https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FEeTC_U_B-UOV4ZBJmbhHohCSOYOduCT/view?usp=sharing

Billie Eilish - “What Was I Made For?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcQszUj4Nhc )

Billie Eilish’s song “What Was I Made For?” powerfully shows Offred’s identity loss in The Handmaid’s Tale. In the song, Eilish says, “I used to float, now I just fall down,” which reflects Offred’s “fall” or big change from freedom to oppression under the rule of Gilead. As someone who was once independent, she is now only valued for her ability to bear children. An example of this is a quote from Chapter 23 where Offred says, “We are for breeding purposes.” Like Eilish’s lyric, “Looked so alive, turns out I’m not real,” Offred feels stripped of her humanity and belittled to a symbol of fertility. Both the song and the book explore how women are shaped into controlled versions of themselves, forced to hide emotions and individuality. The lyric “Something you made to look so perfect” almost mirrors Gilead’s illusion of perfection, which hides cruelty behind its harsh system. All the while, Offred reflects, “Better never means better for everyone.. It always means worse for some” (Chapter 32). Despite her numb feelings, Offred still longs for connection and freedom, which leaves her to quietly question her purpose. Like Eilish song, she yearns to remember who she once was, asking the same haunting question, “If I can’t be myself, what was I made for?”

Beyonce ft. Kendrick Lamar - “Freedom” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FWF9375hUA )

Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” powerfully reflects on the women’s desire for liberation in The Handmaid’s Tale. She sings, “Imma keep running, cause a winner don’t quit on themselves,” which, in a way, mirrors Offred’s quiet perseverance despite the constant control in Gilead. Like Beyonce’s message of resistance, Offred finds small ways to regain her power, such as remembering her past, making secret connections, and whispering forbidden words. When she reads “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” (from chapter 9), she feels a sense of strength, empowerment, and purpose, refusing to be defeated. The lyric “Freedom, Freedom, I can’t move!” relates to Offred’s inner struggle. Her spirit wants to break free even though her body is trapped. Both Beyonce’s song and The Handmaid’s Tale book show how women continue to fight for hope and self worth, even in the time of oppression. Essentially, freedom becomes not just a goal, but an act of courage and survival.

Micheal Jackson - “They Don’t Care About Us” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFUvTE7TK6s )

Micheal Jackson’s song “They Don’t Care About Us” connects strongly to the themes of power and oppression in The Handmaid’s Tale. Jackson’s lyric “All I wanna say is that they don’t really care about us,” reflects how Gilead’s leaders claim to protect women, while actually dehumanizing them. The Handmaids are treated like property, valued only for their ability to reproduce. When Offred says, “We are for breeding purposes” (Chapter 23), she exposes how little the system values Handmaids as people. Michael Jackson’s anger towards injustice almost mirrors Offred’s quiet awareness that those in power use religion and control to excuse cruelty. The lyric “Beat me, hate me, you can never break me” mirrors Offred’s hidden courage, as she resists through memory and thoughts. Both the song and the book reveal how corrupt systems strip people of humanity and how courage begins with refusing to accept just any old circumstances.

Alicia Keys - “Caged Bird” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9_9XbUvfrA )

Alicia Keys’s “Caged Bird” captures the trapped but hopeful spirit of Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale. Keys sings “Right now, the world is such a crazy place,” which reflects Gilead’s sick society built on fear and control. Like the “bird” in the song, Offred is kept locked up and silenced, yet she dreams of freedom. Offred says “The door of the room– not my room, I refuse to say my – is not locked” (Chapter 17), showing her small mental rebellion against captivity. The caged bird song symbolizes Offred’s storytelling. It’s her way of keeping her spirit alive. Both Alicia Keys’s song and the book highlight that even in oppressive times, hope and memory can’t be fully taken away. Offred’s quiet resistance and desire to be heard and seen, mirrors the caged bird’s song for freedom.

Tink - “Treat Me Like Somebody” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HuiYBtoIhE )

Tink’s song “Treat Me Like Somebody” reflects Offred’s longing to be seen and valued as a human being rather than an object in The Handmaid’s Tale. Tink sings, “I just wanna be somebody to someone,” which connects to Offred’s deep desire for genuine love and recognition in a world that only values her for reproduction and treats her like property. When she reflects and says, “I want to be held and told my name. I want to be valued in ways that I am not” (Chapter 17), she reveals this craving for emotional connection and self-worth. Like Tink explains through her song, Offred wants more than a role; she wants to feel loved and seen. Her secret moments with Nick offer her tiny glimpses of humanity. Both the song and the book explore how women struggle to find identity and affection in systems and a world that reduces them to objects, longing to be treated like someone real, simply.

In the novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, it dives into the many different themes of sexuality, gender norms, and power in which each type of person holds in Gilead. Offred, the handmaid of Commander Fred, and our author of the story, explains to the reader the ways in which she feels when the monthly ceremony is occurring and how her body adjusts to the circumstances she has no other choice but to endure or death will come her way. In chapter sixteen, Offred is representing to the readers ways in which the ceremonies are run and while she is participating in the ceremony, Offred gets into the way she feels about her position by saying,

“What he is fucking is the lowest part of my body. I do not say making love, because this is not what he’s doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate because it would imply two people and only one is involved. Nor does rape cover it: nothing is going on here that I haven’t signed up for.” (chapter 16)

In this description, the readers can understand that Offred doesn’t particularly enjoy the acts in the ceremony and does not want to call it “making love” because it isn’t passionate, but seems to have this idea that she has a “duty” and a “job” to get done that she signed up for so it makes it ok. However, how are we as readers supposed to read this and believe the same things that Offred seems to dilute her mind into believing?

When I first read this part, I was never able to grasp how she can explain that she was being raped (legally MIND YOU) but somehow making it seem so casual and how “it is what it is”. My own body had a slight chill to it, so uncomfortable by what I had just cast my eye over and almost shielded myself up to protect my own body from it, even though all I did was read it off the page. As a woman myself, it’s scary that even when I read that quote I had to think from my body’s perspective how that would feel. Unwanted intercourse is not only scary because you don’t want to do it, but you don’t have any say in which it goes. She could be in so much pain during it because she doesn’t have the power and voice to tell him, which any woman that has had to experience this could even say their breath is taken away because they are so scared for their lives that they become paralyzed. However, in the capital of Gilead, they believe it’s ok for women to experience this legally because they were born on this earth to give birth to those who really need their babies. This will affect Offred for the rest of her life as much as she wants to just shrug it off and cab really represent the realities in which women must experience rape without their consent, which is even scary that we could relate such an event to our present time.

Over the past couple of weeks since I had read that quote, the relationship actually between our author and her commander has increased into a liking relationship, with Offred sneaking over to his office every night to play games with him and talk to him with added gifts. Then more into a more romantic relationship where kissing and sex on their own time is done, of course done by commanders wants and desires. Comparing this back to our quote, I start to feel even more uncomfortable by the thoughts of them even being able to form an intimate relationship with everything they have to endure. You are having sex, that neither of them enjoy, during the ceremonies to create a child, you go your separate ways in the house, then you hang out together at the end of the day with each other like a couple of lovers? How could you say such a thing about your intercourse but then possibly create a sort of love thing for each other? I understand the fear that Offred has to experience when she goes to visit him and how the commander here is the one who started it all, but we start to read Offred falling for him and believing that she is his special maid. THAT is what the scary part of this connection is, falling for your legal rapist. His manipulation however could fool anyone, but our girl should know better, which I continued to still scream while finishing up this book. Where did this leave her? POSSIBLE death at the end, hopefully not though.

The idea of being to explain rape so causality and then proceed to create a loving relationship to one who does those acts to you is probably the most agonizing topic of this book and something that made this book so hard for me to finish. Every scene of those two talking about their connection, I felt sick to my stomach knowing what we know and every moment they tried to make cute between the two of them I couldn’t think as such.

As I was reading “The Handmaid’s tale”there was so much going on that stood out to me. The book makes me think about how society can treat women and the relationship between women and men. One quote that caught my attention was “ We are the container, your task is to fill us.” It made me think about how women are often expected to fit into certain roles or meet certain expectations.

For example, women are often expected to manage the household, raise children, cook, clean, and care for family members. They’re often seen as primary caregivers, and their own needs and desires are secondary. This can mean that women have had to sacrifice their goals, dreams to take care of their family.

This expectation can be overwhelming and limiting. Women are often judged on their ability to multitask, manage the household, and care for their families, but they’re not always given the same opportunities as men to pursue their own goals and ambitions.

In “The Handmaid’s Tale” I see that in Gilead these expectations are taken to an extreme. Women are forced into reproductive servitude, and their bodies are controlled. They’re forced to wear uniforms, they are restricted to certain areas, and are punished if they don’t obey. These women in Gilead are treated like objects, not people. The quote “ The body is so easily damaged so easily disposed of” shows how little Gilead puts on women’s lives. Women Gilead are treated less than human, with no agency or autonomy over their women.

They’re not allowed to make their own choice or decision. They are oppressed and forced to conform to the rules of the patriarchal society that values their reproductive capabilities above all else. And also I’ve noticed that men often have certain expectations about women based on how they dress. If she wears something revealing, some men might think she’s looking for attention or that she’s “easy.” But if a woman dresses more conservatively, they might think she’s “uptight” or “prude.” It’s like, no matter what we wear, we’re going to be judged.

I’ve had friends tell me about experiences where they’ve been catcalled or harassed on the street, and it’s always because of what they’re wearing. It’s like, we are not allowed to make our own choices about our bodies. We are expected to conform to certain standards, and if we don’t, we are somehow asking for it. It’s victim- blaming, plain and simple.

The idea that “ A thing is valued only if it’s rare and hard to get” also resonated with me. In Gilead women are valued only for their ability to have children This is similar to how our current society often values women based on their physical appearance or how sexy a woman is. Women are often seen as objects, and their worth is determined by how they look or can do.

Also there’s been an epidemic of men killing their wives or girlfriends over suspicions of infidelity or because of the way they dressed. They don’t think women should dress that “Provokative” because that means they are doing it to “provoke” someone else. In some countries, laws and social norms perpetuate this kind of violence, making it difficult for women to seek for help or escape this abusive situation

Although women have more rights then what they had a few decades ago, their still limitation for women to do certain stuff. For example, in Afghanistan women are required to wear burqas, which covers their entire body, and these women are also often confined in their homes. They also face barriers in accessing a good education and employment. Without access to education and employment , women in Afghanistan are denied to opportunities, which makes them to be more dependent of a man

As we can see this expectation is very similar from current time to Gilead, they still have the same concept and same expectations but in different ways.

Honestly, I think it’s exhausting seeing women being judged and objectified everywhere. I feel like we’re constantly fighting for respect and equality, and I think that hard for every women to not take it personal or be scared to walk around alone

This book makes me wonder, how can we create a society where women are valued for who they are, not just their looks or abilities? How can we promote a culture that respects women’s choices and individuality?

Lit Log #2 - The city of confliction

This piece of art, titled The City of Confliction is my attempt at a visual representation of a section of the book The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. It features a tall cityscape from the perspective of somebody standing on the ground, looking up. There are red or blue details on the buildings depending on where you look, and in the background flames are rising tall above the buildings, contrasting against an oddly calm, blue sky. The scene from the book I chose to base my artwork off of was the Manhattan cleanup, a riot/protest of sorts, where pro-Gilead radicals took to Times Square, burning, destroying, and denouncing people and things they saw unfit for their ideal society. They burnt clothes and humiliated those responsible for their design and manufacture.

My scene of Times Square isn’t exactly as-seen in the book or TV series, as I chose to take liberties to include details and symbols that elevate this from simply a visual piece, to a proper representation with symbolic meanings all throughout. I stayed on-script with the major details. I kept the buildings that are actually in Times Square, using a reference picture to stay fairly realistic with those depictions. Beyond that, almost every choice has a meaning behind it.

The most obvious symbol included is the red and blue contrasting colours, seen all throughout the scene. The colours both represent one side of the story, red being Gilead and blue being the resistance. (whether Mayday, or just individual acts of resistance. All rebellion is included in it) The colours are mostly split down the middle, with the buildings on the left emitting a red light from their windows showing Gilead occupation, and the right being blue to show the rebels residence. This is also furthered by the signage on the buildings, with the tall pointy building on the right depicting the word “MAYDAY,” which is the name of the major rebel group in The Handmaid’s Tale, and the end of the word “Gilead” (seen as “-EAD”) can be seen on the shorter building on the far left. The tallest building is the one in the middle, which is split half and half between Gilead and the rebels. The billboards that line the building all show half red and half blue. This isn’t just to show their coexistence, but also their constant battle. Both parties are always fighting for control and/or freedom, and the mixed signals on the signage shows this conflict.

On the tallest Gilead occupied building, you can see that it is labeled with “Shein.” During the Manhattan cleanup, the primary item that got burned was clothing. To allude to this, I showed that Gilead occupied the former Shein building, and turned it into one of their own. This isn’t only a surface level reference, but also a way of showing how when Gilead wants something gone or changed, they will use force, violence, and manipulation to get it done. Some of the windows on the Shein building shine blue, despite it being supposed to be owned by Gilead. This is to once again show more rebellion, and to show how even when under Gilead control, rebellion and hope can still exist for all of those who want to break free.

In the background, the flames that burn high are a literal representation of the fires and arson that occurred during the Manhattan cleanup in the book and TV show, but also another representation of Gilead vs rebels. The flames burn high into the sky, taller than any real fire could reach, yet no visual destruction is apparent. No burnt buildings, no smoke. Even the sky is clear. This is indicative of Gilead occupation. They keep a good image, wearing nice clothes and residing in well-made buildings. They are concerned with their public image, keeping many secrets, like the full extent of what happens to handmaids. Yet despite this well kept look, they are a terrible force, causing pain and destruction both emotionally and physically everywhere they control.

The contrasting blue sky is the final important symbol, which holds similar meaning to the billboards earlier. Even in the flames of Gilead’s control, rebellion and resistance will still exist, shining bright above their struggles.

I know I spelled Shien wrong. Too late

Alewife - Clairo “Alewife” is a song about reflection on a really challenging time in the artist’s life. It was a time when she was incredibly depressed, even to the point of attempting to commit suicide. Offred considers committing suicide several times throughout the book. One time in particular stands out where she describes how she could do it: “I think about the chandelier too much, though it’s gone now. But you could use a hook, in the closet. I’ve considered the possibilities.” (Page 195) After constant pressure from the rigid and controlled life she has to live, Offred wonders whether it would be better just to be dead then in her current situation. She even mentions that she has “considered the possibilities,” implying that she has thought about committing suicide several times before. In Alewife, Clairo explains that her friend’s actions were the reason she didn’t succeed in her suicide attempt. This makes me wonder if Offred has anyone in her life that would do the same for her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBjmnqewTeo

Someone New - Hozier “Someone New” by Hozier, has a completely different vibe from the previous songs. It is much more upbeat and lively, however the lyrics connect to the Handmaid’s Tale. In the chorus, Hozier says “I fall in love just a little, oh, a little bit every day with someone new.” Offred loving someone is essentially banned in Gilead, however she previously loved Luke, and later falls in love with Nick. While I believe Offred’s love for Nick is real, I also think that their relationship is a rebellion to the system she has to live with. Hozier also says, “There’s an art to life’s distraction To somehow escape the burning wait, the art of scrapin’ through.” Nearly the entire story, Offred is trying to escape her reality, like many others. Her reflections are one way to do this, and I think that they are a huge reason that she doesn’t go crazy even with all the pressure that is on her at all times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPJSsAr2iu0

What was I made for? - Billie Eilish In “What was I made for,” Billie Eilish reflects on her struggles in finding a purpose in the context of expectations from society. Some main points of this song are body image issues and finding herself in a society centered around male gaze. This shows connection to the struggles that many women must consider in Gilead. “There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law.” (Page 61) While men are considered to be more than their bodies and are able to attain actual power, women are judged on whether they can reproduce or not. This is essentially the only thing that gives value to a woman in Gilead other than her ability to provide pleasure. This narrative is pushed from every angle in Gilead, causing Offred to consider the contrast between her role as a handmaid and her identity as an individual throughout the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8VLC9nnTo

Sun Bleached Flies - Ethel Cain This song’s dark and melancholic tone reflects the reality of Gilead, and Offred’s position in it. It seems as though there is no one who can actually help Offred. Gilead is also a society built on a distorted version of Christianity, said to be built on ideals from the old testament. Similar to Offred’s situation, “Sun Bleached Flies” emphasizes Ethel Cain’s relationship with God, saying “God loves you, but not enough to save you.” Similarly, Offred has a conversation with God in her head during one of her periods of reflection: “I feel very unreal, talking to You like this. I feel as if I’m talking to a wall. I wish You’d answer. I feel so alone” (Page 195) It is not made especially clear that Offred feels betrayed by God in this scene, but it is clear that she feels alone, and wishes God would help her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ecmtqd7LE

Fable - Gigi Perez Fable is one of the songs that I think encompasses this story the best. It brings up themes of grief, finding purpose, and religion, which the Handmaid’s Tale clearly also does. Showing the theme of finding purpose, Gigi Perez says “Someone to tell me we’re not born to be mules in this.” The handmaids are similarly “born to be mules” in Gilead, valued by their ability to fix a problem and nothing more. This song also relates Offred’s feelings of religious (and non-religious) guilt. “When I lifted her urn. Divinity says, “Destiny can’t be earned or returned.” I feel when I question, my skin starts to burn. Why does my skin start to burn?” Her “skin starting to burn” is reference to Gigi feeling guilt after questioning her beliefs, something the Offred similarly struggles with throughout the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiCJGXnEtIQ

PROCESS DOCUMENTATION — in this box, include evidence of your mind at work: brainstorms or partial drafts in your class notebook, rough drafts of artwork, typed stream-of-consciousness while you listen to potential playlist songs, etc.

List of potential songs from my notes app: Billie Eilish - What was I made for? Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license Taylor Swift - The Man Hozier - Take Me to Church Lorde - Glory and Gore Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out Lana Del Rey - Born to Die Ethel Cain - Sun Bleached Flies Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? Radiohead - No Surprises

Moira

                     Katy Perry - Roar 

I chose this song as a choice to describe Moira because it shows her process through the different aspects of empowerment, defiance, and resilience. As quoted, “I don’t want her to be like me. Give in, go along, save her skin. That is what it comes down to. I want gallantry from her, swashbuckling, heroism, single-handed combat, something I lack.” (chapter 38, pg. 249). This shows that June sees resilience in her own friend. I feel like that in the latest chapter, we got to learn that Moira is a constant fighter who will find ways to let her voice be heard, no matter what she goes through. In some moments, she might be able to be silenced, though that doesn’t last for long. This is relatable to Katy Perry as she said in the song, “ You held me down, but I got up…” Representing that no matter what one person could do to her, she will still fight.

Serena Joy (The commander’s wife)

K. Michelle - A Mother’s Prayer

I chose this song for Serena Joy because she shows that she has a mother mentality. You can see that she really wants a child to be able to protect, love, and cherish. As quoted in the song, “ ​​the first time I saw you I knew my life had changed, I would have been dead and gone, but I found purpose when I brought you home, and even though I’m not there to tuck you in every day.” This just resembles how I imagine Serena Joy as a mother. She has shown in several ways that she would do anything to have a child. Even if that meant she would have to get pregnant by Nick. “As she quoted that he was the “safest possibility,” showing that she really just wants to get the process over with so she can be able to just live a simple life with her child.

The commander

Power and control - Marina and the Diamonds

I think it’s obvious why I chose this song. It just seems to me like it mostly just talks about the commander and his true thoughts about everything. As quoted in the song, “We give and take a little more/ Eternal game of tug and war…” This alone just expresses his relationship with Offred; it shows that he constantly tries to make it seem like he is giving to her just to take away more. He just has all these different power schemes and is only doing these things for the feeling of having power over others. As quoted, “better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse, for some.” ( chapter 32, pg.211) This just shows that he only cares for himself and bettering his life for himself because being able to be a man in his position is a sense of control for him. It’s a better way of life for him to be able to feel good about himself.

Nick (the driver)

The Man - Taylor Swift

Even though Nick is just the driver throughout the chapters so far, we get a few hints about who he is. In the song, Taylor Swift said, “ I’d be a fearless leader/ I’d be an alpha type.” This shows the smartness and how secretive Nick actually is. Through June’s eyes, we get to see how Nick and silently showing how he feels and what he might be truly capable of. As quoted, “ His posture disapproves of me, or am I imagining it? And if so, does this make him angry, lustful, or envious or anything at all?” (chapter 36, pg.232) I think this is just a subtle way of showing it. It just gives a little view of what power Nick might actually have because he is not only a man, a is a worker for a commander and sees the ins and outs of his life. So, if he really wanted to outsmart the commander, there is a chance he probably could and get away with it, because who knows, Nick could be more than just a driver.

June (Offred)

Bury a friend - Billie Eilish

This song by Billie Eilish, to me, describes the truth behind June’s thoughts. I think it helps understand how her mind gradually changed throughout the book, up to what we recently read. As quoted in the song “ I wanna end me…” It’s a sense of how Offred feels since she started to feel like there is no way out of where she is at in the moment. June once said, “ That’s one of the things they do, they force you to kill, within yourself.” (chapter 30, pg.193) This saying that the world that was made around her at his point was made to force women to break themselves down on the inside and not be who they usually are. Their normal is no longer normal for them, and they are forced in this life of dissociating themselves from who they truly are. At some point, they are just birthing machines made to only produce one thing, which is babies, after tha,t they have fulfilled that, they no longer matter.