Blog 4

So far I have read about Offred's journey and what she has faced as her time as a handmaid. She helped with Janine's birth and she has witnessed the selfishness of the wives and what they think is theirs with no consideration to the birth mother. I also can tell now that the commander likes Offred, and I can see that he wants something more with her. Not out of lust, but more out of love. The commander possibly wants love and a relationship with Offred because he always makes her come back to play scrabble night after night. He also asks for her to kiss him-passionately. A handmaid can not be nothing more but a birth giver to the family she is sent to, therefore being more than a handmaid to Serena Joy's home would be disastrous. Handmaids, as we all know are just birth givers and of the lowest on the chain of education. Handmaids can not read, they can not be literate, which we discussed in class is the opportunity to analyze, read and write. Handmaids apparently while watching porno movies can read, since there were biblical inscriptions on the mattresses and other materials that were in the movies, as if they were meant to be seen. In the book it says that these women would see it and then gasp as if it was meant to be seen or to be interpreted. My critical reading partner, Kimberly and I have also discussed that while reading, we read questionable moments that the author brings up. We have absolutely no idea what the author is trying to portray, but we try to interpret it the best way we can, by substituting a word and adding it back into context. I like reading this book, because it is filled with ideas and thoughts of the character and not just third person omniscient, it adds to mystery and is very interesting.