The Ceremony

THE CEREMONY

The Handmaid's Tale is a really intriguing and disturbing book so far. The society in which Margaret Atwood creates is twisted. In this blog post I will mainly be talking about “the ceremony”, and a couple thoughts on the society.
 Before we get into the ceremony, a quick side note. I find the situation depressing because Offred has experienced that normal lifestyle with love, and she has now been forced to live in this new society.
    The treatment of women in the Republic of Gilead is terrifying. In a society that is trying to increase the population, I feel like women should be treasured. The book kind of touched on women being “protected” when Offred is talking about her room and how they removed things that she could use to hurt or kill herself.
    The ceremony was terrible for everyone (some more than others), Offred, Serena Joy, and the reader. Serena Joy seems very uncomfortable by the encounter, and rightfully so. I can’t imagine being in that position, having to watch another woman have sex with your husband, wishing that you were able to do such a task and have viable ovaries. It was important to see how the society places all of its trust into this act and how important it is to everyone. You also see that this act really has no emotion behind it, it is something that has to be done in order to support the society. The situation is made worse because Offred remembers making love with Luke, something that she longs to do again.
    When reading the chapter on the ceremony, I truly felt for Offred. I wish there was something she could do to fight back, but I understand she really has no power over to. 

Samaia Jones

Comments

  1. Lili BanihashemMarch 7, 2019 at 8:44 PM

    I felt the same way! It's such a hugely upsetting scene. What you said about women being treasured makes a lot of sense - shouldn't the people capable of giving birth be respected and well treated? Like you said, they are valued - that's kind of the whole point of the society - but it's in a really twisted, backwards way. Women are "protected" to the extent that their autonomy is completely taken away from them. It really makes no sense.

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  2. AlbertMarch 8, 2019 at 11:44 AM

    Honestly, I felt really bad for Offred as well. Especially, as you said, when she remembered the romantic times that she had with Luke. The text even says that she was saddened by her situation. I guess though I admire the way that she tries to stay positive even through her hardships finding little joys in things like finding the small scribbles on the cupboard. In terms of the ceremony, yes, it is uncomfortable for pretty much everyone involved which makes me wonder - why though? If everyone is uncomfortable is it really worth it?

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    Replies
    1. Sarah H.March 8, 2019 at 7:01 PM

      I think that in the eyes of the Republic of Gilead the ceremony is indeed worth it because it is a way to exert control over its people. The ceremony guarantees the isolation of all the individuals involves because it causes the wife to hate the handmaiden and prevents any emotional attachment to the handmaiden because the ceremony treats the handmaiden as an object and a duty. For the leaders of Gilead it is an amazing way to gain control over the private lives of its people.

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  3. Anna Maddie Nicole SamaiaMarch 8, 2019 at 8:25 PM

    I think that Gilead treats women in a very patronizing way. They treat them like children, or even less than children. Offred mentions how Aunt Lydia calls them "girls" and only "ladies" when they are in the presence of the Wives. The Handmaids are "protected" from everyone including themselves and their own selves. Handmaids are literally livestock with the sole purpose of being breed. They are feed healthy meals and "cared" for to be the healthiest possible wombs they can be. Serena is a cattle prod used to punish Offred? (I guess if you continue the analogy?). The system is direct created for Serena to resent Offred.

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  4. Nicole SoutheyMarch 10, 2019 at 9:28 AM

    I agree, the odd thing is that no one seems to gain any pleasure of even be remotely happy from that situation. Obviously, the situation is the worst for Offred and she also has the least freedom of anyone in that situation, but it is weird that the whole ceremony has to be so uncomfortable for everyone, you would think there is a better more humane way of reproducing even in a society with limited fertility.

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  5. MaddieMarch 10, 2019 at 11:55 AM

    I think this book is definitely twisted and creepy. Reading the chapter with the ceremony was very disturbing and mad me uncomfortable. I feel very bad for Offred and the situation she has to go through. Considering how important the ceremony is, I would think they would make it more of an “enjoyable” experience.

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  6. Ahmad BobatMarch 10, 2019 at 6:09 PM

    I agree. The whole section having to do with the ceremony was very awkward and uncomfortable. It felt like a meaningless task forced upon everyone involved, yet it is something that is done by everyone who fits the circumstances, as it is regarded an important task within Gilead. Like yourself, I wonder how this was deemed the best option in a society where fertile women are so valuable and should be prioritized. It makes no sense.

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  7. Sparsh S.March 18, 2019 at 4:36 PM

    The Ceremony is definitely one of the more flawed aspects of Gileadean society, but it is justified as a "necessity of circumstance". The world in which Gilead exists is one of mass infertility, so in order to ensure the continued survival of society, the people behind Gilead believe the Ceremony is an adept solution. However, from Offred's narrative, the Ceremony is very uncomfortable for every party involved and does not always result in its intended effect, so there must surely be a more ethical/efficient way to achieve the same results.

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  8. Matthew JinMarch 20, 2019 at 9:11 PM

    When I first read about The Ceremony, I remember having to ask my friends if I read that right. I also felt for Offred and all the other handmaids that were forced to participate in The Ceremony. It just didn't make sense to me. The biggest shock to me was her lack of motivation to fight back. Even further back with Moira and her loss of motivation, the Republic of Gilead not only treats women horribly, but it also sucks any motivation to resist out of them. That aspect of the Gilead scares and disgusts me the most.

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  9. AnonymousMarch 25, 2019 at 12:48 PM

    I wonder what the commander was thinking during the ceremony. The whole situation was so hard to read, but i am curious what each of the characters were thinking in the moment .

    ReplyDelete

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