When the human brain is missing short-term information, the hippocampus is there to quickly fill in the blanks. But what about long-term information? What about unknown situations? When left to our own devices, the subconscious can begin to overthink. We may construct multiple situations and choose the most likely — or most satisfying one — as the truth. This is normal — expected, even. It is natural for us to desire a conclusion.
Offred is different. She doesn’t want to pick the most likely situation, nor the most satisfying. Instead, she picks every situation. “The things I believe can’t all be true, though one of them must be. But I believe in all of them.” (131). I think this says a lot about Offred and the world she lives in. She is hopeful that Luke might be alive. However, she is also resigned to the fact that he could be dead. I don’t know if you could call this optimism. It may be closer to stubbornness. Her refusal to accept any scenario is almost childlike. As if, by denying an ending, she can change Luke’s fate. This chapter also reveals a little bit about Gilead. Offred has been so isolated from the outside world, she doesn’t even know if her husband is alive. She has been cut off from any information that could bother her, or give her hope. Their society is dependant on controlling knowledge. If Offred knew where her husband was, she might try to find him. If she knew he was dead, she could pose a danger to herself. Instead, she can remain blissfully, or unblissfully, ignorant. What Offred doesn’t know can’t hurt her. But why doesn’t she just pick one possibility to believe? “Whatever the truth is, I will be ready for it,” (131). Offred’s speculation is another way for her to defend herself. By believing every possibility, she remains open to them all. She cannot be shocked by the truth, should she ever come to learn it, because she already knows. It is a defense mechanism in a world that deprives her of intelligence. See, she is saying to this society, I don’t need your knowledge. I have my own. Her thoughts are also a means of escape. In these daydreams, she can imagine that Luke is safe. This becomes her truth, for a time. She can also imagine a happy future. She imagines that Luke will come to save her and they will leave together. This, too, becomes her truth. This begs the question, would it be better if Offred to think Luke is dead? Would she be happier if she didn’t go to bed every night, disappointed that he hasn’t come? Or is her naivety the only thing getting her through the day? But Offred has not only been cut off from information; She has been cut off from any personal relationships. Offred has no one to hold, or love, or talk to. In these daydreams, she can be closer to Luke. She has had to fabricate her own companionship. For all that handmaids are supposed to be well-treated, she is suffering.
When the day comes that Offred discovers the truth, will her daydreaming have prepared her, or will she be so confined to her expectations that she won’t even know what to do?
All this to say, ignorance can be a blessing and a curse. For Offred, it is both — and neither.
Offred is different. She doesn’t want to pick the most likely situation, nor the most satisfying. Instead, she picks every situation. “The things I believe can’t all be true, though one of them must be. But I believe in all of them.” (131). I think this says a lot about Offred and the world she lives in. She is hopeful that Luke might be alive. However, she is also resigned to the fact that he could be dead. I don’t know if you could call this optimism. It may be closer to stubbornness. Her refusal to accept any scenario is almost childlike. As if, by denying an ending, she can change Luke’s fate. This chapter also reveals a little bit about Gilead. Offred has been so isolated from the outside world, she doesn’t even know if her husband is alive. She has been cut off from any information that could bother her, or give her hope. Their society is dependant on controlling knowledge. If Offred knew where her husband was, she might try to find him. If she knew he was dead, she could pose a danger to herself. Instead, she can remain blissfully, or unblissfully, ignorant. What Offred doesn’t know can’t hurt her. But why doesn’t she just pick one possibility to believe? “Whatever the truth is, I will be ready for it,” (131). Offred’s speculation is another way for her to defend herself. By believing every possibility, she remains open to them all. She cannot be shocked by the truth, should she ever come to learn it, because she already knows. It is a defense mechanism in a world that deprives her of intelligence. See, she is saying to this society, I don’t need your knowledge. I have my own. Her thoughts are also a means of escape. In these daydreams, she can imagine that Luke is safe. This becomes her truth, for a time. She can also imagine a happy future. She imagines that Luke will come to save her and they will leave together. This, too, becomes her truth. This begs the question, would it be better if Offred to think Luke is dead? Would she be happier if she didn’t go to bed every night, disappointed that he hasn’t come? Or is her naivety the only thing getting her through the day? But Offred has not only been cut off from information; She has been cut off from any personal relationships. Offred has no one to hold, or love, or talk to. In these daydreams, she can be closer to Luke. She has had to fabricate her own companionship. For all that handmaids are supposed to be well-treated, she is suffering.
When the day comes that Offred discovers the truth, will her daydreaming have prepared her, or will she be so confined to her expectations that she won’t even know what to do?
All this to say, ignorance can be a blessing and a curse. For Offred, it is both — and neither.
Wow! I love the way you introduce your blog. You provide an awesome explanation for Offred’s condition (inability to make a choice). It also gave me a new perspective on Offred’s personality and reality. Reading your blog enlightened me to Offred’s situation, and it is true that she chooses everything, and that she cannot make a decision, or she won’t make one. However, as you said, I also believe that the unknown is a way for her to escape, and that reality brings her back to her prison. Perhaps, she never chose a definite future because she wants to be hopeful for a better one, for an escape from her reality. Thus, I believe ignorance is more a blessing than a curse.
RépondreSupprimerI found myself having the same point of view as you throughout pretty much your entire blog post but there’s one instance where I found it impossible to agree with you. To finish one of your arguments you said “As if, by denying an ending, she can change Luke’s fate.” I feel like yes, Luke’s fate cannot be changed. But the fact that she still uncertain on which outcome she believes in makes her keep going. It’s literally the only thing between her ending her life and pushing through. She’s fully aware that the chances of Luke coming to rescue her or the chances that Luke is even alive are incredibly low. But there’s still that sliver of chance that he might come and she wouldn’t want to miss it.
RépondreSupprimerOffred is a very optimistic person for the society that she is living in. I feel like optimism is an important trait in order to push through hard times. In Offred’s case she’s seeing positives in a blatantly negative society and I feel like that’s the only reason she’s still pushing through.
This was a great read! Your blog definitely provided me with further insight into Offred’s uniquely complicated mindset, and I commend you for analyzing her thoughts so thoroughly. I liked your contrast between Offred’s indecisiveness and our brain’s natural longing for a single concise conclusion, since I think that it emphasizes the differences between our modern Canadian society and Gilead. Indeed, through freedom of speech, we are able to not only share our own ideas and beliefs, but also listen to and learn from other points of view. Unfortunately, since no such ideas exist in Offred’s world, ex-Americans are confined to their own minds and could never hope to amass enough support to protest their oppression and win their democratic rights back. There’s something rather ironic in the way Gilead rules– they completely repress individuality and force everyone into a certain mold, yet the very stability of their reign relies upon the general public keeping their thoughts to their individual selves. All in all, I think your post showcased this irony very well. Good job.
RépondreSupprimer