The Handmaid's Tale, Intro to

The Handmaid's Tale
A classic, award-winning, dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, focusing on the severe limitation of women's rights.
Set in a near-future New England, in a totalitarian state [think Stalin] that has overthrown the United States government.
The novel focuses on the journey of the handmaid Offred. Her name derives from the possessive form "of Fred"; handmaids are forbidden to use their birth names and must echo the male, or master, whom they serve.
The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation [brought under control] in a patriarchal society [Elder men rule.] and the various means by which these women attempt to gain individualism [a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control].

The Handmaid's Tale is structured into two parts: The night sections are solely about Offred, the other sections (shopping, waiting room, household) describe the possible life of every handmaid.
Offred often retells the events leading up to the fall of women's rights and the current details of the life which she now lives.
~~~~~~
Summary of first chapters (no spoilers)
Beginning with a staged attack that killed the president and most of Congress, a radical political group calling itself the "Sons of Jacob", exploiting religious ideology closely resembling some traits of Christian fundamentalism (or evangelicalism), launches a revolution. 
  • The United States Constitution is suspended, 
  • newspapers are censored,
  •  and what was formerly the United States of America changes drastically into a military dictatorship known as the Republic of Gilead.
The new regime takes over all pre-existing religious groups; and reorganises society along a new militarised model of Old Testament-inspired social and religious fanaticism.
  • Above all, the biggest change is the severe limitation of women's rights, making them unable to:
    • hold property, 
    • handle money, 
    • as well as forbidding them from reading or writing.
In this era of declining birth rates due to increasing infertility brought about by environmental pollution and radiation, a woman called Offred is one of those few women with healthy reproductive systems.
Hence she is forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class of men "Commanders", and is known as a "Handmaid".
  • Women are classed socially and follow a strict dress code: 
    • Commanders' Wives in blue
    • Handmaids in red
    • Aunts, who train the Handmaids, in brown
    • Marthas (cooks and maids) in green, 
    • Econowives, who handle domestic things, in stripes,
    • Young and unmarried girls in white.
 Commander's Wife                     Handmaid                                   Aunt        
~~~~~~
In 2018, Margaret Atwood announced that a sequel novel, The Testaments, will be published in 2019.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Alfonso Checa (1914-1978) Renowned Luther, Baza, Spain

Image
Alfonso Checa 1962 Flamenco Guitar, Detai Alfonso Checa (1914-1978) Renowned Flamenco Luthier Alfonso apprenticed for several years in the city of Baza, and then opened his own workshop in 1935 at the age of 21. Baza is a town in the province of Granada known for its guitar makers. The flamenco guitars from that area were and are still made very light. Light Flamenco guitars produce a quick attack in short sustain like a flamenco guitar is supposed to. Here's a Checa being played in the aggressive Flamenco style More Checa history & guitar specks from this site. guitar made by masterluthier Alfonso Checa in 1967. Born in 1914, Alfonso Checa Plaza was one of the great guitar makers in Granada. He started his workshop in 1935 in Baza. Along his life, he won the first prize in Madrid International Exposition in 1953, as well as the first prize in the municipality of Ronda (Malaga). He taught his children. José and Vicente Checa, Vicente Pérez Checa, Antonio Ruiz and Pedro Martín
Read more

FILM - The Best

MY FAVORITE FILMS viewed 10+ times Brazil  , 1985 There are at least three different versions of Brazil.   https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/alternateversions The original 142-minute European release,   aka the "final director's cut" (142 minutes) a shorter 132-minutes prepared by Gilliam for the American release  the Sheinberg Edit , from Universal's then-boss Sid Sheinberg Blade Runner (1982) - The best-known versions are the Workprint,  the US Theatrical Cut,  the International Cut,  The Ridley Scott-approved Director's Cut (1992, 116 minutes), and  the Ridley Scott's Final Cut (2007, 117 minutes) - the only version over which Ridley Scott had complete artistic control Apocalypse Now (1979) - dirs cut,  read Conrad's short story "Heart of Darkness" first. a compelling, groundbreaking film about the journey into the heart of darkness and the insanity of war. alien 12 monkeys Mulholland Dr. (2001), David Lynch,
Read more

slide guitar

Thank you. I needed to hear that. I kinda like the idea of a sawed-off slide. I've never used my slide on the 5th and 6th strings that I can remember. But I'd keep using it on my ring finger cuz my pinkie is much better at stretching & doing little pull-offs on chords. Important thing 1: you need a tube amp. Even amps with modeled fender twins just don't cut it. But close enough for 95% of the audience. It took me about 30 years to accidentally discover important thing #2: a very very important thing about playing the slide - drop your pick and pick the strings with the skin of your fingers (not your nails). Why? In my classical guitar period, I would play a new piece at 0.25 speed, and note the open strings that had to be muted immediately. A very important technique in classical guitar. It's hard to notice because you're using available fingers on your RIGHT hand to just press down on the string. I got good at it. One day, 10 years ago, I was a young 50 yo.  I
Read more