Friday, February 22, 2013

Margaret Atwood The Handsmaid Tale: chap. 11

In chapter 11 of The Handmaid Tale by Margaret Atwood, The speaker is answering a question about bearing children. She says "Give me children or else I die. There is more than one meaning to it.". In this dystopia woman are thought to be disposable things that are only needed for the womb. Women in this society can not read, hold high positions in government or household, or think for themselves. The only objective is to produce a family. This is why women in this society hold a great fear when it comes to having children. When a woman is found to be barren, they are not women and sent away to rot and die. This is this woman's fear. Also on a historic term, children are thought to be little symbols of hope for their parents or the generation before them. In slavery, the slaves tend to have a bunch of children in hopes to have them make a change and rebel against the previous social image. The children they have may be their only hope. Also in other countries families have children, boys in particular, to bring them out of poverty. Boys work hard and bring the wealth back to the family. Since in this society male is the primary importance that is probably why child barring is truly important. There are a lot of factors that tie into why woman want to have babies in dystopias, but just the simply sense of survival is why woman want to be able to give a child at any given time.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Lion vs Lamb Angel vs. Serpent

Lion is thought to be a symbol of pure murder. Thoughtlessly kill without regret or remorse. Lambs are symbols of innocence or tenderness; the exact opposite of the lion.
Angel represents truth and loyalty while Serpent represents lies and sneakiness.
I was told to put myself in one quadrant that would represent two of the combinations.
I considered myself a winged lion (angel lion) because I am more likely to kill than the average man, but more likely to be honest than the average man. I noticed this about myself at an early age because lying was a moral quality I never picked up, but toughness was a moral quality I became acquainted with. Although I am more likely to tell the truth I am not  a complete saint. I have lied before and manipulate, but I am less likely to lie about detrimental situations and I am a blunt person. Also  I will not kill without the level of concern being high, but giving the opportunity I will kill for my kids (if i had kids of course), for my money, and my own safety without hesitation.  So when I put myself in the quadrant of lion and angel I put myself as close to the middle sector being half a saint and half a killer. Which in my point of view makes me a HUMAN.