Pg.

108 Importance of maintaining her identity, determination to survive

‘I want to steal something’-

Pg 122-context for the infertility crisis- environmental/toxins, chemicals

Pg 138- 41. Moira- empowered through her escape. Her ability to escape a source of
strength for the other women, she rebelled against the system. ‘she was lava beneath the
crust of daily life’

Pg 146- objectification of women. ‘two legged wombs, that’s all’

Pg 147. Setting of commander’s study- ‘oasis of the forbidden’; metaphor. ‘books

everywhere unlocked’. Play scrabble- pg 149, loves the feeling of freedom- ‘what a luxury,
the counters are like candies’; simile

Pg. 178. Ofglen is a member of the resistance.

Origins of Gilead- chp 28

Pg 192- inequality of power ‘we are not each other’s anymore. Instead, I am his’

Pg 209, Jezebel’s: religious significance. Brothel that the commanders and men of high
statues go frequent.
Who was Jezebel- Archetype of wicked woman, killer/prostitute. Jezebel was a biblical
queen, wife of Ahah who was accused of worshipping stray dogs, murder and prostitution.
She was killed and her body was eaten by stray dogs
o A story from the New Testament. Inequality within a patriarchal system
o Pg215 ‘It’s only women who can’t, who remain …”

Chp 33, 233- The women attend a prayvaganza. The different ranks are emphasised as they
all sit separately- the wives seated; handmaids lined up. The commander starts by giving a
speech- religious allusions and examples. How women should remain silent, bear children,
be modest; religious propaganda. How religion is used to justify the oppression of women,
extreme interpretations of the Bible

Pg 246-247; hypocrisy of men within these theocracies- preach morality but do as they
please, break the rules. Forbidden pleasures with prostitutes. Playboy bunny reference

Pg 256. Voice- Offred’s voice dominates the text, but she takes on the voice of Moira’s tells
her story. Moira’s voice retold through Offred. Rebellious humour ‘I left that old hag Aunt
Elizabeth tied up like a Christmas turkey’.
Pg 260- true horrors of the colonies revealed- references to death camps and echoes and
parallels the holocaust.

Pg 261- ‘what I hear in her voice is indifference, a lack of volition, have they really done it to
her, take away something … that used to be so central to her’

Pg 279- voice. Talks directly to the reader and apologises to them about how the story is so
dark/ pain and sadness. Removes herself from the story.

Chp 42 pg 284- women’s salvaging- execution. Another example of the brutality and
violence of the state. Aunt Lydia- propaganda, voice of the state. Handmaids take part- they
symbolically help hang the women

Pg 289- imagery and horror of the corpses ‘like birds with their wings clipped’, similes and
metaphors.

Pg 290- Particicution

Pg 297. Brutal reminder of the risk of resistance, Ofglen is willing to sacrifice herself

Chapter 45. This is the moment she surrenders to Gilead- gives up all hope. Prays that she
will be a perfect handmaid- do whatever is allowed of her so she doesn’t suffer or die. She
now truly understands Gilead’s power. Pg 298- the power of the government

Chapter 46. The ending is ambiguous, there are two pathways ahead of her