INTRODUCTION
A retenir :
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood.
The story takes place in a country called Gilead.
The narrator's name is Offred.
One of her friends from the past is Moira. There is another handmaid , Ofglen.
There is other caracters , named the Aunts : Lydia , Elizabeth , Sara.
Rita and Cora works for the commander , they are called the Marthas.
Nick is the commander's driver and we also have the Angels (= soliders/guards) and the Eyes (spies)
The Unwomen are sent to the Colonies where they work.
They are different colours for the clothes according to the role and social class : red for Handmaids , black for the Commanders , blue for the Wives and green for the Marthas.
The handmaids have got special clothes = long dresses , red veils and white wings.
MAIN CHARACTERS
A retenir :
- Offred - The protagonist and narrator who serves as a Handmaid
- The Commander - The high-ranking official who initiates an illicit relationship with Offred
- Serena Joy - The Commander's Wife who is infertile and plays a complex role in Offred's life
- Moira - Offred's best friend and a symbol of resistance against Gilead's regime
- Aunt Lydia - The strict instructor and enforcer of Handmaids' roles and responsibilities
CONTEXTE
A retenir :
CHAPTER 1
The novel begins with the narrator's memory of being in an old gymnasium (The Red Center) that appears to be like a women's prison.
Offred (whispers/murmures) in the dark , in a dormitory patrolled by Aunts and guarded by Angels.
CHAPTER 2
The location changes to a house , a single room. She is alone and they have removed anything from the ceiling you could tie a rope to.
She gets ready to go shopping and Rita gives her three tokens to exchanges for food.
CHAPTER 3
Offred leaves the house and crosses the garden which is the commander's wife's domain.
She remembers arriving five weeks before and meeting the wife.
It was her third posting.
She recognises the wife from a gospel choir on TV and she knows her as Serena Joy.
CHAPTER 4
O. sees the commander's driver , Nick , who winks at her.
She meets Ofglen , another handmaid , they go shopping together.
They spy on each other. They pass a check point Offred makes her first gestune of rebellion : her eyes meet the eyes of a guardian , which is forbidden.
CHAPTER 5
O. remembers the past with Luke , her husband.
They see a pregnant woman , called Janine ( In the Red Center )
They meet Japanese tourists wearing short skirts and high heeled shoes.
It reminds her of the past (she remembers the past)
CHAPTER 6
The two handmaids visit the Wall where several bodies of men are displayed.
They are certainly doctors who did abortions in the past.
CHAPTER 7
O. has an "escape" during the night : she remembers her friend , her mother and her lost child.
Her friend was Moira , a student , her mother a feminist during the 60s and 70s.
CHAPTER 8
O. and Ofglen go shopping again and visit the Wall. ( one priest and two guardians)
Ofglen uses the expression "May Day" which has a double meaning (reference to the weather but also an SOS signal)
Serena Joy used to make speeches on TV in the past. Nick talks to O. but she doesn't answer.
We learn about the Wive's feelings hostility and hatred for Handmaids.
CHAPTER 9
O. explores her room section by section to keep busy. It reminds her of her past life with Luke. She discovers a message left by her prodecessor.
CHAPTER 10
They can't sing or listen to music. They are not allowed to sunbath , their bodies are hidden.
O. has complicated feelings about her situations.
CHAPTER 11
O. visits the doctor for the monthly check-up to be asssesed for her fitness. The doctor tries to seduce her , explaining that most commanders are sterile. She doesn't accept his offer , but she knows he has the power to fake the tests and could make the authorities send her to the colonies.
CHAPTER 12
O. has a bath , which is a necesity but also a luxury.
She remembers her small daughter.
She has good and healthy food to carry out her task , she is not angry today. She keeps part of her butter.
CHAPTER 13
O. insists on the fact that she has nothing to do. She is really bored.
She remembers the Red Centers and Moira's arrival (her friend)
They managed to communicate in the toilets.
There was testifying : Janine said taht she had been raped by a gang and the Aunts forced her to admet it was her fault.
O. thinks about their failed attempt to escape , that is when her daughter was taken away.
CHAPTER 14
It is the night of the ceremony , everybody gathers in the sitting-room O. kneels , Rita , Cora and Nick stand , only Serena Joy sits while waiting for the Commander.
Nick touches Offred's foot.
Serana Joy switches on the news. Gilead is a war zone , there are religions and political prisoners and mass deportations.
O. thinks about the way they tried to escape pretending they organised a picnic , having forged fake passports.
CHAPTER 15
The commander enters the sitting room. He is the only one allowed to read the Bible to the others , we can see his power.
O. is thinking about the Center where extracts of the Bible were also read to them.
She meet Moira in the toilets , she tried to escape but was tortured by the Aunts , they did her feet because they are not essential for handmaids. In the Bible extract Rachel is too old to give a baby to her husband , that is why she asked her maid to do it.
CHAPTER 16
The impregnation ceremony takes place involving O. , the commander and his wife. It is unpleasant for all of them , but they are doing their duty.
CHAPTER 17
O. uses butter to soften her skin.
She wants to streal something.
She goes back to the sitting room and takes a daffodil. Nick follows her and kisses her. He gives her a secret message of the commander who wants to see her in his office the following day.
CHAPTER 18
O. is on her bed and she is thinking about Luke and her past life.
She feels that she is dead because she lacks of love.
She thinks that all the people she knew are dead or somewhere.
She thinks about three situations for Luke : either he is dead or a prisoner or he has managed to escape. She is trying to keep hope.
CHAPTER 19
O. dreams of her daughter and mother.
She is alone and thinks of various things : the chair , eggs and a pet.
She would like to have one.
She hears the siren of a Birthmobile , red for handmaids and blue for wives.
They go and attend the birth of Ofwarren's child (Janine)
We have the reason of the low birth rate : pollution , diverse chemicals.
CHAPTER 20
The birth is a great event and the commander will have a promotion.
The wives behave as if warren's wife is the real mother.
O. thinks about her life at the Red Center when the Aunts showed them brainwashing movies to explain that women were badly treated in the past.
They also watched unwomen documentaries on which she recognized her mother demonstrating.
She remembers her mother's visits when she lived with Luke , they teased each other.
O. really misses her now even if their relationship was difficult.
CHAPTER 21
O. describes the atmosphere , hot and noisy.
Ofwarren gives birth to a baby , Angelo , on the birthing stool on which the wife also sits.
Janine will then be tranferred to another family , but she will never be sent to the Colonies , she will never be declared unwoman.
CHAPTER 22
Returning home exhausted in the late afternoon O. tries to raise her spirits by remembering Moira.
She remembers her audacious friend who managed to escape from the Red Center.
She tied up Aunt Elizabeth in the basement and put on her clothes.
