Eva’s Comments (group member since Nov 13, 2019)

Eva’s comments from the Spine Crackers group.

In "With the Fire on High", the author conveys the theme of Emoni's internal struggle with not having her parents and uses imagery to develop that theme throughout Part 1. Emoni expresses a deep love for her abuela many times, however she also displays a deep disturbance in her heart over not being raised and cared for by her actual parents. Acevedo develops the theme with imagery when she writes "You can't make too much room for a father like mine in your life. Because he'll elbow his way in and stretch the corners wide, and when he leaves all you have is the oversized empty- the gap in your heart where a parent should be" (82). Acevedo's choice in words definitely makes the imagery pop out of the page, and it shows the emptiness and the ache in Emoni's heart left from her fathers absence.

Melissa wrote: "I do not think such strictness and lack of power amongst the general public will become a reality in the future. Times are changing and I understand that some parts of the world are still stuck in ..."
You make a very valid point in that women, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ+ community are gaining much more respect than ever before. However, these developments are only occurring in some countries, this is not applicable around the world. This is because, contrary to your claim, there is a lack of power among the general public in several countries around the globe. The world has seen a great number of rights being given and respect being shown towards minority groups in specific countries, this is true. However, I don't believe that something occurring that is similar to that in The Handmaid's Tale, in the sense that an entire group of people can have their rights taken away, is completely impossible. This is because it has happened in the past, whether it be in Nazi Germany with Jewish people, or most countries having had some form of slavery. Also because of present day events in the Middle East and Africa as I had mentioned in one of my previous posts. I do hope though that something similar to Gilead could never come into fruition and that a society could never become as backwards and radical as that.

Sage wrote: "Eva wrote: "I do not believe that the exact events presented in the novel could happen in the future. This is because in modern day society there are certain rights given to all people, and because..."
That is a very good point you make about the deportations happening in the United States. This is so similar to how Offred's daughter was taken from her, Offred doesn't believe she will ever be reunited with her daughter in the novel. In real life, children are also being torn away from their parents and their are no documents that are keeping track of who these children's parents are or where they're from. This a gross misconduct by the United States and is a very good comparison between the book and real life as well. When Offred was trying to sneak across the Canadian border with her family she says this, “When we get to the Border we'll pretend we're just going over on a day trip; the fake visas are for a day. Before that I'll give her a sleeping pill so she'll be asleep when we cross. That way she won't betray us. You can't expect a child to lie convincingly”(85). Obviously they get caught and this is when Offred's daughter gets taken away from her. This is a very similar situation to a lot of stories of deportation in the United States.

I do not believe that the exact events presented in the novel could happen in the future. This is because in modern day society there are certain rights given to all people, and because there are organizations such as the United Nations that exist to keep peace and security around the world. However the extent of these rights vary from country to country. There are many forms of human rights violations occurring all over the world at the moment. In China Muslims are being put in concentration camps and murdered for their religion. Religious persecution is still a very real thing in the modern day world, as well as the persecution of gay people and the unfair treatment of women in African and Middle Eastern countries. So although I do not think a society as radical as Gilead could occur, it's not completely impossible for something similar to it to happen, which is a scary thought. In Gilead, homosexuality and giving women abortions is punishable, as evidenced by "Each has a placard hung around his neck to show why he has been executed: a drawing of a human fetus. They were doctors, then, in the time before, when such things were legal”(32). A scenario like this happening is not a far stretch since only a few months ago Alabama and Texas were proposing laws to make getting, or performing an abortion punishable by the death sentence. Homosexuality is also valid reason for execution in Gilead, “Gender treachery. Their bodies still wear the guardian uniforms. Caught together, they must have been, but where? A Barracks, a shower? It's hard to say”(43). In Sudan, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia, homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty. So although I don't believe the same exact thing could occur as what's in The Handmaid's Tale, I do not believe it's that far of a reach to say something close to it could happen.

Melissa wrote: "Zach wrote: "Margaret Atwood uses imagery extensively in the beginning of the novel. She uses imagery to describe Offred's surroundings almost at all times. For example, "Sunlight comes through the..."
I agree with what you're saying. The Commander's Wife has a very sad life because just as you said, she literally has to sit back and watch as her husband has sex with another woman because she is infertile herself. However I wouldn't say her life is sadder than Offred's. The Commander's Wife has freedom and ways to occupy herself in a way that Offred and the other handmaid's do not, she has her garden, sewing, and “ knitting scarves, for the Angels at the front lines”(12). Offred's use is only to reproduce, nothing more, the Commander's Wife, as stated in her name, is married and has a husband. Something Offred can never have again. Atwood uses these epigraphs to introduce the relationships between characters and their places in society.

Sage wrote: "Eva wrote: "Kyla wrote: "Sage wrote: "Atwood uses certain to represent different aspects of the society in Gilead. Color is used to show the most vital characteristic of Gilead, childbirth. However..."
Yes the picking and choosing of what to abide by and follow in the Bible is very apparent in this society. In chapter 15 the women of the household are being read to parts of the Bible by the Commander, and this is what he reads, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the Earth... 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 Billhah. She shall hear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her”(88). Clearly it is constantly being reinforced to the women that reproducing is the most important thing they can do. But just as you said Sage, the Ten Commandments, the most important rules to follow in Christianity are being broken and completely ignored in Gilead, whether it is adultery or killing another person. The cherry-picking interpretation of the Bible in Gilead is a clear staple in their society.

Sage wrote: "Eva wrote: "Abby wrote: "Eva wrote: "Margaret Atwood uses symbolism in the novel to emphasize a point she is trying to make about the society represented in the book. A society that bases a woman's..."
I completely agree with you that from a moral and ethical standpoint the handmaids have it the worst in society. My point was more so that from the perspective of Gilead's government, which is run by men, the Handmaids have a higher societal status. Yes the Marthas, Econowives, and even the Wives of the Commanders dislike the handmaids. However just because something is disliked by the women of this society, that does not mean it has a lower place in society. Atwood writes, "The two young Guardians salute us, raising three fingers to the rims of their berets. such tokens are accorded to us. They are supposed to show us respect, because of the nature of our service" (21). This quote shows how other men show the handmaids respect. In the end this society is based around men and their wants and needs, the opinions of other women don't matter from a governmental status because they have no part in it. So the handmaids are shown a certain respect from men because they are the sole reproducers of Gilead, essentially breeders.

Kyla wrote: "Sage wrote: "Atwood uses certain to represent different aspects of the society in Gilead. Color is used to show the most vital characteristic of Gilead, childbirth. However, red can also be seen as..."
Just to build upon what both of you have said, I feel as though the names given to authoritative figures are all obviously allusions to Christianity. The Bible and Christianity seem to be very large themes in this novel. The Eye, the Guardians and the Angels were all put in society to keep order and enforce laws in Gilead, just the way God was said to do in the Bible. Atwood uses these names to symbolically show that the people are always being watched, especially by God, this all goes to show that Christianity is a cornerstone of society in Gilead.

Abby wrote: "Eva wrote: "Margaret Atwood uses symbolism in the novel to emphasize a point she is trying to make about the society represented in the book. A society that bases a woman's value on her ability to ..."
I don't agree with your claim that Handmaids are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. There are many points throughout the book in which Offred says that her role in society is a very important one. Handmaids are referred to a necessities and one of the Aunts even draws a comparison between what Handmaids do and being in the Army, which is a highly respected job in society. An example of "Marthas" being looked upon as lesser than Handmaids is, “The dress is much like mine in shape, long and concealing, but with a bib apron over it and without the white wings and the bill. She puts on the veil to go outside, but nobody much cares who sees the face of a Martha” (9). This quote shows that Marthas are held at a lower social status than handmaids are because no one cares what they look like. They are not seen as desirable or respected in the way that Handmaids are.

Margaret Atwood uses symbolism in the novel to emphasize a point she is trying to make about the society represented in the book. A society that bases a woman's value on her ability to conceive and have a child. Atwood writes “Inside it is a space, huge as the sky at night and dark and curved like that, though black-red rather than black... Every month there is a moon, gigantic, round, heavy, an omen. It transits, pauses, continues on and passes out of sight, and I see despair coming towards me like famine. To feel that empty, again, again”(74). Symbolism is used here in multiple ways, the color red is used to represent fertility and women's reproductive systems. The other example in this quote is the comparison drawn using symbolism between the vastness and emptiness of space and a woman's womb, specifically Offred's. Atwood is explaining how Offred feels empty and longs for a child, and every month she is reminded that she is without child, and thus useless in the eyes of society.

Kyla wrote: "Throughout the first few chapters of the book “The Handmaids Tale” Atwood incorporates imagery into the text to give an in depth description of life in the Republic of Gilead. In the houses where t..."
I thought that Atwood's description of how Offred explored her room in sections to make it last was slightly off-putting. The fact that Offred was doing this seems so strange to me, Atwood really used imagery in this scene to display the complete loss of recreation and entertainment in Offred's life. Atwood also uses imagery in this scene to lead into a flashback, "The stains on the mattress. Like dried flower petals. Not recent. Old love; there's no other kind of love in this room now. When I saw that, the evidence left by two people, of love or something like it, desire at least, at least touch, between two people now perhaps old or dead, I covered the bed again and lay down on it. I looked up at the blind plaster eye in the ceiling. I wanted to feel Luke lying beside me”(52). Atwood uses imagery as a device and uses it to lead into Offred talking about missing her husband.

Margaret Atwood’s purpose of adding in these epigraphs is to introduce the setting of the book and immerse the reader into the reality of the protagonist. These epigraphs are used to show that the reality now is far different from what it once was. Atwood uses imagery in these chapters to show how things have changed in society. In the first chapter Atwood goes into great detail about the games and the dances that had once been held in the gymnasium where the protagonist now sleeps in an army cot. Then in the second epigraph where Offred is stationed in the Commander's house, Atwood writes, “I know why there is no glass in front of the watercolor picture of blue irises, and why the window only opens partly and why the glass in it is shatterproof. 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”(8). Atwood's description of Offred's room serves to show how society has transformed. Women being government issued "property" instead of people is a change that occurred during Offred's lifetime. There being no glass, the window only slightly opening and there being nowhere to tie a rope to shows how women reacted to being treated as things and being forced into sex and a life with no freedom.