The Sanctified

       "Their heads are uncovered and their hair too is exposed, in all its darkness and sexuality." I believe this quote is very prudent towards the overall mood and theme of the story. The Red Handmaids are subject to purity and "sanctification," ironically, in this society they currently lived in. Handmaids are fully covered, including all of their skin except for very little around their faces. They have been set aside for a special purpose by the authorities in charge over them. What seemed ironic, though, was the face that these same Handmaids used to be in like position as that of the Japanese tourists in revealing clothing; short shirts and skirts and sexual attractions and appearances. The society was trying to "protect" the women from the sinful nature of the natural world, unlike its anti-Utopian society. Yet, the Handmaids were being raped all the time by the commanders or whoever took power over them. So really, the Handmaids purpose of being covered is vain and defeated since their virginity is loss and purity of taken from them.

       This ordeal has a biblical overtone to it in how the Israelites in the Old Testament times were set apart as God's people away from the Gentiles. He had a special purpose for them in his grand scheme or plan. He designed different laws, customs, and traditions by which they had to follow. Even more so, God was so strict yet so loving of his "chosen people" that he had a special tribe out of all twelve tribes of Israel, the Levites, whom he ordained as priests for the whole nation. Only the Levites could offer up sacrifices to God and enter the tabernacle of God. This was before Jesus Christ came to earth and broke that tradition of sacrifices, closing the gap between Jews and Gentiles as everyone's mediator. Now everyone could come to Christ because of His death on the cross and resurrection.

The Fictional Day of Reckoning

       Thank you Jesus, I wasn't selected to be a handmaid. Well, I'd rather be an Eye anyway. Less chance I'd be annihilated if I was a rebel or a handmaid. Just don't pick the wrong guy, Newman! Pick the darn rebel! I already know whom I going to pick. It's probably Josh. He's always suspicious around times like these. Plus he was already trying to establish his likings for potentially being an eye, even before we knew if we were or not! This guy is something else. But then again, I have my other suspicions. Could it be the sweet innocent little girl Jamesa, or my wonderful friend Chabely?! Or maybe my best Chandler isn't such a best friend after all and is part of the rebels! Naw... couldn't be. He's not the one. I just know it, impossible to be. Wait, what is the point of this game anyway? Oh yes! I must eliminate all the rebels with my other three eyes. Why am I the only boy who is an eye? Darn it. Oh well, they're very smart and I'm sure they'll know what they're doing.

        Ok, it's communion time. I'm not saying anything. Keeping my mouth shut..."oh hey there Chandler! How are you? Do you get the point of this game? Yeah, I find her suspicious too. Oh yes, I thought about Daryl and figured she might potentially be an eye. But then again, Victor was that lion-serpent thing we did in class. Well, good luck to you too!" hehe. He doesn't even suspect me of being the eye. Well, I'll just keep playing it cool and act like I didn't know anything...

       I found this game so intriguing to me. At first I wasn't quite fully understanding the duties of an eye and what would happen if I was picked by a rebel. To my surprise and relief, I was never picked. The joy of the game was the dwindling number of students left in the game. I was astonished too by how many eyes were still alive. All four of us were still alive. I was afraid to accidentally pick a handmaid, but I never did and ended up picking the rebel. This game was so fun in that the suspense kept building to the point where there was really no purpose in communing with our peers during the lights on period.

       I also found the music played for the entrance of the rebels to be copacetic. It was just right for the mood and feelings of a real rebel. It reminded me of some action movies I had watched before on t.v. However, I believe a different song choice could have been chosen for the eyes, like a more sinister, evil sounding song or tune to be played during the night time for the eyes. But overall, I enjoyed the game and enjoyed the thrill of being an EYE!

Journal Entry #1

       "Then I find I"m not ashamed after all... I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone, passive but there." I believe this quote is vastly significant in the fact that the author presents the only real power she has to cunning attract or "reel in" a person of a higher authority or status to her. She feels that she has the looks of an attractive lady unto the guards (Men), because the author had identified the one weakness men do have amongst various others. Women are men's weakness in their flesh or lustful desires.
       The author knows what parts of her body to advertise out to the world in order to gain some attention and potential influence amongst her authorities. This could be viewed as a whorish type of ball play in this mindset. After all, this advertisement of her body is a sexual-appeal and grabs the attention of the men almost immediately. The author has no shame in her game, which is very ironic since women were perceived back then as more prompt to cover themselves or save themes for a sacred union. She is the "dog bone" men want, or at least what is under her clothes, which men lust for the most.

Credit for the photos: Google Images