Offred visits the doctor regularly to be checked for any diseases ( for example: sexually transmitted deseases ), complications or difficulties. After Offred fornicates with the Commander first time, she gets herself checked by the doctor. The doctor offers to have sex with her to get pregnant implying that the Commander is probably infertile. This conveys the Doctor in a very unprofessional light because he offers his PATIENT to have sexual intercourse with him. The Doctor makes it seem like it's for beneficial reasons, just so Offred gets pregnant but it also implies a sense of sexual desires being formed by the Doctor. It makes his character look 'loose' and 'immodest' because it is not normal for a Doctor to get intimate with his Patient.
The doctor also makes Offred uneasy, this suggests that his body language is not simple and clear to read and that he wants more than just a check up with Offred. This further shows the Doctor's mentality, the fact that he offers to have sex with Offred to get her pregnant expresses how he would go to extreme lengths to gain pleasure. The Doctor has no concern that if Offred falls pregnant because of him, he will be half responsible and in realistic terms the baby will be his but he is ready to form a baby and forget about it. This illustrates that he is someone who probably does this on a regular basis and has overtime built up a careless attitude towards it. Offred refuses to be initmate with the Doctor and having done that saves herself from getting sent away.
Thursday 30 September 2010
Sunday 26 September 2010
More in epigraphs
Biblical Allusion
The Bible is a collection of books that outlines the beliefs and teachings of christians. This holy book is a guide for living life the fullest, in the right way for Christians. The Biblical teachings tie in with other religions as well, such as Islam and Judaism. It is a collection of 66 books all containing the different messages of living life peacefully.
The quotation in the epigraph does not offer a sound model for a happy life as the situation is utterly unfair.
The Bible is a collection of books that outlines the beliefs and teachings of christians. This holy book is a guide for living life the fullest, in the right way for Christians. The Biblical teachings tie in with other religions as well, such as Islam and Judaism. It is a collection of 66 books all containing the different messages of living life peacefully.
The quotation in the epigraph does not offer a sound model for a happy life as the situation is utterly unfair.
Epigraphs in The Handmaid's Tale
There are three epigraphs in the beginning of the book, The Handmaid's Tale.
First:
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath witheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
- Genesis, 30:1-3
This epigraph conveys the importance of having children. It is so vital that there is a story in the Bible to get across this message. Women could reach upto extreme levels to have children even in that era. So extreme, that they would find it normal for their husband to sleep with another woman as shown in the Biblical story. This act would otherwise would be labelled as adultery if the wife had not known or told her husband to do so.
Second:
But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal . . .
- Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal
This epigraph means that after being through hard, unbearable cirumstances, something good suddenly comes along. This means, after something bad there is always something good. After hard times, there are good times. After every hardship, there's relief. The mind only starts working at it's best once it realises it's in danger.
Third:
In the desert there is no sign that says, Thou shalt not eat stones.
-Sufi proverb
This epigraph can mean several things. I personally believe it means that you don't necessarily need instructions to do something you want to do. If in life, you think you have to do something, you should go ahead and do it.
First:
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath witheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
- Genesis, 30:1-3
This epigraph conveys the importance of having children. It is so vital that there is a story in the Bible to get across this message. Women could reach upto extreme levels to have children even in that era. So extreme, that they would find it normal for their husband to sleep with another woman as shown in the Biblical story. This act would otherwise would be labelled as adultery if the wife had not known or told her husband to do so.
Second:
But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal . . .
- Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal
This epigraph means that after being through hard, unbearable cirumstances, something good suddenly comes along. This means, after something bad there is always something good. After hard times, there are good times. After every hardship, there's relief. The mind only starts working at it's best once it realises it's in danger.
Third:
In the desert there is no sign that says, Thou shalt not eat stones.
-Sufi proverb
This epigraph can mean several things. I personally believe it means that you don't necessarily need instructions to do something you want to do. If in life, you think you have to do something, you should go ahead and do it.
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