Important Quotes
“It isn't running away they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a cutting edge.” (p.8)
This quote is important because it symbolizes and exemplifies confinement in the republic. The narrator reminds us that there are different levels of freedom. In Gilaed, there isn’t even the freedom of choice on life. Life is mandatory in the republic. Windows of buildings only open partly and the glass is shatter proof inhibiting the possibility of suicide.
“Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us.” (p. 8)
This quote is part of the red motif. The handmaids are cloaked in red as a reminder of their fertility. Red not only symbolizes menstrual blood or blood resulting from birth, but the red is a threat of death.
“The Republic of Gilead, said Aunt Lydia, knows no bounds. Gilead is within you.” (p. 23)
This quote contributes to the setting. In Gilead, everything is controlled. The place becomes part of you, not just a place where you reside. The republic of Gilead will make the choices: not the actual individuals.
“They wore blouses with buttons down the front that suggested the possibilities of the word undone. These women could be undone; or not. They seemed to be able to choose. We seemed to be able to choose, then.” (p. 25)
This quote exhibits the narrator reflecting on the past. It shows the twisted ordeal of how women are forced to be/act in Gilead. They had the choice of how to represent themselves. However, nowadays, they are confined to either being a wife, handmaid, or aunt.
“Modesty is invisibility, said Aunt Lydia. Never forget it. To be seen— to be seen—is to be— her voice trembled— penetrated.” (p. 28).
This quote also has to do with gender roles. Woman must be hidden because they are seen as different than men. They wear veils that cover their heads, gloves, and long gowns that hide every part of their bodies. In Gilead,
“She doesn't make speeches anymore. She has become speechless. She stays in her home, but it doesn't seem to agree with her. How furious she must be, now that she's been taken at her word.” (p. 46)
The narrator is reflecting on the past in this quote. It represents how normal life was before Gilead, and now it has completely distorted the lives of women. The commander’s wife used to be on television and make speeches voicing her opinion. Now, she is silenced and she is defined by her role as a wife.
“I almost gasp: he's said a forbidden word. Sterile. There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that's the law.” P. 61
This quote exemplifies the motif of women’s roles. According to Gilead, woman are not seen as useful, besides the fact that they have an egg that fertilizes to produce children. Offred has said in the past “I am his.” Gilead has truly made her believe that her role as a women is inferior to a man’s role.
"Give me children, or else I die. There's more than one meaning to it.“ (p. 61).
This is another example of the role of women. This relates to the book because as a handmaid, Offred is constantly being told by Aunt Lydia that if she isn’t fertile, she is worthless. Aunt Lydia acts as a form of propaganda for Gilead.
“My nakedness is strange to me already. My body seems outdated.” P.63
“I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely.” (p. 63)
These quotes definitely relates to the world we live in today. Girls are constantly being defined by their bodies, just like they are in Gilead. Bodies can be seen as shameful, something that needs to be covered. In Gilead the women are forced to wear heavy material to shield skin, just like many girls all over the world are forced to cover their own face.
“My name isn't Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it's forbidden. I tell myself it doesn't matter, your name is like your telephone number , useful only to others; but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter. I keep the knowledge of this name like something hidden, some treasure I'll come back to dig up, one day. I think of this name as buried.” (p. 84).
This quote applies to the motif seen commonly: identity. When people are kept from using their real names, they become lesser versions of themselves and start to who they are on the inside. Offred is falling to the suppressive ways of the republic by valuing her own name as worthless.
"Hurry up and wait," says Nick. He laughs, moves his foot so it's touching mine again. No one can see, beneath the folds of my outspread skirt. (p. 81).
This quote exemplifies the lack of touch and feeling of Gilead. Just a simple toe touch means so much in a world without any feelings. I think this quote characterizes Nick, in addition. He can be a symbol of rebellion in the novel. He attempts to bend the rules in the republic. Whether it is winking at Offred, touching her foot, or eventually kissing her, he doesn’t completely succumb to the ways of Gilead.
“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Then comes the moldy old Rachel and Leah stuff we had drummed into us at the Center. Give me children, or else I die. Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Behold my maid Bilhah. She shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. And so on and so forth.” (p. 88).
This is a prayer that Offred and the other handmaids are forced to say. The republic uses religion as a form of propaganda. They pray for the ability to have kids, which is what they are brainwashed into thinking there only purpose is. According to Genesis 29:29, Bilhah is “Rachel's handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob.” Since the Old Testament had handmaids. The republic uses outdated Christianity to persuade the women that childbearing is the only way of life.
“The voice was a man's. Blessed be the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed be the meek. Blessed are the silent. I knew they made that up, I knew it was wrong, and they left things out, too, but there was no way of checking. Blessed be those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (p. 89).
This quote is another allusion to the bible. The Beatitudes are eight blessings in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. The republic added to the Beatitudes by making up a line about how the silent and the meek are blessed. The republic did so because they want their people to not speak up and remain ignorant.
“It has nothing to do with passion or love or romance or any of those other notions we used to titillate ourselves with. It has nothing to do with sexual desire, at least for me, and certainly not for Serena.” (p. 94).
This is Offred describing her job as a handmaid. Sex has completely lost its purpose and value. In Gilead, it is simply used to reproductive
“It isn't running away they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a cutting edge.” (p.8)
This quote is important because it symbolizes and exemplifies confinement in the republic. The narrator reminds us that there are different levels of freedom. In Gilaed, there isn’t even the freedom of choice on life. Life is mandatory in the republic. Windows of buildings only open partly and the glass is shatter proof inhibiting the possibility of suicide.
“Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us.” (p. 8)
This quote is part of the red motif. The handmaids are cloaked in red as a reminder of their fertility. Red not only symbolizes menstrual blood or blood resulting from birth, but the red is a threat of death.
“The Republic of Gilead, said Aunt Lydia, knows no bounds. Gilead is within you.” (p. 23)
This quote contributes to the setting. In Gilead, everything is controlled. The place becomes part of you, not just a place where you reside. The republic of Gilead will make the choices: not the actual individuals.
“They wore blouses with buttons down the front that suggested the possibilities of the word undone. These women could be undone; or not. They seemed to be able to choose. We seemed to be able to choose, then.” (p. 25)
This quote exhibits the narrator reflecting on the past. It shows the twisted ordeal of how women are forced to be/act in Gilead. They had the choice of how to represent themselves. However, nowadays, they are confined to either being a wife, handmaid, or aunt.
“Modesty is invisibility, said Aunt Lydia. Never forget it. To be seen— to be seen—is to be— her voice trembled— penetrated.” (p. 28).
This quote also has to do with gender roles. Woman must be hidden because they are seen as different than men. They wear veils that cover their heads, gloves, and long gowns that hide every part of their bodies. In Gilead,
“She doesn't make speeches anymore. She has become speechless. She stays in her home, but it doesn't seem to agree with her. How furious she must be, now that she's been taken at her word.” (p. 46)
The narrator is reflecting on the past in this quote. It represents how normal life was before Gilead, and now it has completely distorted the lives of women. The commander’s wife used to be on television and make speeches voicing her opinion. Now, she is silenced and she is defined by her role as a wife.
“I almost gasp: he's said a forbidden word. Sterile. There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that's the law.” P. 61
This quote exemplifies the motif of women’s roles. According to Gilead, woman are not seen as useful, besides the fact that they have an egg that fertilizes to produce children. Offred has said in the past “I am his.” Gilead has truly made her believe that her role as a women is inferior to a man’s role.
"Give me children, or else I die. There's more than one meaning to it.“ (p. 61).
This is another example of the role of women. This relates to the book because as a handmaid, Offred is constantly being told by Aunt Lydia that if she isn’t fertile, she is worthless. Aunt Lydia acts as a form of propaganda for Gilead.
“My nakedness is strange to me already. My body seems outdated.” P.63
“I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely.” (p. 63)
These quotes definitely relates to the world we live in today. Girls are constantly being defined by their bodies, just like they are in Gilead. Bodies can be seen as shameful, something that needs to be covered. In Gilead the women are forced to wear heavy material to shield skin, just like many girls all over the world are forced to cover their own face.
“My name isn't Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it's forbidden. I tell myself it doesn't matter, your name is like your telephone number , useful only to others; but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter. I keep the knowledge of this name like something hidden, some treasure I'll come back to dig up, one day. I think of this name as buried.” (p. 84).
This quote applies to the motif seen commonly: identity. When people are kept from using their real names, they become lesser versions of themselves and start to who they are on the inside. Offred is falling to the suppressive ways of the republic by valuing her own name as worthless.
"Hurry up and wait," says Nick. He laughs, moves his foot so it's touching mine again. No one can see, beneath the folds of my outspread skirt. (p. 81).
This quote exemplifies the lack of touch and feeling of Gilead. Just a simple toe touch means so much in a world without any feelings. I think this quote characterizes Nick, in addition. He can be a symbol of rebellion in the novel. He attempts to bend the rules in the republic. Whether it is winking at Offred, touching her foot, or eventually kissing her, he doesn’t completely succumb to the ways of Gilead.
“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Then comes the moldy old Rachel and Leah stuff we had drummed into us at the Center. Give me children, or else I die. Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Behold my maid Bilhah. She shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. And so on and so forth.” (p. 88).
This is a prayer that Offred and the other handmaids are forced to say. The republic uses religion as a form of propaganda. They pray for the ability to have kids, which is what they are brainwashed into thinking there only purpose is. According to Genesis 29:29, Bilhah is “Rachel's handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob.” Since the Old Testament had handmaids. The republic uses outdated Christianity to persuade the women that childbearing is the only way of life.
“The voice was a man's. Blessed be the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed be the meek. Blessed are the silent. I knew they made that up, I knew it was wrong, and they left things out, too, but there was no way of checking. Blessed be those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (p. 89).
This quote is another allusion to the bible. The Beatitudes are eight blessings in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. The republic added to the Beatitudes by making up a line about how the silent and the meek are blessed. The republic did so because they want their people to not speak up and remain ignorant.
“It has nothing to do with passion or love or romance or any of those other notions we used to titillate ourselves with. It has nothing to do with sexual desire, at least for me, and certainly not for Serena.” (p. 94).
This is Offred describing her job as a handmaid. Sex has completely lost its purpose and value. In Gilead, it is simply used to reproductive