Final thoughts on the novel

 

Frédérique Arseneault

1rst reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_Ceau%C8%99escu

2^nd reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_770

3^rd reference : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale

Liliane Dufresne

reference : https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/handmaid/context/

Audrey-Maude Denis 

1rst reference: https://www.insider.com/handmaids-tale-based-on-real-world-origins-history-events-2019-8

2nd reference : https://the-handmaids-tale.fandom.com/wiki/Republic_of_Gilead_(Series)#Administrative_Structure

Ève Martin

1st reference: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/margaret-atwood-on-the-dystopian-novels-that-inspired-her-to-write-the-handmaids-tale 

2nd reference: https://the-handmaids-tale.fandom.com/wiki/Republic_of_Gilead_(Series)

3rd reference: https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/11/14586382/sales-margaret-atwoods-handmaids-tale-soared-donald-trump 

What lessons did you draw from the novel?

The first lessons that I draw from the novel is to never take anything for granted because you never know what is going to happen. Before this whole thing, Offred was a normal person with a normal life, she was taking care of her little girl and had a husband. They were incredibly happy and did not do anything wrong to anyone. Then without any warning, laws that where ridiculous like, women cannot own anything and can’t have money. They cannot read or have a job because now this is the men work, and they are basically only there for show. And then they were basically kidnapped and took to a camp without any reason, remember, this was a normal family a week prior. Of course, nothing this ridiculous can happen now, there are laws protecting people’s rights and all. But all of this for saying, I learn not to take anything that you have, that you love for granted, because it could be all gone in one instant without warning.

Another lesson that I draw from this story is to never give up, of course in this story it can be hard not to give up, everything seems over for Offred because she is stuck in a town full of securities and that the laws from the country that she is in approved all the horrible things that are done to the handmaids. But even if she is stuck in that, she finds a way to make herself happy by having a secret liaison with Nick the driver, which I guess made the life there a little bit more bearable. And because she never gave up, in the end, a group came to take her away from this horrible life, and she can go and have a new start elsewhere, where she is free. All of this to say, I learned to never gave up, because even when the situation seems impossible to get over, there is always something or someone that will come and help you

What elements was most significant for you personally ?

The main elements that were most significant to us when reading the book were the way the Handmaids were getting pregnant and the way they were being treated. First of all, the Handmaids usually live with the couple they are assigned to or at the Red Center, when they have not been assigned to anyone yet. They are usually obliged to help around the house, taking part in prayer time, shopping and helping to cook, but the rest of the time, they mostly stay in their rooms, having nothing to do because they literally can’t do anything. They are required to take a walk once a day, to keep their abdominal muscles functioning for when they’ll get pregnant in the future. Plus, Handmaids are not really allowed to be alone except for when they bathe, use the bathroom, or sleep. When they go out in public, they are always accompanied by another Handmaid, and occasionally a Guardian, if the Handmaid is pregnant.

If a Handmaid conceives, then she is venerated and envied by many other women. She no longer has to take the usual walk or do chores; it is in fact considered risky for pregnant Handmaids to be out in public, in case something happens to the baby, or she is attacked by jealous women who want to get pregnant too. Once a Handmaid gives birth, provided that the baby is healthy, then it will immediately be given to the Wife of the Commander they are assigned to, who receives all the credit for the Handmaid's hard work. The Handmaid is generally ignored or overlooked, although she may be comforted or congratulated by her fellow Handmaids. Handmaids are allowed to stay with their babies for a few weeks, breastfeeding them, but after they are weaned, the Handmaids are forced to leave the household and are assigned to a new Commander. Which is really ridiculous and disgusting to us because they are not really living life, they are just used for reproduction

What was the main message of the novel in your opinion 

I feel like the Handmaid’s Tale has a meaningful message to tell the readers. The novel shows us that it’s not okay to take political control over woman bodies and forcing them to have kids with random people. They have feelings like all the other humans, and they don’t deserve getting treated as “breeding machines”.  

Do you see any links between elements in your novel and something in your world, more personally or as a society? 

 

I think that our society is the opposite as the society described in the book. In our society, we accept every kind of sexual orientation and people can choose their gender, change it, or even don’t choose any. Gender equality is better than it has ever been, and woman can work and lead companies or political parties. In the society depicted in the book, woman can only do what they are told to, and have no power in any way.

Also, in our society, religion isn’t that important. This is more an aspect for us, people who live in Quebec, because there are a lot of places in our country and in the word where they are very religious. In the book, the religion determines the laws and the roles of each individual. In Quebec, we voted a law that forbid people to have any religious symbol when they work in public places.

There is also one thing that is strange between both societies. In the book, Offred, the main character, talks about how it is safe for her to walk in the street, compared to before the Republic was installed. It is probably because there are always people watching and women are very important for the human race to reproduce. In our society, women are talking more and more about the fact that they can’t walk alone in the streets because they are scared. This is a very topical subject, mostly since a woman was kidnapped and murdered in London on March third of this year. It is ironic that in this society built in the book, where probably anyone would want to live in, women can do the one thing we, in our society, can’t.