we don’t sit the house’ scene 9 nothing.
on chairs but kneel’ Mitch also reflects
Large emphasis on this but in a more
levels and the class targeted manner
system women are in, towards her sexual
even as second class freedom. Double
citizens. Marthas and standards of women
Wives stand, whilst and men enforced by
Handmaids kneel society, were
before all other Stanley is celebrated
women and men as a ‘gaudy seed
portraying their class bearer’. Women like
isolation and status Blanche who have
within Gilead as had to rely on men
‘wombs’, not people. or less desirable
Increases chances of means to survive are
resentment between rejected – no longer
classes. ‘pure’ or on the
pedestal of the
Chapter 2 "it's upper-class Mitch
officially a sitting room had her upon.
... For others there's
standing room only."
Chapter 23 ‘He was so ‘many intimacies
sad. This was a with strangers... to
reconstruction too’ fill my empty heart’
‘scrabble’ scene 9
‘company’ Sex with many
To cope with her different men to feel
isolation Offred resorts loved and ‘seen’, like
to consorting with the she isn’t just fading
Commander, one of into the past with
her and American the Old South. Feel
women’s main less alone in the
oppressors to ease her world as she can
loneliness. Despite his perform the most
dubious motives and intimate act with
views on women she different people to
keeps him company. feel loved.
Also alters her own
perception/memory of ‘put on soft colours’
events to make it
seem like he valued ‘I have always
her presence and depended on the
conversation to kindness of
alleviate her isolation strangers’ scene 11
and pain. Fragility of Blanche,
constant search for