The Handmaid's Tale

Analysis of a Symbol:

An important symbol in A Handmaid’s Tale is the Soul Scroll. The Soul Scroll forces the people of Gilead to pray without meaning through an emotionless machine. A prayer should be formulated from one’s internal thoughts, not from a machine. By praying in this generic way, the meaning is completely stripped from the prayer. It is commercialized, and the women do it for show. There is no personal connection with God, and it is void of any human element. Not only are the prayers meaningless, but they are limited in subject. “There are five different prayers: for health, wealth, a death, a birth, a sin” (Atwood 167). This symbolizes the confinement of the people of Gilead. They are forced to worship in a way that they cannot control. They cannot personalize their desires and wishes, for they must obtain their prayers from a monotonous machine, as if they do not even have a soul. This symbol enhances the meaning of the work as a whole because it shows that a conforming society can eliminate one’s ability to make meaningful decisions and, instead, just go through the motions. 

Passage Analysis:

“I go to the window and sit on the window seat, which is too narrow for comfort. There’s a hard little cushion on it, with a petit point cover: FAITH, in square print, surrounded by a wreath of lilies. FAITH is a faded blue, the leaves of the lilies a dingy green. This is a cushion once used elsewhere, worn but not enough to throw out. Somehow it’s been overlooked” (Atwood 57).

            This passage from The Handmaid’s Tale is significant to the novel as a whole. The window is narrow, just like Offred’s limited vision and the close-minded thinking of the society. No one in Gilead is comfortable because the beliefs are too strict. The fact that the cushion is faded and has a dingy color symbolizes that the faith of the society has faded into something else. The true meaning of faith is no longer evident, for the society has taken Biblical concepts literally and turned them into a way of life. The cushion, however, is still there, representing that some people still have faith. Despite the fact that faith has been through a lot of hardships, people are not ready to get rid of their faith altogether. Although some people still believe, many leaders of Gilead have chosen to overlook the true meaning of faith.

Thoughts:

I did not personally like this novel. The themes are very depressing. The messages conveyed by the author, however, are realistic and important. They inform the reader that if one takes a belief too far, the view will become extreme. Extremes often limit freedom and create a hostile lifestyle. For instance, by interpreting one sentence of the Bible literally, the Handmaids of Gilead are forced to have the Commanders’ children, and they are treated as walking wombs. Women do not deserve to be treated as if they are good for only bearing children. The novel illuminates several other extremes, showing the importance of moderation and individualism in a conforming society.    

We

Analysis of a Symbol:

One significant symbol in We is the √-1. In OneState, every situation is resolved mathematically, and the people live according to only the facts. Therefore, when D-503 learns about the √-1, he is extremely confused and frustrated. He describes this experience by saying, “That irrational root grew in me like some alien thing, strange and terrifying, and it was eating me, and you couldn’t make any sense of it or neutralize it because it was completely beyond ratio” (Zamyatin 39). The √-1 symbolizes that there is not an answer to everything. Some things in life must be personally discovered rather than calculated. In addition, D-503 feels the irrational root growing inside him, symbolizing that every person must possess uncertainty in his life, along with emotions that are not forced upon him. The answer to √-1 is actually i. This answer is represented by the character I-330. I-330 teaches D-503 to have passion and to explore his thoughts. √-1 is an inevitable aspect of D-503’s life. Human nature is irrational, and an explanation is not always provided for the outcome of a situation. Sometimes events occur "just because." D-503 learns this fact through his experiences with I-330. 

Passage Analysis:

“It was ripe. Helplessly, like iron and magnet, sweetly yielding to the immutable precise law, I emptied myself into her. There was no pink ticket, no accounting, no OneState, there was no me. There was only the dear, sharp, clenched teeth, there were the golden eyes opened wide on me, and through them I slowly penetrated inside, deeper and deeper. And there was silence” (Zamyatin 73).

            This passage serves as a turning point for D-503. He realizes that he does not have to follow the rules, and he takes part in a rebellious action. He is free to make his own choices. D-503 has sex with I-330 because he wants to, not because he has to. For instance, this time, he does not fill out paper work and obtain a pink ticket to have sex with I-330. He does it due to the pure passion he has for her. The comparison, “like iron and magnet,” shows he is strongly drawn to her, emotionally and physically. D-503 is able to understand I-330 on a new and deeper level by penetrating inside her eyes. This passage exemplifies D-503’s raw emotion and ability to embrace his individuality by overcoming authority.

Thoughts:

            Overall, I enjoyed reading and analyzing We. I especially liked the way the author utilized syntax. When D-503 is completely controlled by OneState, his thoughts are very scientific and straightforward. As D-503 begins to achieve freedom and independence, his thoughts are sporadic and descriptive. This change in syntax helps characterize D-503, illuminating his progress of becoming an individual. Another aspect of We that I liked is how the tone of the ending is identical to the monotonous tone of the beginning. The last chapter brings the novel full circle to the first chapter. Also, the ending leaves the reader with the idea of an infinite revolution, providing hope that one day all of the people of OneState will obtain the individualism they deserve. 

Fahreinheit 451

Analysis of a Symbol:

One significant symbol in Fahrenheit 451 is the phoenix. In the novel, Granger compares mankind to a phoenix. He says, “But every time he burnt himself up he sprang out of the ashes, he got himself born all over again. And it looks like we’re doing the same thing, over and over…” (Bradbury 163). Unlike the phoenix, man has the ability to learn from his mistakes and not make the same mistakes again. The life cycle of the phoenix represents the cycle of history and how it tends to repeat itself if people do not learn from the events and decisions of the past. The rebirth of the phoenix, and humankind, is symbolic of Montag’s spiritual resurrection and decision to rebuild the society with Granger. He recognizes the mistake made by the society to burn books, and he does his best to prevent the issue rather than to continue supporting it.

Passage Analysis:

“Mildred stood over his bed, curiously. He felt her there, he saw her without opening his eyes, her hair burnt by chemicals to a brittle straw, her eyes with a kind of cataract unseen but suspect far behind the pupils, the reddened pouting lips, the body as thin as a praying mantis from dieting, and her flesh like white bacon. He could remember her no other way” (Bradbury 48).

            This passage describes Mildred. The physical description shows she is extremely weak, physically, emotionally, and mentally. The cataract far behind her pupils demonstrates that her poor condition is beyond repair. Too much damage has been done. Mildred’s pouting lips indicate that she depressed. Her thin body exemplifies the fact that she does not have a soul. Mildred does not have any inner strength. Montag cannot remember seeing her any other way because she has been like this for so long. This passage relates to the meaning of the work as a whole, which is that many people of the society no longer focus on the simple, essential aspects of life that are worth living for.

Thoughts:

            I enjoyed reading Fahrenheit 451 because the main character, Montag, stands up for what he knows is right. Instead of continuing to burn books and live in ignorance, he decides to obtain knowledge about the books. Once he discovers that the books have value, Montag goes against the other firefighters. I admire Montag’s choice to stand up for something he believes in. This decision shows growth in Montag’s character because at the beginning of the novel, he does not have the courage or desire to do something this radical in nature.