Key Quotes of the book

Hey everbody!

Every book contains a couple of  key quotes, quotes which have deeper meanings for the story. Therfore I found some of the key quotes (there were very many) and I tried to explain the importance for the story. I hope this will be of some assistance!

Lots of love, Barbara

1.   1.   “Girls, felt-skirted as I knew from pictures, later in mini skirts, then pants, then one earring, spiky green-streaked hair.” (Chapter 1, p. 13)

The quote is situated on the first page of the book and it is very important that Atwood started out this way. First of all, right from the beginning, you realize in what period of time the story takes place and the kind of changes the society has been through and second of all, Margaret Atwood sets the tone for one of the characteristics of her writing style, which is to continuously change tenses. 

2.   2.   “In this way we exchanged names, from bed to bed: Alma. Janine. Delores. Moira. June.”

(Chapter 1, p.14)

Besides the obvious importance of this quote, which is to give a clear view of the conditions in the red centre and how this transition must have been for the girls, it also is one of the clearest hints you get to the narrators name throughout the book. All the names previously mentioned return in the book, except June.

3.   3.   “Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary.” (Chapter 6, p.43)

The society in the book is still in the transition phase, the people still know how it used to be, which means it is for them the most difficult. They are everyday confronted with the changes and the oppression. However after a certain period of time you’ll adapt, this is clearly showed in the book as you read how Offred’s mind adapts as well when the story progresses. This quote is so important because it describes the situation the people in Gilead are in as well it is a quote which can be easily related to real life occasions which will help the reader understand the circumstances.

4.      “She doesn't make speeches anymore. She has become speechless. She stays in her home, but it

doesn't seem to agree with her. How furious she must be now that she has been taken at her word.” ( Chapter 8, p.56)

This quote is about Serena Joy, when she sits in the garden looking at the tulips. Serena becoming speechless could refer to all the freedom she lost while transferring to the Gilead society, from a important speaker throughout the country she became a housewife. This is supposedly what she wanted all along, however now achieving it, she became speechless because there was not anything left for her to say. The quote is important because it shows what sacrifices were made creating the Gilead society and it also describes the relationship between Offred and Serena, Offred talks about her as if she feels pity towards her while at the same time the quote states all the things Serena could blame and envy Offred for.

 5.      “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” (Chapter 9, pg. 62)

This quote Latin for ‘Don’t let the bastards grind you down’. It is found by Offred written in her room and the Commander translates it for her. It obviously has been written by the previous handmaid to encourage the next coming handmaids and the quote shows how even in a time period full of oppression like in Gilead there is something like solidarity. The quote also is repeated in the book a couple of time, which shows the importance for the story. It is used when Offred and Commander have one of their ‘meetings’ and also in the end this quote still gives Offred hope and she remembers it when she is thinking of exits.