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."