2.14.4
Chapter 44
Chapter 44 - Summary and Key Quotations
Chapter 44 - Summary and Key Quotations
After lunch, Offred goes out as normal to meet Ofglen to do her shopping. But Offred is met by a new Handmaid, also named Ofglen. She has no knowledge of where the old Ofglen has gone.
Ofglen's end
Ofglen's end
- Not sure whether she can trust this new Handmaid, Offred subtly mentions "May-day" but the new Ofglen does not understand the reference.
- Offred realises that if Ofglen has been replaced, she might also be in danger.
- As Offred leaves the new Ofglen, she finds out that the old Ofglen committed suicide when she saw a black van coming to collect her.
"She isn't Ofglen"
"She isn't Ofglen"
- "She isn't Ofglen ... I am Ofglen"
- A few hours after her death, Ofglen is replaced. This shows how quickly and efficiently Gilead eliminates subversive elements.
- "May the Lord open ... Which I receive with joy"
- Gilead gets rid of all meaningful dialogue by making the Handmaids speak in Biblical lines.
"I'll incriminate anyone"
"I'll incriminate anyone"
- "ll say anything they like, I'll incriminate anyone"
- Offred's desperation recalls Winston's panic in Orwell's 1984 in ‘Room 101'. This is the room where people face their worst nightmares.
- The Party threaten Winston with the idea of a cage of rats gnawing his face off. Out of fear, he becomes willing to incriminate anyone.
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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