Literature Circle - Literary Luminary

Response #1
One passage in the novel that I thought was a startling moment
was when the pregnant handmaid entered the store and all the other
handmaids had their attention toward her. Shes a magic presence to
us, an object of envy and desire, we covet her. In the real world, its
normal for women to be pregnant. However, in the story its a rare
sight and the way to salvation for the handmaids, this is indicated
when the main character said, we too can be saved as she talked
about the pregnant handmaid. In the book it mentioned the pregnant
handmaid didnt have to go to the store, its recommended not to go
out because there are others who would try to harm her. Jealousy
could get her, and all children are wanted, but not by everyone.
This shows that there are people in the story that will try to stop the
birth of a baby. But the pregnant handmaid didnt care about such
things because she wanted to show off in front of her equals that she
had accomplished what the others hadnt, yet. One can say that
getting pregnant is something to be proud of for a handmaid, and that
it is also the purpose of the handmaids.
Response #2
In the story Handmaids Tale, I thought the passage about the
criminals that were hanged on the Wall had very striking imagery in it.
The people hanged on the wall had white sacks that covered their
heads. The main character described the white sack covered people as
scarecrows. In a way they are because they are meant to scare the
people of the state. This shows that the government uses fear to keep
order in the state. One of the hanged criminals had blood that seeped
through the cloth of the sacks. This shows that the victim was brutally
injured before getting executed. I assume the reason that the
government hangs people with white sack is to stop unnecessary
feelings such as sadness or sympathy towards them. For example, the
main character stated, What we are suppose to feel towards these
bodies is hatred and scorn. This shows that the government is trying
to manipulate the feelings and perspective of the citizens. Another
reason I think the government covers the heads of the victims with
white sacks is to keep it secret of who are being hanged. For example,
no one knows the true identity of the doctors that were hanged on the
wall, there is only a card showing what crime they committed but who
knows if the person is one of high stature.
Response #3

I thought that the passage about the main characters flashbacks

helped develop the theme of women oppression in the story
Handmaids Tale. In the novel the main character had flashbacks of her
mother and friends burning pornographic magazines one night. The
burning of the magazines shows that the people dont like the exposing
womens skin. This carries on to the present time where all the women,
specifically the handmaids are wearing clothing that covers almost all
their skin. The women are being oppressed of what they can wear and
being forced to wear what they are given. In another one of the main
characters flashbacks, the main characters daughter is taken away
and raised by another person in the main characters place. The people
who I assume took the daughter away called the main character unfit
to raise the child. This shows that women are being oppressed to not
even keep and raise their own child.