Journal 22: Topic C

Margret Atwood creates a dystopian world where a totalitarian theocracy has been instilled. Her portrayal of this society is very different from other dystopian novels because the ruling power is still taking its position as the almighty commanding force. Many authors write as if the government and society have been set up for years and have been working perfectly until the protagonist comes along. Atwood writes with the society still in the transition phase, making the believability of the novel more real because change is all around us today. With technology constantly updating, the possibility of extreme regression is possible. She almost gives the reader a fear of the future because the characters remember what life was like before the change and free they were.
The author gives the reader a method of escape with May Day because they are the rebellious group trying to overthrow the society of Commanders and handmaids. The handmaids struggle for any little intelligence or knowledge not controlled by the government. This gives them hope that freedom is possible. Yet, with the society still in the transition phase and not yet complete, the reader questions the power of an omniscient, all controlling entity because there seems to be no way out. What little rebellion there is, it appears to be controlled and condoned by the government. This overlooking of uprisings allows the society to send a message by crushing any rebellion that gets started.

Journal 21: Topic B

Offred the best example of a character who is in a struggle with her dystopian environment in The Handmaid's Tale. She remembers her old life where she was married and had a daughter before there were such strict laws enforced upon the women. She takes every miniscule opportunity to silently revolt against the society. When she found the Gaelic writing on her dresser, she felt very empowered to know something the society didn't already. Her friend Moira knew what the old life was like and both desperately want to go back. Theses handmaids understand that there is something truly wrong with being so sheltered that writing is forbidden. Thoughts are a person's last sanctuary and if those get taken over or hindered, the natural laws of humanity have been broken. Each person is entitled to their own thoughts within their head, beyond the reach of any one else. These girls also question why they are there. The commander reads the bible, but nobody is quite sure why. His interpretation of it is very twisted and appeals to the welfare of the society. They ponder the reason of the house hierarchy and question why the handmaids are under the wives and why having babies is such a desired event. Also, writing and reading is banned, but creativity is still existent in the girls'.  

Journal 20: Topic A

“The lighter was ivory-colored. The cigarettes must have come from the black market, I thought, and this gave me hope. Even now that there is no real money anymore, there's still a black market. There's always a black market, there's always something that can be exchanged. She was a woman who might bend the rules. But what did I have, to trade? I looked at the cigarette with longing. For me, like liquor and coffee, they are forbidden.” (Atwood 14)

This passage is a window into the life of the handmaid. There is no freedom of speech or actions. The girls communicate in complete secret or visually. Certain words are forbidden and many items are contraband, like alcohol and cigarettes. There is also no money, as the passage states, leading to the conclusion that nothing is bought nor sold, but merely traded. The “black market” is depicted as hope in the handmaid's lives. I leads them to believe there is still a world outside of the walls they are kept in. The Commander's wife obtains the cigarettes, showing that power will get a person certain illegal privileges. In the community, information, independent thought, and freedom are all restricted. So far in the novel, freedom or individuality can only be obtained secretly and illegally. The main character explores her room for any anomalies or treasures of the past. She also attempts to steal some token from the Commander's wife's sitting room. These are symbols of false hope because they promote abstract thoughts of the past or future. The only other outlet for freedom of thought is dreaming, but it is a double-edged sword because horrific dreams may occur.