9.1.19

Chapters 37 & 38

Test yourself

Chapter 37 - Key Quotations

Here are three key quotations from Chapter 37:

Illustrative background for <b>"I've been here... with Luke"Illustrative background for <b>"I've been here... with Luke" ?? "content

"I've been here... with Luke"

  • "I've been here before, with Luke, in the afternoons"
    • Offred and Luke would meet in this hotel while they were having an affair. Luke later divorced and married Offred, but their marriage was always considered illicit in Gilead because he had been married before. Ironically, this hotel now functions as a brothel for all kind of male fantasies to be acted out.
Illustrative background for __"Juvenile... they prefer it"__Illustrative background for __"Juvenile... they prefer it"__ ?? "content

"Juvenile... they prefer it"

  • "It's a juvenile display"
    • Offred thinks the Commander acts like a young boy proudly exhibiting his new girlfriend. His behaviour is worlds away from what's expected in Gilead society.
  • "They prefer it ... to the alternatives"
    • The Commander doesn't see the irony in the women preferring life in Jezebel's to the other options. But their only other alternatives are being "Unwomen" or living as Handmaids.

Chapter 38 - Key Quotations

Here are four key quotations from Chapter 38:

Illustrative background for __"Mirror... Quaker"__Illustrative background for __"Mirror... Quaker"__ ?? "content

"Mirror... Quaker"

  • "Haven't removed the mirror"
    • The Handmaids can't access mirrors for two reasons:
      • they aren't supposed to value their appearances
      • they could smash the mirrors and use the glass as weapons/to kill themselves.
  • "Quaker"
    • Even though the Quakers are a peaceful and progressive denomination, they are persecuted in Gilead.
Illustrative background for <b>"Radiation... indifference"Illustrative background for <b>"Radiation... indifference" ?? "content

"Radiation... indifference"

  • "The other Colonies are the worst … radiation spills"
    • In Atwood's world, man-made disasters have ruined the natural world and caused declining fertility rates.
  • "Indifference, a lack of volition... I don't want her to be like me"
    • Moira used to be a revolutionary symbol. Offred is disappointed to see Moira's sudden lack of fight.

Jump to other topics

1Author Background

1.1Margaret Atwood

2Chapter Summaries

3Dedications & Epigraph

3.1Dedications & Epigraph

4Context

5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques

6Themes & Imagery

7Characters

8Readings

8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale

9Recap: Main Quotes

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