Essay Plans

5. Compare and contrast the ways in which Chaucer and Atwood portray the characters of Serena Joy and The Wife of Bath?

WOB :

Clever/Calculated - getting her way with her husbands, taking their land etc. Her knowledge on the bible and how she manipulates the words for her advantage.

Daring/Outspoken - By speaking about sex and her life very openly, taking into consideration Women's roles and behaviour in that era, and also especially the fact that she is narrating on a pilgrimage full of men and only one women who is ironically a nun,

Experienced in Love and Sex - 5 Churched hubbies etc.

Confident- In her appearance and in the way she speaks.

Selfish- Doesn't consider how others in the pilgrimage may feel about her narrations and speeches, in manipulating her partners for land and money.

She's also quite old and a very good Seamstress which is the same as Serena Joy!

Serena Joy:

Clever/Calculated- The plan she comes up with for Offred and Nick.

Selfish/Bitter: Doesn't befriend anyone around her and is infact in someways cruel, She deliberately withdrew informing Offred about her daughter until it worked for her benefit.

Experienced through her previous life:Her Stardom, singing in a choir etc.

Also a very good Seamstress and old.

Similarites of characters..

Differences...

Context of Books...

Authors...

How are they being portrayed and why...

Obviously to be continuedd...

Subjugation Of Women Essay

Subjugation Of Women Essay

Subjugation Of Women - Chapter 20

The beginning of chapter 20 is set in Warren's house for the 'Birth Day.' As Offred enters she describes the decor she notices in this house and mentions how she can see a
"long table, covered with a white cloth and spread with a buffet: ham, cheese, oranges- they have oranges! - and fresh-baked breads and cakes. As for us, we'll get milk and sandwiches on a tray. later." This demonstrates the hierarchy system of Gilead as the Wives are accepted in being treated better than the Handmaids, in this case they have better and more variety of food. This has also been emphasised in the way that the food is presented, Atwood uses the noun's "table" and "tray" to explain the unfair difference used for the Wives and Handmaids, as a long white table is more hospitable and formal in comparison to a portable tray given to the Handmaids. In addition the use of repetition of "oranges" and the punctuation like the hyphen and exclamation mark suggests her excitement in seeing this particular fruit, and after she mentions how she won't be allowed to eat them the audience are left to feel sympathetic and sad for the Offred and the Handmaids.

Nevertheless the use of the personal pronoun 'Us' in this quote describes a sense of unity the Handmaids have for each other...
...to be continued.

2. "At her side stands the Birthing stool, with its double seat, the back one raised like a throne behind the other."

Attitudes towards Women and Sex

We learn about Jezebels in chapters 37-39 when the commander sneaks Offred to this forbidden secretive club/hotel, this is where superior men get the opportunity to 'meet' girls whilst living in this strict society of Gilead. Attitudes are explored throughout the Handmaids Tale about how women are inferior to men and are primarily used as productive or sexual objects. Also attitudes of how sex is becoming less meaningful and is seen very much as a duty but hugely important not only for reproducing but also for pleasure, as the men are risking their lives for this opportunity. These ideas are reinforced in these few chapters.

When the Commander and Offred enter Jezebels, Offred explains how she is treated by the men, being beside the Commander his 'grip tightens' on her upper arm when he notices familiar faces around. The verb 'grip' describes his contact with her, rather than embracing or holding her hand it is more emotionless and rough showing his possessiveness. It seems like he is stamping his property to the onlookers and showing off this hand candy.

She also explains after when the other men come to meet the commander how they look at her and simply 'dismiss' her. The verb 'dismiss' emphasises how women are objectified and not seen as humans or equal to the men as they openly ignore her as if she is emotionless and unable to converse. Ironically these men still have the audacityo t 'review' her breasts and legs, although they decide to avoid any contact or communication they feel as if they are allowed to stare at her physical features. This is extremely rude and appalling as it reinforces how women are seen as having no other roles other than sex. The verb 'review' describes the way they look at her like she is something available to study and just an empty frame. Furthermore women are seen as unworthy things being mistreated and simply defined by their gender.

This also raises the idea of how these principles of Gilead by assigning handmaids and paying huge importance to reproducing has influenced the men in the society by defeating the previous respect and genuine care they had for women.

Nevertheless attitudes towards sex are also commented upon in this section of the novel, firstly the perception of how men view women as good-looking meat already informs us of how they view sex as a pleasurable and meaningless common activity as they could care less which body it is with as long as it looks good. This is justified when the commander says "Nature demands variety for men" explaining the various women in Jezebels. He uses 'Nature' as an excuse like it is natural and innate for men to have sex like it is some sort of competitive sport rather than an intimate and special experience to share with ones partner. This shows mens attitudes towards sex and how they believe it is important enough to risk their lives over, as if they get caught the could be hung on the wall.

Females attitudes towards sex is also similar as the women in Jezebels and as Handmaids think of it as a forced job for means of survival, hence they don't find it as pleasurable as men. Or do they? Offred and Nick...

Developed Essay on Handmaids Tale

Developed Essay on Handmaids Tale - Political Instruments

Handmaids Tale - Top 3 Feautures

1. This is a novel...With a strong sense of place and time.

This is the one that best characterises the novel for me, as it is a dystopian novel and Atwood uses great description of the current affairs and the ideas in society which is most surprising and interesting to me compared to everything else. She initially starts with introducing the Red Centre which gives a strong sense of place and grows ideas about when, where and how. This is most significant i believe

2. This is a novel... About the exploitation of women

I think this is the second thing that best characterises the novel. As Offred being the main character and learning about her past and how she is treated as well as the other female roles we learn to find through her storytelling ability we come to understand how this gender has been taken advantage of and selfishly utilised.

3. This is a novel... Containing a warning

Considering Atwood being a feminist, i think the story holds a warning about the exploitation of women and the fears of how society will eventually deal with them. Arguably she plays on this idea and the thought of male dominance and

HWK Essay - Handmaids Tale (Political Instruments)

1st Essay on Handmaids Tale - Political Instruments

Essay Plan - HWK

Is Gilead built apon the principle of using womens bodies as political instruments?

P1: Explain Gilead's principle?(the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that has replaced the United States of America. Because of dangerously low reproduction rates, Handmaids are assigned to bear children for elite couples that have trouble conceiving) Answer question - Explain the verb Instrument and compare it with the handmaid.

P2: First E.g of being a political instrument - They are completely controlled ie.diet,they are forced to eat. Don't have the choice.

P3/4: Lifestyle/Freedom - Only allowed out to buy things, not allowed to talk etc.

P5: Relationships. - Separated from family. Not allowed to love. Have real friends. A social life.

P6: Describe the 'Ceremony', how Serena is involved, the structure of it. Offred = Instrument...

P7: Conclusion

Serena Joy - Section IV. (Hwk)

Serena Joy - Section IV PPT

Explore how our perception of the Wife ( Serena Joy) is built through Chapter 3

The first time Serena Joy is introduced is when the Handmaid talks about how she tends to see her in the garden. "Sometimes the commanders wife has a chair brought out, and just sits in it, in her garden." This makes her sound quite lonely as she enjoys passing time admiring her garden, it can also imply how she is quite proud as it is described to be something she cares for. The personal pronoun 'Her' suggests how she owns and cares for this garden and could also suggest a sense of possessiveness as it belongs to her and she likes to be in its surroundings showing her ownership. We also learn how she is a Seamstress, as well as a gardener which could suggest how she has some free time and could possibly be quite old as these are activities mainly acted by elder women. I aslo noticed how these are typical female domestics.

Another perception i gained from Serena is that she can be quite Intimidating "I dont like to come upon the commanders wife unexpectedly" , this shows how the Handmaid is in discomfort when in presence of Serena, this opinion implicates her intimidating and inconsiderate nature.

This also ties into how she welcomed her into the house when the Handmaid first arrived.

"She just stood in the doorway, blocking the entrance" The noun 'blocking' suggests how the wife purposely intended to make the Handmaid feel uncomfortable and unwelcomed. This also suggests how the wife is very territorial and is trying to impose her status upon the Handmaid possibly feeling threatened by the Handmaid, which hints to some insecurities.

Handmaids Tale - Epigraphs

What do they mean?

What thoughts do they give you?

Do they say the same things or different things?