What purpose do neologisms serve in Gilead? What is its significance? How do you figure out what they mean?
I feel that neologisms help the reader understand how Gilead is a different place and society than the world we currently live in. As the reader comes across new words that they aren’t aware of, they have to use parts of the word and the context of the word to understand what it means. For example in chapter 2 it says “unwomen” at first it seems confusing. But then you understand how unwomen is used to show isolated the women are from society and other women. As the reader gets a better understanding of these neologisms they can understand through the use of these neologisms how Gilead is a completely different society. Neologisms help the reader make connections with The Republic of Gilead.
How is Biblical language used in Gilead?
The use of biblical language especially by Aunt Lydia shows how in the Republic of Gilead the state and the church are not separated like in current society. They treat religion and lifestyle as one. Whereas, in our current society most western countries and cultures tend to separate religion and political ideologies. For example, in chapter 15 it says “for the eyes of the lord” Which implies that everything that is being done is for the lord. Not only the individuals like the handmaid but even the whole republic of Gilead itself. Again highlights the goals of this society is based on religion which contrasts the western way of thinking in our current society.
What is the significance and purpose of Offred’s musings about language? How do they affect the story, the reader, and Offred? What might be a larger, symbolic, significance to Offred thinking about language?
I feel that Offred’s language musings give an insight into Offred’s thoughts and feelings. They show how even though the handmaid’s in Gilead are not really treated as real women, Offred has her own thoughts and feelings about how people talk. On the outside, to everybody else, she just seems like another Handmaid who has “of” in her name like anybody. To others, it would seem like she is clueless. But, since Atwood gives the reader an insight Offred thoughts we understand that actually she doesn’t fit the general stereotype of Handmaids. Who aren’t educated and are illiterate. The language musings are used as a secretive way for Offred to express her emotions when really she can’t express what she really is feeling and thinking.
Why are the women in Gilead forbidden to read (down to the signs on the stores being replaced with images)? Why is literacy a threat to Gilead?
Atwood uses the fact that women are forbidden to read and write as a symbol for how really women are being kept on a tight leash by Gilead kind of like pets and animals. Since they limit the education of women Gilead believes that the lack of ability to communicate will make the women dependant on men. Since they are dependant they can’t really think for themselves they can’t understand and realised how they are being constrained and being kept on a leash. This limits the threat of an uprising and a rebellion against the Republic of Gilead. Gilead is so desperate to stay in power, that they treat women as animals that don’t deserve to think and live for themselves. They make women just blindly follow orders and not even understand what is going on around them. Which again contrasts so much the goals of our society. There are so many movements to get everybody educated and live for themselves instead of being clueless and just being told what to do. Atwood using limiting of education for women to highlighting the large contrast between Gilead and the world the reader and we currently live in.
What was your reaction when you read that the Commander wanted to play Scrabble with Offred? Why is playing Scrabble such an illicit activity?
It was very surprising as this goes against the goals and the ways of the Republic of Gilead. Gilead uses language as a way to limit and constrain women, but the commander is like slowly letting go of that leash that Offred has been kept in. It kinds of foreshadows the future of how eventually Gilead does fall, and this is like the first step to that happening. Atwood using the significance of how playing scrabble is such an illicit act, even though for the reader and society we currently lice in scrabble is just a game. She kind of uses the Hyperbole to really make it evident to the reader how significance just a simple game of scrabble is and how significant language is in Gilead and also in the society that we currently live in.
