Skip to main content

What are three examples of wordplay in The Handmaid's Tale?

At one point, Offred says, "I compose myself.  My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech.  What I must present is a made thing, not something born."  Here, she plays with the word compose.  When we say that someone composes a speech, we mean that the person writes and prepares it.  When we say that someone composes herself, we mean that she collects her thoughts and feelings and...

At one point, Offred says, "I compose myself.  My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech.  What I must present is a made thing, not something born."  Here, she plays with the word compose.  When we say that someone composes a speech, we mean that the person writes and prepares it.  When we say that someone composes herself, we mean that she collects her thoughts and feelings and presents an image that seems put together, so to speak.  Offred seems to mean that she composes herself in both senses of the word: she attempts to collect and prepare all the fragments of her person under the Gileadean regime so that she can present herself as something that seems practiced and natural and polished, not awkward and strange.


Another time, when the Commander hands her a pen during one of their clandestine meetings, Offred recalls a memory from the Red Center.  She says, "The pen between my fingers is sensuous, alive almost, I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains.  Pen Is Envy, Aunt Lydia would say, quoting another Center motto, warning us away from such objects."  Penis envy is the Freudian idea that women are naturally envious of men's penises because the penis is the source of power.  Here, Offred plays with the letters, breaking them up differently to say "Pen Is Envy" because the ability to read and write has become an incredible source of power for the Commanders of Gilead.  She envies her Commander his right to the pen, something that she lacks.


When Offred describes Moira's escape from the Red Center, she says, "Moira had power now, she'd been set loose, she'd set herself loose.  She was now a loose woman."  Loose has several potential meanings here: Moira has been released or set free, but her pieces also seem to have come loose as though she's in danger of losing some now that she's no longer confined and defined by her societal role.  Further, to be a "loose woman" is a sort of old-fashioned way to describe a sexually promiscuous woman.  Taken together, Moira is both dangerous and endangered, which is just how the leaders of Gilead would want the other handmaids-in-training to think of her.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more