Hey guys,
So I'll post my paragraph after I've read some more, but you guys can post whenever!
Then also, I have posted two possible options for our introduction. The first one is from the blog convo last night that Alex Hill started and Britt ended with the new thesis, and then there is the one Alex busted out in class today. Please comment on which one you like better or if you have a brilliant idea of how to morph the two somehow or whatever you think might sound better.
The other thing is that, we have a different thesis in each one, mostly because none of us could remember the thesis today in class... ;) so please also comment on which of those you like or if you think maybe one thesis might go well in the conclusion since we have to restate it there; or just totally come up with a new thesis that maybe incorporates both! Give me your thoughts and I'll put it on the rough draft! Thanks so much guys!
PS Remember to try to post before 9pm so that I can e-mail all you guys before 10! Thanks!
GROUP VIDEO
16 years ago
First Introduction(along with our first thesis)Option:
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, The Handmaid's Tale, the character Offred finds herself in a relationship with her commander that tempts her with knowledge that could get her into severe trouble. Margaret Atwood uses the symbolism of Offred's relationship with the Commander to illustrate her fear of gaining knowledge, showing that when oppressed, people will naturally associate security with ignorance, where they feel too much knowledge can put their lives at risk.
Option #2(did in class today):
ReplyDeleteAs humans, we are constantly striving to know more about our world and our surroundings. However, is there such a thing as knowing too much? In The Handmaid’s Tale, the character Offred is exposed to situations where she obtains knowledge that her society deems punishable for knowing. The author, Margaret Atwood, uses the symbolism of scrabble, literature, and the Latin phrase, “Nolite to bastardes corundonum” to show that while opportunities for growing knowledge are abundant, but people should be wary of knowing too much. Atwood argues that too much knowledge of one’s surroundings can be harmful to one’s self.
When the Commander asks Offred to play a game of scrabble, she is reluctant. "Now of course it's something dangerous. Now it's forbidden, for us. Now it's dangerous. [...] Now it's desirable" (Atwood 138). Scrabble is a symbol of knowledge in the novel. Atwood uses it to express the reluctance in Offred, where she wants to gain knowledge but knows its dangerous power. Knowledge has become desirable because it is forbidden to them, a temptation that is refrained because of the amount of fear the society has created. This refrainment (wc?) is what oppresses the society. The government just had to create fear, and the rest fell into place.
ReplyDeleteAs Offred plays scrabble with the Commander, she finds it hard to piece together words. "It was like trying to walk without crutches" (Atwood 156). Offred feared her new society so much that she had completely blocked away any prior knowledge that she had before, making it harder for her to play the game. She knew that she was capable of spelling the words correctly, but because she had not used the words in so long, she could not remember. Atwood compares this to a broken leg, where a person is knows how to walk, but needs aid in relearning the skill. This simile shows how much the fear of the society has oppressed any prior knowledge, where knowledge is broken apart so much that it needs to be mended and relearned.
I'll email it to you as well just in case.
ReplyDeleteand i think we should stick with the thesis from last night - i think it's the best (and i'm not trying to be conceited, but i think it makes me sound conceited...)
You don't sound conceited at all. And thanks for the paragraphs!
ReplyDeleteUse the opening two sentences from the one from class today then keep the thesis from last night. :]
ReplyDeleteOk sounds good!
ReplyDeleteOffred finds herself tempted to sneak out of the society as she learns how the process of leaving her world works. Knowing how to sneak into places she is not allowed or sneak out of Gilead leaves her liable of being severely punished. While shopping for groceries, Offred learns that the Eyes have passwords for getting from place to place. Ofglen warns her, however, that knowing these passwords is dangerous. "'Don't use it unless you have to,' says Ofglen. 'It isn't good for us to know about too many of the others, in the network. In case you get caught'" (Atwood 261) Ofglen tells Offred that while it is a special thing to know of these passwords, there is always the chance of getting caught. Getting caught in this society is cause for being hung on the Wall for all to see. This extreme form of punishment is enough to encourage people to remain ignorant of the society's inner workings; therefore, the secrets of Gilead remain on the down low because of the threat of punishment. Offred is later asked to leave the town in disguise by the Commander, and they travel to their destination in a car. The Commander takes her to a club where she realizes that if she were to get caught, she would be immediately punished. "All you have to do, I tell myself, is keep your mouth shut and look stupid. It shouldn't be that hard" (Atwood 306). Offred knows that the Eyes could be disguised as anyone in the room, and she should keep quiet to avoid being caught. The fact that she is at the club and is aware of how to get there makes her able to be severely punished by the authorities. Her knowledge of this forbidden area of Gilead could get her thrown in the Colonies, where the convicts are sent when they are found to possess excess knowledge of something that they shouldn't. This argues that people would be better off not knowing this information and being ignorant of their surroundings. Knowing forbidden things about Gilead only increases the chance that Offred will be punished; therefore, she would be better off in ignorance.
ReplyDeleteHey guys thanks for the paragraphs! I'm still trying to wrap up mine, you know, perfectionist and all... :/ anyway, so I'll email you guys the finished product before 10. Sound good?
ReplyDeleteHey Dev, so please just bring the conclusion to class tomorrow if you aren't able to email or post it to me by 7am tomorrow morning. Thanks!
ReplyDelete