Justice at Night - Martha Gellhorn (Recast)

My diary...

So, me and my friend were on our way to Columbia from Trenton, New Jersey. This was the beginning to our tour of America which is I must not forget to add a distance of 3,000 miles. The vehicle that me and my friend purchased was for $28.50, it was eight years old. The car was aged, perhaps it lived longer than it should have. I don't think anyone took much notice of it, or took care of it. This was evident in all the dust and filth on the back seat which had been accumulated over these long slow eight years. We didn't have much hope in the car to say the least but I guess we just wanted something, anything to help us to manoeuvre around faster than walking and so this was it. We commenced our journey, hoping to come across pleasant surprises on the way but what we witnessed was the complete opposite. We saw something spine tingling. How? Because our car broke down. This led us to fall dependent on two truckers who were passing by for reaching to Columbia. We met them, seemed fairly normal guys and then they starting speaking about a lynching which was taking place nearby and how they were actually on they're way to 'watch' it. It was of a 19 year old black boy called Hyacinth who was accused of 'raping' a 50-60 year old woman whom the two truckers described as someone not attractive at all. They said, 'They could stick her out in a field and she'd scare the crows to death.' Now my main concern was how does everyone know he raped the woman, how can they be sure? What evidence do they have? I raised several questions and the only reply the driver gave was 'She says she did...thats enough for us.' Absolutely disturbing. They took us with them cause we were going to reach Columbia on their truck... We went to the lynching. I saw all kinds of people there, all men. I stopped. Stopped right there. I watched in shock, horror and fear. I was taken back at the sight of what was occurring. Almost felt numb and frozen because I couldn't do anything to help the young poor boy, Hyacinth, I was helpless. He was hung on the roof with a rope ... a man approached him with a burning torch made of newspaper... erm... it formed contact with Hyacinths feet before it slowly started to travel upwards, faster. I looked away crying, crying from all my heart. I wish I did something to stop this injustice. Regret, sorrow and remorse is what I feel.

Commentary

Yet to be done.

Women in Horror films

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3zLybNBmtY

We chose to use this clip as an example as it shows the stereotype of the "helpless woman" in horror films, especially with young women as cheerleaders etc. She questions the killer of the protocol of what she is supposed to do when he's attacking her, leaving him confused. This shows that there is a clear "routine" in teen horror films. The girl is a flirty, promiscuous cheerleader which confirms the belief that women like this are normally killed off in horror films.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTR1vN0scKA


We chose this clip as this film is an example of women being targeted in films. The main female character is targeted as soon as her husband leaves her home alone. However, it is surprising as the first person to signify something is going to go wrong is a young girl.

The Bitch Manifesto - Autobiography

The Bitch Manifesto Autobiography

So, I’m independent… that makes me a Bitch right? I’m ambitious… Oh guess what? That too makes me a Bitch! And is there anything wrong in being strong-minded because boy, I am not going to let people tread over me in this world full of competitors. But even my third quality which in my eyes makes me a good person, to others it makes me a Bitch. I work, yes I work, I get good pay and I earn a living for myself, only for myself. That’s not being selfish. That’s being a Bitch. So now the self fulfilling prophecy comes in… I have been labelled and so I’ve commenced on this ‘Bitch’ career. I have conformed to the ideas of others. Maybe I feel comfortable in being a Bitch.

Sometimes I wonder if my colleagues wish I just dropped dead… I am at a higher position than most. They are jealous of me. Yes I don’t usually reply when they say good morning, yes I don’t generally smile at them, yes I’m not immediately gratified with the work they do. But so WHAT? I am a Bitch. If it hurts them, it hurts them. I’m here to stay and they can’t do anything about it. But I wonder if my boss thinks the same, I think he is one person I am not a Bitch to. I’m not married because Bitches don’t really get married do they but then there are Bitches who rely upon others, I’m not one of them. I’m a normal Bitch, I tend to not use others. I like being independent. So I guess my boss is someone I obey. He pays me for the work I do. I need money, money gives me status, and it gives me domination. Oh there you go; I like to be domineering so I must be a Bitch’s Bitch.

I look like a bitch too. I’m tall, that gives me the power to look down upon people… I sound mean but you know it’s funny; I wasn’t like this when I was young. It’s almost as if throughout the years I have been functioned and moulded in to being the Bitch I am today. It’s because I’ve gone through certain times in my life which have torn me apart, I can’t afford to be shattered into pieces again. So I’ll be a Bitch, I’ll be all that I am for as long as I live. My heart is a rock now, it won’t break again.


Commentary

I chose to use three dots as pauses to convey that she is thinking as she is writing this. She is thinking because being a Bitch means something to her, it has given her everything she’s wanted so in actual fact she is giving great consideration in illustrating her qualities and how they make her a Bitch. I have used rhetorical questions throughout to influence the readers to think beyond what is written and interpret what she is saying in their own way. I have used the personal pronoun I many times to signify her self-importance. She wants to make the readers thoroughly aware that this autobiography is only about her and no one else. I used capital letters for the word ‘WHAT’ in my second paragraph to emphasise her carless and insensitive character. In the end, she becomes slightly emotional and states a bit about her past, no detail, just outlines that there must have been tragic circumstances that occurred which led her to being so h hardhead. This instantly wins the sympathy of readers and shows a different side to ‘Bitches’.

Detailed essay plan - not finished

Detailed essay plan

Introduction: explain what status is, how it differs between men and women in the society of Gilead and in The Wife of Bath. Briefly explain how the society affects both men and women. Outline the hierarchy; briefly outline who’s at the top and who’s at the bottom and also all in between. Generally talk about both societies - pros and cons. Why status is needed.

Status in the Handmaid’s tale

- Different statuses amongst women

- Status between women and men

- Why the society is run based on statuses, how does this fit into the regime of a place like Gilead?

- Why is status needed?

- What does it mean to have some people at the top and some at the bottom

Status in The Wife of Bath

- Status between women and men

- Dominance of men over women in the fourteenth century, how does this view and the image of society contradict the actions and mentality of The Wife of Bath?

- How is The Wife of Bath different in the patriarchal society?

- How does she gain dominance over men?

- The Wife of Bath is controlling through maistrie, makes her powerful

Religion in The Wife of Bath

- High belief in God in the fourteenth century

- People going on pilgrimages, Wife of Bath only goes to gain attention

- Only attends church to get noticed

- How does the Wife of Bath use religion to her advantage?

- What kind of biblical illusions does she transmit in her prologue to justify her actions?

- Can her manner be justified? How much is she going by the rules of Christianity?

Religion in The Handmaid’s Tale

- The society has been based on theocracy

- How do the hidden occurrences in the society of Gilead contradict the religious system that has been set up?

- Is Gilead really based on theocracy? Is it not innovated by the rulers to suit their needs?

- How do the people take advantage of the religion and apply it to their selfish wants?

Uniforms and coding in The Handmaid’s Tale:

- Different colours for all different people in the society

- How does this convey status?

- What do colours mean? How are they successful in portraying the role of a person?

- No freedom to wear what they want

- People are divided and segregated – forms conflicts and a huge status gap

- Easier to tell people/ groups/communities apart

Clothing in The Wife of Bath:

- Her clothes are mostly bright, in seek of attention

- Wants to get noticed so is always in her best garments

- Freedom to wear what she wants, wears red which connotes sexual appeal, lust, passion etc

- Her choice of clothing illustrate her active sex life

- Vibrant clothing – exciting love life

Subjugation of women in The Handmaid’s Tale:

- Women are subjugated to various different roles

- Their wanted not needed

- Handmaids to bear children

- Commanders wives to fill in the elite wealthy section

- Econowives to fulfil all the other jobs of wives such as cleaning and cooking

- Marthas to cook in the Commander’s homes

- Aunts to teach other women that the society of Gilead is fair and reasonable

- All women are there for a purpose to serve the system, they are not living for themselves

Same in the The Wife of Bath?

- Primary role is to be a wife

- Women in the fourteenth century were expected to be submissive wives, but The Wife of Bath is going against all these norms of the society

- She has made up her own set of rules and regulations and justifies them by using some biblical references

- The Wife of Bath on the other hand uses men, for her needs, she does not get used for anything

- She is all about her sexuality and only serves herself not the society

- Her norms and values oppose the society

- She has been a wife but a wife to many, how would this be seen in the patriarchal society of the fourteenth century?

Essay plan

4. Compare and contrast the ways Atwood in 'The Handmaid's Tale' and Chaucer in 'The Wife of Bath's Tale' explore status in society.

Intro - explain what status is, how it differs between men and women in the society of Gilead and in The wife of bath. Briefly explain how the society effects both men and women. The privileges, the negatives and positives. Outline the hierachy, briefly outline whos at the top and whos at the bottom and also all in between. Generally talk about both soceities - pros and cons. Why status is needed

Subjugation of women. Different ways women are subjugated in the Handmaid's tale, Atwood - feminist views. Status is shown in uniform and colours. Different clothing between women for e.g. Econowives were colourful striped clothes to convey that they have more than one role, more than one purpose (cooking and cleaning). Clothing of men is different. Uniform and colours, a way to create segregation and division between people of Gilead. Every uniform conveys a certain role. "Black for the commander, blue for the commander's wife and the one assigned to me which is red".Explain in detail the system of the hierachy. Elaborate on the negatives and positives both with men and women. What it means to be a man in both societies and what it means to be a woman. Use quotes and pee's to justify points.

Dominance of men. Commanders being dominant in Gilead. Handmaid's take the name of their commanders. Shows the commander is in power. Commanders role in the household and the kind of relationship he has with Offred. The private relationship in the office. Use quotes to explain how specific women in the Handmaid's tale feel about the situation their in. Also quotes from men implying things about soceity. Also quotes from the wife of bath that show how people feel in the sort of society they are in. Roles of women in society. How that defines status, why? Who creates these jobs, rules, laws, restrictions. What happens if the job confined is not met? What are the threats and how does Gilead keep the society running 'smooth'. These different roles created- PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY.

Some of the people in society rebel - who does not follow the rules as they should? Jezebels, Serena, Handmaid - Offred, nick

What women have to do for men in the Handmaid's tale.

Subjugation of women

Chapter 16

This particular chapter primarily focuses on the ceremony of sexual intercourse that takes places between the Commander and Offred the Handmaid. It describes everything that goes on while the ceremony is occurring. It consists of the feelings and emotions of the Commanders wife, Offred and the Commander while being a part of this whole ceremony.

Offred illustrated Commander's wife's emotions. "The rings of her left hand cut into my fingers. It may or may not be revenge." This conveys the Commanders wife selfishness and insensitivity that while using Offred she is still trying her best to show her anger and frustration towards this whole situation. She is expressing it through any way she can and in this case, using her rings to cut into Offred's fingers. Is this humane? No. Having said that, the whole idea of this ceremony is not humane. It is a situation made to use women solely for the purpose of reproduction in the society of Gilead. Offred does not refer to Serena through using her name, she says the possessive pronoun "her" which reflects that she probably does not respect her as much as she should according to the position she is in compared to the Commander's wife. These feelings are obviously expressed in her mind and mind only. She dare not speak out loud as she does not want to be sent to the colonies where all the unwanted people of Gilead end up. Offred feels as if Serena might be taking "revenge" out on her but she is not completely certain as she also adds before that "it may or may not be". Revenge for having sex with her husband. This show her heartlessness as the Handmaid has no choice because she has been confined to this role and also because Offred is BENEFITTING Serena in every way possible.

Offred goes on to describe her feelings towards what is happened. She says, "Below it the Commander is fucking...I do not say making love, because this is not what he's doing." This expresses Offred's emotions towards what is happened to her perfectly. She feels as if she's a victim of this situation. Offred describes the sexual intercourse between her and the Commander in a disrespectful 'dirty' way. Its almost as if this is happened against her will, which emotionally might be the case. Offred got forced to be a Handmaid so her frustrated feelings show through this.\

TO BE CONTINUED.

The Jezebel Section

Look at chapters 37-39 - the Jezebel section - with the following in mind.

Explore attitudes towards women and sex.
Margaret Atwood, the author of the book The Handmaid’s Tale. She is a radical feminist and believes in all the ideologies that have been formed about men towards women. Atwood illustrates some of the beliefs and ideologies of feminism through different ways throughout the novel. Atwood reveals her radicalism many a times by expressing in her novel that all men treat women unfairly and dictate their every move. Atwood uses a female narrator, who is named Offred (this is not her real name) to show that there is no democracy between men and women, it is a dictatorship. Dictatorships run by men. It values over powering women and being persistent in dominating them.
In the chapters 37 to 39, a place called Jezebel is revealed. The term ‘Jezebel’ derives from the Bible. Jezebel was a woman who passed on iniquity upon the kingdom of the king Ahab. Also the term ‘Jezebel’ is also used to define and describe a rebellious and disobedient woman. Jezebel is a place which consists of women who are solely used for pleasure and fornication. The term fornication is used to describe best what occurs in Jezebel because the commanders are not religiously and lawfully married to the women. This place is evidently opposing and abusing the rules and policies of the government of Gilead. In this section Atwood uses present tense to describe Offred’s experiences of Jezebel. This makes the experiences more effective because for the readers it makes moments come alive as Offred explores and becomes captivated in the contrasting ideas of this place. Up to chapter 36, Atwood expressed her views through using the voice of Offred by conveying that women are mainly used for childbearing. These particular sections focuses on alternative roles for women.
In chapter thirty seven, as Offred is revealing what she observes says, ‘The women are sitting, lounging, strolling, leaning against one another.’ The finite verb ‘are’ is used to emphasise the present tense that Atwood is using to describe Offred’s experience. The finite verb ‘are’ is joined with auxiliary verbs to depict the women’s movements. The auxiliary verbs such as ‘...sitting, lounging, strolling...’ convey a sense of freedom. This is something that the women of Gilead do not have. They don’t have freedom to, they have freedom from. The verbs are portraying that the women are free to be however they want. They do not need any one’s permission to be in any state they wish to be. This expresses how the women of Jezebel differ from the women of Gilead. Atwood has made this Jezebel place to be hidden and a place not many people know about. Women can do as they please in this place. This connotes that Atwood believes, women only rarely have some sort of freedom and that too when men want nothing but pleasure and sex from them. So in theory, women are still not free. They are tied down by one duty or the other.
Another way the women are describes in this section are through clothing. In the society of Gilead, women have to dress in certain colours depending on their status. This therefore makes their status in society prominent to everyone. They are divided and women of different classes do not mix with one another unless for professional reasons. Offred continues to set the scene of Jezebel and then describes the clothing of the women. She says, ‘The women on the other hand are tropical, they are dressed in all kinds of bright festive gear.’ This is just one quote to describe the dressing of the women in Jezebel. Offred carries on great detail describing the different kinds of outfits. The idea of women all dressed differently emits a sense of individuality and originality. They are not under any certain status, position or categorised. The adjective ‘bright’ and ‘festive’ are just some of the adjectives used to describe the clothing. The adjective ‘bright’ portrays a feeling of happiness and the importance of light in a very dark place. In this case the importance of ‘excitement’ in a dull society like Gilead. The adjective ‘festive’ displays a sense of high spirits and energy. This connotes positivity and the occurrences of different things happening at once. Festive connotes festivals and the usual conventions of a festival are many events taking place on one occasion. This implies that there are different events occurring in Jezebel and different in the actual society of Gilead. Although these are just descriptions of clothing, it still conveys ideologies about the opposing environment, Jezebel.
In the opening paragraph of chapter 39 Offred speaks about how she notices and observes the desires of the commander to have sexual intercourse with her. ‘The commander has a room key...he shows it to me, slyly. I am to understand.’ The use of the adverb, ‘slyly’ indicates that the commander has to be sneaky and conniving to get what he wants. He has to be shrewd to fulfil his sexual needs. Offred then carries on expressing her emotions on how she feels when the commander is so physically close to her. She says, ‘But it’s no good, I lie there dead like a bird. He is no monster, I think.’ Atwood uses the simile, ‘like a bird’ to express what kind of feelings Offred is undergoing at this moment in her life. The thought of a bird brings freedom and liberty to mind but as soon as the word ‘dead’ is replaced before it, it suddenly emits a frozen, insensitive and a cold feeling. It’s almost as if Offred has got ‘used’ for sex so many times that now the feeling of being objectified has desensitised within her. After describing the commander as a ‘monster’ which gives him animalistic features, Offred uses the personal noun ‘I’ and abstract noun ‘think’ these two nouns convey a sense of confusion and perplexity. It’s almost as if Offred is not sure whether the Commander is a human with feelings or a evil heartless monster.
In conclusion, after having stated several ideologies expressed in some passages of the novel, it has come to notice that Margaret Atwood has a very negative view about men and their attitudes towards women. She expresses these views in harsh ways, making situations sound extreme and unreasonable which put ‘all’ men in a very pessimistic light. Atwood has made men look like users. It’s either using women for childbearing, using women for sex and pleasure or using women for other various things such as cooking and cleaning. She has somehow in every way possible shown that women are only used by men, their needed and perhaps not wanted as much. There is a different between want and need. Both have different feelings behind them.