Novel Paper Topic

For my novel paper, I think I want to write about how much society controls all of the women within the story, including wives.  I want to focus more on Handmaid's though and talk about how their new purpose in life is to be a sexual object.

The ending of "The Handmaid's Tale"

Well. I think the ending was pretty weird. Confusing. The author did not really tell us if the Eyes were really going to save Offred or not (but I hope they did).  I also think it was weird that the old Ofglen hung herself.  At least Offred was safe though.  It was also kind of graphic when the guards were beat to death by the Handmaids, and how Ofglen kicked one in his head although apparently she was putting him out of sympathy.  It seems like Offred actually has a lot of power, being that Serena Joy found out about her and the Commander's trip to the club, but she still did not rat.  I kind of want to believe that Nick was an Eye and ratted on her for having sex with him after the time Serena Joy set it up.  This book was confusing towards the end, but I still like it.

"The Handmaid's Tale" pgs. 199-255

At the beginning of this section, Offred talks about the summer in the past.  In the present, her and Ofglen have conversations of secret passwords.  Then there is a gathering of all the Commander's, Wives, Handmaid's, etc. and new angels are taken in.  It is kind of sad because they are crying.  Also, the Commander's wife wants Offred to have a baby so bad she tells her to have sex with Nick, then once Offred agrees, she receives a cigarette from the Commander's Wife.  Also, the Wife shows Offred a picture of her baby, which has now become a little girl.  Towards the end of the section, the Commander takes Offred to a hotel in a lingerie costume and Moira and Offred run into eachother.  Moira ran away and was caught and instead of having to go to the Colonies she was turned into a prostitute.  Weird......

"The Handmaid's Tale" pgs. 153-195

Offred talks alot about her new relationship with the Commander and how it is growing.  He lets her do alot of stuff he probably shouldn't.  He even gave her a magazine to read, they continue playing scrabble, and he decoded her Latin phrase, even though it was written by him.  Offred learned about how the previous Offred that lived in her room hung herself because Serena Joy found out about her secret relationship with the Commander.  Offred also keeps talking about times from the past with her daughter and Luke, and she even started talking more about how the whole new society began. It is getting really interesting!

The Handmaid's Tale pgs. 103-147

The handmaid Janine has a baby.  Moira snuck out by stabbing one of the aunt's in her rib and stealing her card to exit.  Nothing super exciting really happened in this section, other than the fact that Offred snuck into the Commander's study and they played scrabble.  She also mentions that she wants to forget her past and her name, which I think she shouldn't do.  She also talks alot still about her daughter and Luke.

"The Handmaid's Tale" pgs. 49-99

Well the passage ended with a weird sex scene.  But I thought it was interesting that Offred has many flashbacks to her daughter and to Luke.  I was kind of confused though when she was describing how her, her daughter and Luke were driving somewhere with their passports.  She was talking about that while the Commander was about to read from the bible.  I also think it is cool that her friend Moira is there, but it is sad that Moira had her feet hurt because she faked sick and went to the hospital.  It is also interesting about how Offred uses butter on her face (gross but at the same time understandable).  I am curious to see what happens with Nick and Offred.

"The Hand-Maid's Tale" pgs. 1-49

Ok..
I think this book is getting interesting already.  First the narrator describes the living conditions which I think is really weird.  They almost sound like prisons, or dorms (which are like prisons).  I think it is weird she can't drink coffee, smoke cigs or drink alcohol because she is a Hand-Maid.  I also think it is weird when Offren and Olgren go to the market and people spit at them and they see people hung.  I am assuming this story takes place in the future because Offren talks about how she use to go to college and remembers childhood memories.  I guess I am sort of confused as to why she is living this way now, she also mentions that she has flashbacks to her previous life with Luke but cannot remember everything because she "thinks she was drugged by the authorities."  I am looking forward to reading more of this story!

After presenting Macbeth

My group was assigned Act 3, and we chose scenes 1 and 3.  Scene 1 was Macbeth talking about killing Banquo, and then 3 was when Banquo was actually killed, so that is why we chose those scenes.  I know alot more about the scenes after acting them out.  It was a fun experience, my group was fun to work with.  I don't really remember the questions asked I think the people were just asking like why we chose the scenes, etc.