Explanation and Analysis of Key Quotes in The Handmaid's Tale
Power and Control Through Language
"Pen Is Envy, Aunt Lydia would say, quoting another Center motto, warning us away from such objects. She told us that such objects were dangerous to us."
This quote demonstrates how the Gilead regime manipulates language to maintain control. The wordplay on "penis" reveals how even basic writing tools are sexualized and forbidden to women, highlighting the systematic way knowledge and literacy are denied to Handmaids.
NoteThe deliberate misquoting of "penis envy" to "pen is envy" shows how language is twisted to serve the regime's purposes.
Identity and Self-Expression
"My name isn't Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it's forbidden. I tell myself it doesn't matter, your name is like your telephone number, useful only to others; but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter."
This passage reveals the deep connection between naming and identity. The protagonist's struggle with her imposed name "Offred" (literally meaning "of Fred") represents:
- Loss of individual identity
- Commodification of women
- Psychological impact of erasure
Pay attention to moments when Offred recalls her real name but doesn't share it with readers - these are acts of quiet rebellion.
Memory and Resistance
"I would like to believe this is a story I'm telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance."
This quote operates on multiple levels:
- Meta-narrative commentary
- Survival mechanism
