Blog #10

Pages 267-276

       In these two chapters (41 + 42) Offred reveals to us that she now goes to visit Nick very often, usually after her visit to the commander, even though it is very risky. She tells us that during her visit she would wish she could have a light on so she could study Nick's face more closely and she goes on to tell us that she wished she studied Luke's face more and that he is starting to fade away. But I wonder if he isn't fading away but instead is being replaced by Nick's face. She may not say it directly but she definitely has feelings for Nick but says it's too dangerous to say "love". Then in the next chapter she tells us about a "Salvaging" which we later on discover is basically a public execution of women who have broken the rules. Then Aunt Lydia goes on stage and says they won't say the crime because there seems to be copycats of that crime afterwards. I think they do this to do what they said but I also think it is to inspire fear and a fear of the unknown and that they wont know whats coming. But I wonder if it's for another reason; maybe it's so that they can execute anyone they want and no one will know. Such as people like Ofglen who is part of some kind of underground resistance. Now if they found out about her they could do the same to her and no one will have a second thought.

Blog Post #9

Pages 251-263

       I will first start by saying that I thought it was interesting that these two chapters juxtapose two different accounts of Offred having sex with someone but these two scenarios are drastically different from each other but first I will start with the similarities. The first similarity is that both are secretive and forbidden and both were set by someone else all she did was agree to them. But the similarities kind of end there except for the lightning which occurred during both. Why was the lightning included? Was it to impose a sense of doom or some other form of foreshadowing. Another similarity I noticed was that she didn't really go into detail with either act. She told us what she was thinking before but never gave us her thoughts on it during. So the differences between the two was that she was more willing and, I guess I could say, more excited with Nick but that's only natural. Speaking of natural she wasn't wearing make-up when she was with Nick and maybe that's to symbolize that she was more real when she was with Nick whereas when she was with the Commander she was covered in make-up and clothes that weren't hers and she wasn't herself.

The Freedom Fighters Blog #8

Message Sent By: ---ERROR---

March 27, 2017       1:30 PM

       Congratulations! If you are reading this then you have been chosen to join The Freedom Fighters. We have been watching and monitoring your every move and have deemed you trustworthy enough to join our cause. 

       As you may know two years ago on this very day The United States of America was attacked by a full scale invasion by the Russians. Since then the military declared Martial Law until the threat was neutralized. When the Russians were finally defeated the country was going into chaos and so they set up a Monarchy in the U.S. We have been oppressed and enslaved ever since. The media said this would not be permanent but our sources say that things will only get worse from here; we have reason to believe that our Monarchy will be overruled and turn into a full on Dictatorship. We, The Freedom Fighters, are here to sabotage and stop any and all attempts to rule over our once beautiful nation with an iron fist.

       You may be asking yourself,  "Why me?", well as I said before we have been watching and we know your views on the world around us. But you do still have a choice in this matter and you can say no if you so choose.

       So the choice is yours to make:

Reply "Yes" if you wish to join our cause and know the TRUTH

Reply "No" if you do not wish to join

       You have 24 hours to reply.
Caution: If you reply "Yes" we cannot guarantee your safety from that point on. Nor can you change your decision.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Reply:

March 27, 2017       2:05 PM

Yes

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Message Sent By: Agent Taurus

March 28, 2017       11:00 AM

       
       Hello there new agent! My name is Taurus and I am a member of The Freedom Fighters. You may be wondering about my name and that is because we only use code names to protect our identities (for safety reasons). I'm glad you have decided to fight for you freedom as well as the freedom of others. Now first things first is your code name and from now on you will answer to and identify yourself as "AGENT GREY" when present with other Freedom Fighter members. Since you are still a new recruit we can't quite tell you everything about our group, because we gotta see what you made of first, but we can tell you the basics...

1. If you are approached and greeted by someone and they say the words "It is better to be alone than in bad company" then he/she is a member of our group. And if you are put on a mission to meet with one of our own then you too will say this phrase to them.
2. Next, when going into one of our hideouts you will be asked "Who comes to the forbidden tree?" to which you will reply "One who wishes to eat the fruit and find truth". This will not only prove that you are one of us but will also show your rank to the doorman and he will determine if you are authorized to enter.
3. In the event that your identity is compromised we will contact you and come to your location (you will be given a tracking device) and once again use the special greeting. (We advice you to stay calm an act natural: i.e. don't run, don't look panicked, just stay where you are). If we are to fail to get to you first and instead are taken away by someone else just remain calm, act as if you don't know anything, and comply to what they say. DO NOT try to fight your way out. We will reach you and get you out.
4. In the event that our organization is attacked you will IMMEDIATELY retreat to a secure location. You should only go to this location if, and only if, The Freedom Fighters are compromised and you are informed of said information. For security purposes we will only give you this address verbally when you arrive at the headquarters. 
5. Speaking of which the address of our H.Q. is at...

          ---ERROR---

P.S. We advise that you memorize this address and delete it immediately!
       
       We look forward to working with you Agent Grey you seem very promising and we hope you will help us restore our once great nation.

P.S. (Again) I am looking forward to working with you as well and I have just received word that we will be partners in most of your assignments :D Cant wait to show you the ropes rookie.

The Latin Writing Blog #7

a)       When Offred learns the meaning of the Latin phrase in her cupboard, what else does she learn? As readers, how do you feel about these moments of revelation? Are you shocked? Disappointed? Excited? Something else?

b)       Kurt Holtzer & Kevin Leese

We learned that the meaning of the Latin phrase is "Don't let the bastards grind you down" and it seems fitting for the whole them of the book and how Offred is trying to stay hopeful throughout. We also found it interesting that the Commander didn't even know where he got the phrase from. I think it is supposed to symbolize people's constant need to not be told what to do; it's built into us and into our spirits to be free and control our own destinies. I did like that we finally understand what the Latin means but I am also disappointed at the origin of it. I thought it was going to be some great underground resistance movement and the Latin was like a code word. But instead it was carved by another handmaid the we are lead to believe learned it from the Commander when she would visit him at night too. And it was also a bit of a let down that now we know that that handmaid hung herself in the room so in the end she let herself be grounded down until she wasn't able to take it anymore. But we also got to find out why there is no light fixture in the room because that is what she hung herself from. I kind of like how the book reveals these little bits of information as the story goes on because it forces you to keep reading so that you can eventually find out. It also makes the story more interesting and it gives you something to look forward to. But I don't think you should do what they do here and make the reveal anti-climactic because then it is just a big let down and we read all of this for nothing. It's like John Snow in game of thrones because they mention that he is the son of Ned Stark and some other women but they never tell us who or even tell us if that story is true for that matter. So if they do EVENTUALLY explain it then it should not be just shrugged off and given a lazy last minute story that will upset everyone.

Prayers of Gilead Blog #6

Health Prayer:
       Dear Lord we pray to you to help heal our dearest  insert name  in their time of need. Give the doctors of the great Gilead the strength they need to take from them their  insert illness/injury  and bring them happiness. If they are not to survive from  insert illness/injury  then we know it is part of your plan to further enrich Gilead and we pray that you will take our beloved  insert name  with open arms. Amen

Wealth Prayer:
       Dear Lord I,  insert name , ask you in my time of need to bring wealth to me so that I can further succeed and help our great Gilead prosper. I pray that I can become and important member of citizen of Gilead and help keep our traditions alive. Amen

Birth Prayer:
       Dear Lord I,  insert name , ask to give to me a child from our handmaid which has been given to us by you, our Lord and savior, and I pray that my child with be beautiful healthy and will one day help Gilead prosper. And I ask that my child will not be cursed and taken away from us by the devil to be an un-child. For this I,  insert name , would be eternally in dept to you and to Gilead my saviors. Amen

Death Prayer:
       Dear Lord I,  insert name , feel as though I am no longer a meaningful member to my protector and home, Gilead, so I pray to you that I can be sent to the kingdom of heaven so that I may no longer inconvenience those around me and to Gilead, my protector. I pray to you to bring me this great honor. Amen

A Touch of Want Blog #3

       Today is the day of the ceremony and the day where I feel sorry for Offred the most. What has this world come to? I finish up the part I was fixing for the car when I heard the bell. The bell calls us all together into Mrs. Joy's sitting room. Why must I come to the meeting? I realize we are all part of the house hold but why does the Commander insist on reading the bible to us everyday? I could have finished everything today if it weren't for that damn bell. I put down the part and reach over for the handkerchief on the table. I pick up the old oil stained piece of cloth and take time to get all the grease and oil off of my hands. I may not like going to the reading but I certainly don't want to be rude and attend covered in grime. I walk through the corridors of the house until I reached the sitting room. The first thing that hits me is the smell; the smell of old furniture and near dead flowers and a hint of something else...lemon maybe.
       As I walk into the room I look at the women lining up for the daily reading and nod to them, the only greeting that I feel comfortable using while others are around, but most of all I look at...no...I gaze at Offred. I study her face; the sadness and look of dread just barely showing on her face but it is there non the less. I wish I could provide her comfort and show her that she is wanted in this world; wanted not for her ability to give birth but for herself as a person. I walk over to Offred and stand behind her and ever so gently I touch my boot to her foot. As I do this I observe her face, or at least what I could see of it, and study her reaction. I can tell how much of an affect this has on her. I can see it written on her face but only for a brief moment. I revel from the feeling of warmth being transferred between us. It's like returning from playing in the snow as a child and your mother has a warm mug of hot chocolate waiting for you. And as you swallow you feel the blissful warmth spread soothingly down to your very core. But as soon as this delightful feeling begins it is torn away from me. I realize Offred has moved her foot away from mine.
"Wish he'd hurry up," says Cora.
"Hurry up and wait," I say. And I laugh at the ridiculousness of this whole meeting. I don't know how much more I can take. I begin to miss that warm feeling I had only moments ago. It's like a drug that is both mentally and physically addicting. So I move my foot again so it is touching Offred's, thankfully no one can see due to her skirt. Sadly once again I cannot enjoy this feeling for long as Offred moves her foot away from mine. I'm disappointed but I do understand. She is afraid of being caught and who could blame her? One wrong move and she is shipped off to the colonies. But who would know what we're doing? No one can see so why not give herself this relief.
       There are words I wish I can say to her. Words that could get me killed if I ever truly said them. So now I hope that Offred knows what I am trying to say in this silent speech. This speech that is told by the warmth between us. You may not know it Offred but you are wanted.

Blog Assignment #2

       Back when I was in eighth grade I was faced with a very hard decision. Either go to The Philadelphia Academy Charter High School (PACHS) or to The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush. I had to think very long and hard about this because it was either go with the safe choice, PACHS where I could go to school with my brother, or go to the completely new school where I will know almost no one at all. In the end I decided to go to Rush because I had already been to PACS for five years and did not want to get stuck with people that I had grown to dislike. It was a big risk making that choice because not only was it a new school but I was not given a shadow day so I was really just on my own in making the decision. The problem was that PACHS was a better funded school with more opportunities and Rush was just a poor public school. But now, four years later I would still make the same choice every time because this place is like my home now and I've made so many connections with so many people. And there are days where I do wonder who I would have become if I chose differently and I will ask myself, who would I be friends with? What would I act like? But in the end I tell myself it doesn't matter because Rush is where I belong and it's a place where I can really be myself.

Blog Assignment #1

King of my own mind and the world in my head
Unknown to those who don't know me.
Remember those which you have lost and
Try to live life with and love those you have not.

Hold on to your traditions and create new ones.
Organize your life.
Laugh and be happy with
Those who will be happy with you.
Zoogeographically is the longest word I could find starting with z.
Excel in life an in your dreams and 
Rely on yourself to keep moving on.