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Quotations In The Handmaid's Tale

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The first quotation is taken from the first few chapters of Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. The novel does not seem to be set in a specific time period just before and after a post-apocalyptic catastrophe. At the beginning of this quote, Oryx is talking to Jimmy about the life she lived and how her community was as a child. The second quotation is taken from the first couple of chapters in The Handmaid's tale by Margaret Atwood. The novel is set in the totalitarian regime of Gilead and the protagonist Offred recounts the different coloured clothing that separate the ranks in the regime as she steps out to go to the supermarket. These quotations are similar in terms of theme. In both, Oryx and Crake and The Handmaid's Tale, sexualization …show more content…

From reading these novels, one can see that both types of authority figures have a great influence over everything done in each community. In Oryx and Crake, the compounds are the basic stand point of the CorpSeCorps, so when Jimmy's mother escapes it causes Jimmy to be a target. The compounds are meant to keep people in to "protect" everyone. Jimmy's whereabouts are being monitored by the CorpSeCorps in order to determine the whereabouts of his mother who he has not spoken to in a long time. Comparatively, Jimmy's mother must be tracked down until her official death is confirmed. In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred has suspicions of Nick being an Eye. The Eyes are security individuals similar to the CorpSeCorps. In speaking about their purpose or origin, they differ slightly. The Eyes are so secretive, that no one knows who is or isn't one. In addition, they are meant to spy on people, but to people living in Gilead they are seen as the eyes of the lord; based upon religious perspectives. When Offred was accompanied by Nick she was relieved, but also suspected him to be an Eye. Lastly, both governments believe the only way to achieve this control is through fear, explaining the strict rules and monitoring of the people. This is portrayed through both

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