Friday, April 24, 2009
As Moira is describing her story and what happened after she left the Red Center, I made a couple connections to our history. The "Femaleroad" seems very similar to the Underground Railroad which was used in the South to help blacks escape slavery. There are checkpoints and different steps along the road to try and get the people out of an area. Also both the Femaleroad and the Underground Railroad operated illegally. The citizens escaping through the Undeground Railroad both choose to flee because they were greatly oppressed or unhappy with the society they were living in. It also seems very hypocritical that they have a place for many of the things which are forbidden to happen such as: wearing revealing clothing, wearing makeup and smoking. This just makes the society seem much more corrupt and hypocritical. How can the leaders of the society disobey their own rules and what message would this send to the rest of the population.
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Great connection to the Underground Railroad, Safa! Why do you think Atwood chose to reference this - what is she saying about the society of Gilead?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ms. Aaland. You made a great connection between the Underground Railroad and the "Femaleroad." And to answer her question, i think Atwood is trying to say that, breaking rules is almost human nature. Even in such a restrictive society like Gilead, there are those who still risk their positions and break rules. And in particular, in this society it is those who have the power to enforce the rules. Yes it's hypocritical, but it happens everyday, even in our society. She's probably just pointing out another flaw in society and highlighting that it's also human nature to be a little (or a lot) hypocritical. Also, i assume they think it's okay to break rules, since i mean they are the ones who are enforcing them & it would be unlikely for them to get caught anyways. I don't think that would ever happen.
ReplyDelete- Jessi =)