How Yeats shows violence in Leda and the Swan

In Leda and the Swan, Yeats retells the classic Greek myth of the rape of Leda by Zeus in the form of a swan. Yeats shows violence through the use of language and the description of the Swan having "great wings beating still" creates an imagery of somebody being attacked in some form. The word "beating" and “staggering” makes the action seem repetitive which means it must be causing more damage or pain. Also the reader is aware that wings are “beating”, however do not know who the wings belong to. Yeats also uses sexual connotations such as the 'broken wall' which represents the females hymen, being "broken", this explains Leda's experience of being involved in a sexual activity, however in this case it is rape. The description of the “dark” webs also creates a sense of fear, mystery and uncertainty around the Swan. A feminist critic describes the poem as ‘troublesome and potentially repugnant some readers.” I certainly agree with this critic, especially due to the fact I personally believe the poem has glorified the idea of rape which I think is morally utterly wrong! 

My thoughts on the whole novel

This novel took me a while to get into, but once I got into it I found it incredibly interesting, weird and massively disturbing! Although as a female I probably should have felt sympathy for the women in the novel, I was surprised that I actually didn’t. I did not warm to the character Offred at all, I tried to force myself to feel sympathy or try to like the characters nonetheless the closest I got to liking anybody in the novel was Moira, who seemed the only rebellious character that I found most exciting to learn about. 

The way the novel ended was in some ways satisfying as it felt like there was an uncertain ending therefore, I could make my own conclusions to Offred’s fate or result of her many secretive rules she broke as her role of being a Handmaid. She betrayed Serena Joy, she let down Cora and she got the Commander into trouble.

The novel left me too curious for my likings though, I really wanted to know what happened to characters such as Moira and Offglen also the Commander and Serena Joy after Offred got taken away. Also, I wanted Offred to somehow bump into Luke at some point in the novel. However, Atwood leaves the reader at great suspense at the end of the novel which I guess I like. Overall the novel was attention-grabbing and I really enjoyed reading it!

The development of Offred’s relationship with the Commander

Wow. These two are getting quiet comfortable around each other, playing Scrabble and all sorts. The fact that the Commander asks for a 'kiss' and tells her to do it as if Offred meant it, must of been a weird experience for Offred. However, in a way it leads Offred to feel at ease in the Commander's company. She is allowed to read, which is something that is forbidden if you are a Handmaid. The Commander even gives her a woman's magazine and suggested that he thought she 'might like to look at it', which suggests that he is thoughtful towards Offred and might even have a caring side for her. 

The Commander also shares personal information with Offred, the fact he is confiding in her shows how lonely he is, however it is pretty clear that his wife does not satisfy him, as Offred mentions he looks 'so sad' after he asks for the 'kiss'. The fact that the Commander even asks for a kiss shows that his relationship with his wife is dead, his wife does not 'understand' and he also states that 'she won't talk to [him] much anymore. It seems as if Offred is his only hope in a decent conversation. Therefore, the Commander makes effort to get her things like magazines and 'butter', it is his way of keeping Offred interested to give anything back in return; as minimal as a conversation.

“From each according to her ability; to each according to his needs.”

The phrase “From each according to her ability; to each according to his needs.” appears in the beginning of Chapter Twenty in 'The Handmaid's Tale'. The quote is a sexist restatement of a quotation of 1875 from the writings of Karl Marx, father of Communism. This slogan also suggests that men can do what they please if it is needed by him, however; on the other hand women are only useful when it comes to their abilities. 

The purpose of things in the Gilead society existing is so that it is useful for everyone that is a part of the society. Women in the novel such as the Martha’s and the Handmaid’s have roles of their own; Martha’s help run the household by cooking and cleaning and the Handmaid’s respond to the Commander’s ‘needs’. The Handmaid’s are like a programmed reproduction service, there ‘ability’ is to have kids and in the Gilead state this is exactly what they are used for.

What I think of The Handmaids Tale so far

What I think of The Handmaids Tale so far

So far from reading up to page 110, In ‘The Handmaids Tale’, I have noticed that by being female it almost automatically puts you in an unfortunate position. I hate the thought of being part of the Gilead society. I am quiet disgusted by the way the Commander’s  wife has to put up with other women, known as the “handmaids”, coming into her home and having sexual intercourse with her husband. Chapter 16 describes the process of ‘The Ceremony’ in some detail, which I found shocking, weird and a bit disturbing.The lack of choice that the women in the text have really horrifies me. This is because women have no power or say in what they do, it is as if society decides their fate and lifestyle for them all. Neither the Handmaid nor the Commander’s wife can get out of the situation they are in, which is the ‘Ceremony’, where the Commander’s wife lays down with her legs “apart” whilst she is holding hands with the Handmaid; which is supposed to signify they are one flesh, one being. 
I find myself questioning how it got to this stage where these awful things have become a normal act of the society they are living in. The consequence to refusing to follow certain 'rules' or 'commands' would lead certain women's lives to terrifying punishments, which don't even get talked about in detail in the text. When I read about a previous Handmaid that apparently did not finished her job and was replaced before her time at a household was supposed to of been over, you only hear about her disappearing and there is absolutely no mention of what has really has happened to her. This could only leave to two judgments; torture or death. So far everything just seems risky, uncertain and frightening. 

Serena Joy

Serena Joy

The Commander's wife represents the struggle women went through if they were sterile, she has to bear the fact that a Handmaid will have sexual contact with her own husband to produce a child which she has absolutely no say in. This leads the Commanders wife with no power and control in the situation which leaves her with a bitter, useless and damaged personality.

She is considered as not important in the current society that she is part of and all limelight has been taken away from her by the state. However, this is the kind of state she helped create. Serena Joy is a pre-feminist activist and suffers the consequence of being a housewife with nothing better to do than "knit scarves" and watch Handmaids come into her home and "fuck" her husband.

Being miserable seems to be part of her daily life routine and her life seems pointless to the point that the Handmaid mentions the Commander’s Wife "knitting scarves" for the Angels. However she cannot "hardly believe the Angels have a need for such scarves" representing the fact that the Commander's wife is just doing it to waste time. This emphasises the fact she has nothing of importance to do that benefits her in any way so she is just passing unwanted time.

Serena Joy's life is just utterly useless and powerless, she cannot even stop another woman from having to come and perform a sexual act on her own husband, in this day of modern society that would be bizarre to be allowed by the wife and most definitely be considered morally wrong. However, in the Gilead days it was "routine" and "usual" acts to be performed on regular bases.