This book drives me crazy in both good and bad ways. On one hand, it's written extremely well and I feel like I'm part of the book, like the events are happening to me. She makes the characters very believable. What drives me crazy is what's going on in the book. How can women just succumb to that society? How could people actually agree to make that kind of society? How can women willingly get used just to make babies? Babies you can't even keep, or raise, or claim they're yours. It's ridiculous. And the men don't even know half the shit that's going on in the households. They're too busy making sure they get a promotion.
A really weird thing about this book is the whole baby-making process. Wtf? That is just too weird to be lying your head on some ladies crotch and just lying there while some guy bangs you. And then to make it even more obnoxious, the Wife has to squeeze Offred's hands and moan like she's getting screwed? Nuh uh. That's gross. Another thing is when the baby is actually born. I think it's freaking hilarious when everyone spikes the grape juice and they can all gather around, but does the Wife really have to be there AGAIN and act like she's giving birth? Then she gets all tired and everyone congratulates her instead of the chick who actually gave birth. It's not even the Wife's baby.
I guess the book must be pretty damn good if it can get me all fired up. I just can't imagine a place like that, where women are used for babies, and men are on top even though they don't do anything. I hope we never get to that point.
I'm pretty much on the exact same page. Everything you were getting at is exactly what pisses me off, and I agree with you when you say that it actually marks this novel as a wonderful book simply because it can make us hate what is happening so much.
ReplyDeleteI completly agree with you. The duties that the women have to do in this book just shows that they are more important then the men. It is shown in a really messed up way however, if the women are so important that they have to have a certain name and certain "occupation" but yet they just get their babys taken away and get no respect what so ever just pisses me off. How can they be the MOst important and least important at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that would hurt me the most about being a handmaid isn't getting sexed by two people at the same time, or getting my rights taken away. I think mine would be after going through labor and having my child, not being able to hold it. In the book. The wife climbs into bed and gets the baby handed to her. Blah
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything your saying but you have to somewhat put yourself in that situation. For a long time women didnt have any rights what so ever, I find this so frustrating and it makes me very mad, but you have to think of the circumstances that they were put in. I think your asking very good questions but try and ask yourself what makes them not fight for their rights.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts here, especially about the women. How could a women go through a pregnancy over and over again, and give up their child to someone else. There is some serious attachment that would come with being a mother, and going through pregnancy just to give up the outcome of it is torture. I find it super uncomfortable that Serena has to feel so included that she practically has a three some with her husband and their "baby-maker" and then to claim the credit of the baby by "pretending" to be the one actually giving birth. The whole book is a constant ****** up situation.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Rebekah, and one that has engendered a lot of interesting comment! Glad to hear the book has got you "fired up"--and I hope that you find the rest of it as engaging (let us know!).
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