2.14.2
Chapter 42
Chapter 42 - Summary and Key Quotations
Chapter 42 - Summary and Key Quotations
The chapter opens with Offred stating that "the Bell is tolling".
The salvaging of Ofcharles
The salvaging of Ofcharles
- Offred describes how she and the other Handmaids are lined up in front of what used to be an old library to witness the 'salvaging" (execution) of two handmaids and a wife.
- These individuals are being punished for crimes which, Aunt Lydia announces, will not be made public in case anyone else decides to follow in their footsteps.
- Offred watches as the first offender, a Handmaid called Ofcharles, is 'salvaged" (hanged) in front of everyone as a message from Gilead to obey their rules.
"Bell is tolling..."
"Bell is tolling..."
- "The bell is tolling"
- This comes from a sermon by 17-century priest and poet John Donne. Atwood is reminding us that we're involved in deaths carried out in our name.
- "I don't want to be telling this story"
- This line is isolated. Is this Offred's disgust at watching something so grim, or is this Atwood's despair that public executions still take place in various parts of the world?
__"Same... bus... vestment"
__"Same... bus... vestment"
- "The same platitudes, the same phrases, the same slogans"
- Cliches are often used to cover lacking emotion or to distance the speaker from taking responsibility.
- "As if she's being helped up the steps of a bus... the noose... like a vestment"
- A vestment is a religious robe. Atwood uses an everyday and religious image - both jarring with the situation at hand - to make the salvaging seem even more horrific.
1Author Background
1.1Margaret Atwood
2Chapter Summaries
2.1Chapter 1: Night I
2.2Chapters 2-6: Shopping II
2.3Chapter 7: Night II
2.4Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV
2.5Chapter 13: Nap V
2.6Chapters 14-17: Household VI
2.7Chapter 18: Night VII
2.8Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII
2.9Chapter 24: Night IX
2.10Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X
2.11Chapter 30: Night XI
2.12Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII
2.13Chapter 40: Night XIII
2.14Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV
2.15Chapter 46: Night XV
2.16Historical Notes
3Dedications & Epigraph
3.1Dedications & Epigraph
4Context
4.1Setting
4.2Literary Context & Genre
4.3Political Context
4.4Historical Context
4.5Parallels: Read World & Gilead
4.6Religious Context
5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques
5.1Narrative Structure
5.2Literary Techniques
6Themes & Imagery
6.2Imagery
7Characters
7.1Female Characters
7.2Male Characters
8Readings
8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale
Jump to other topics
1Author Background
1.1Margaret Atwood
2Chapter Summaries
2.1Chapter 1: Night I
2.2Chapters 2-6: Shopping II
2.3Chapter 7: Night II
2.4Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV
2.5Chapter 13: Nap V
2.6Chapters 14-17: Household VI
2.7Chapter 18: Night VII
2.8Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII
2.9Chapter 24: Night IX
2.10Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X
2.11Chapter 30: Night XI
2.12Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII
2.13Chapter 40: Night XIII
2.14Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV
2.15Chapter 46: Night XV
2.16Historical Notes
3Dedications & Epigraph
3.1Dedications & Epigraph
4Context
4.1Setting
4.2Literary Context & Genre
4.3Political Context
4.4Historical Context
4.5Parallels: Read World & Gilead
4.6Religious Context
5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques
5.1Narrative Structure
5.2Literary Techniques
6Themes & Imagery
6.2Imagery
7Characters
7.1Female Characters
7.2Male Characters
8Readings
8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale
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