Journal Topics for Erica Joan Dymond´s The Handmaid’s Tale

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Journal 1, Option 1 Erica Joan Dymond, author of “Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale” (2003), asserts that the theme of the oyster/pearl relationship is the most prevalent them in the book and leads the plot. Dymond uses a plethora of concrete details and quotes from the text, using them to analyze the meaning of this oyster/pearl theme and relationship. Erica Dymond’s purpose is to explicate the prevalence and significance of this theme in the novel in order to show its importance to readers of the book who may have overlooked this crucial aspect. Dymond aims this criticism towards those who have read The Handmaid’s Tale and have not recognized the significance of the oyster and the pearl. Her tone is scholarly, yet not overly so to allow for a greater audience. Erica Dymond’s critical essay accurately describes the weight and symbolism Atwood places on the oyster/pearl relationship in the book. By using extensive concrete details, she creates ethos and shows her thorough knowledge of the book. The oyster and pearl references can go unnoticed by one who is not searching for it as they are lightly sprinkled throughout the book, and, although emphasis is not placed on them, they carry great significance. Journal 2, Option 2 The assigned gender roles in The Handmaid’s Tale are hyperboles of traditional roles that the genders play. In Gilead, the women stay home and men run important things like the government, which includes business and military. The assignment of the roles and the strictness of them seems legitimate to the majority of Gilead’s population, and they come as an accepted result of physical differences between men and women to them. Almost all of the women in the population and many of the men have been sterilized due to... ... middle of paper ... ...r women in the society, but she longs for her freedom and for the life she once lived. Because she was caught trying to run away to Canada at the beginning, she is scared to attempt escape again. When the Commander first shows interest in Offred, he, to her surprise wants a friendship from her and not just a sexual relationship. He hides away with her and they play board games, which is double forbidden as women are strictly not allowed to read, and normal friendships between men and handmaids are also forbidden. The Commander’s wife is unable to have children, so his relationship with her is supposed to be only sexual and only for the good and existence of the population. Offred is happy to rebel against the Gilead rules and happy to do so with the Commander. He gives her forbidden presents and asks for romantic gestures as to hint as his true feelings towards her.

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