"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere as long as it stays inside the maze." (165)
Atwood uses this quote to let the reader question the true meaning of freedom. A rat in a maze believes he it free because he is allowed to run in whatever direction he chooses, and this is all the rat has ever known. But he is not free. This rat is still trapped inside of a maze, and still under the complete control of humans. This symbolizes how Gilead works. The people living in Gilead can roam free within its walls, but are constantly being watched by the eyes. And they all know that escaping would be impossible. But future generations will believe this is freedom, because this is what they will have been told all their lives. They have nothing to compare it to. Offred, on the hand, remembers her other life, when she had a job and money and freedom. But even our society’s freedom can be questioned: we have laws to follow, authority figures patrolling town, and consequences for those who disobey. According to dictionary.com, freedom is “the power to determine action without restraint.” I don’t think we have that, even living in “the land of the free.” So maybe it’s impossible to have a working society with complete freedom. We will always be trapped within some kind of maze.
"Freedom | Define Freedom at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 05 Sept. 2011. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freedom>.
Careful about that first person, still a very strong entry -- solid thinking all the way around
ReplyDeleteREVISED:
ReplyDelete10. Atwood uses this quote to let the reader question the true meaning of freedom. A rat in a maze believes he is free because he is allowed to run in whatever direction he chooses, and this is all the rat has ever known. But he is not free. This rat is still trapped inside of a maze, and still under the complete control of humans. This symbolizes how Gilead works. The people living in Gilead can roam free within its walls, but are constantly being watched by the eyes. And they all know that escaping would be impossible. But future generations will believe this is freedom, because this is what they will have been told all their lives. They have nothing to compare it to. Offred, on the hand, remembers her other life, when she had a job and money and freedom. But even our society’s freedom can be questioned: we have laws to follow, authority figures patrolling town, and consequences for those who disobey. According to dictionary.com, freedom is “the power to determine action without restraint.” We don’t have that, even living in “the land of the free.” So maybe it’s impossible to have a working society with complete freedom. We will always be trapped within some kind of maze.
Dropping the "I" is good -- remember that "we" is still first person -- just plural.
ReplyDelete