II Shopping: Chapter 4
Setting/Atmosphere: The narrator explores the setting more as she
navigates the readers through the garden to outside of the gates towards
the pathway leading down to the shops- The readers are exposed to the life
of the narrator as she shares a glimpse into the routine-based life that has
been established for her and other handmaids. The focus on these aspects of
the narrator’s journey emphasises the importance of these settings because
they shape the narrator’s life.
Narrative voice: The narrator seems to be more flirtatious in this chapter
as she firstly admires the physical appearance of Nick but then feels shy
when this is reciprocated by him. Later, she admires a guardian who she
encourages to flirt with her using her mannerisms and gestures. The narrator
seems to have put on a brave exterior as she challenges the norms of Gilead
by subtly acting flirtatious towards the men- the narrator has power over the
men; she can use her body to will them to obey her commands
Summary: The narrator passes by Nick, a Guardian who is washing the
commander’s car- it is evident that the narrator feels sexually attracted to
Nick yet when he makes a move and ‘winks’ at her, she puts up her guard
once more as she believes that he could be an ‘eye’ that has been sent to
spy on her.
-The narrator tries to blend into the surroundings and pretends to be a ‘tree’-
it is evident that the narrator is so insignificant that she can easily be
ignored and go unnoticed.
-The narrator meets up with Ofglen who she embarks on a journey with to
the shops: There is a reference to the fact that before Ofglen, there was
another person, yet she cannot enquire about her disappearance; the
narrator conveys that Ofglen is a spy to her just as much as how she is a spy
to Ofglen-Lack of trust between them
-The narrator and Ofglen get to the first barrier where they meet the
guardians- the narrator recalls a past event of a Martha being shot by the
guardians because they thought she had a bomb- During a discussion, Cora
justifies the killing of the woman which was to protect others whilst Rita
conveys that she would have wanted more time, to set things right.
Setting/Atmosphere: The narrator explores the setting more as she
navigates the readers through the garden to outside of the gates towards
the pathway leading down to the shops- The readers are exposed to the life
of the narrator as she shares a glimpse into the routine-based life that has
been established for her and other handmaids. The focus on these aspects of
the narrator’s journey emphasises the importance of these settings because
they shape the narrator’s life.
Narrative voice: The narrator seems to be more flirtatious in this chapter
as she firstly admires the physical appearance of Nick but then feels shy
when this is reciprocated by him. Later, she admires a guardian who she
encourages to flirt with her using her mannerisms and gestures. The narrator
seems to have put on a brave exterior as she challenges the norms of Gilead
by subtly acting flirtatious towards the men- the narrator has power over the
men; she can use her body to will them to obey her commands
Summary: The narrator passes by Nick, a Guardian who is washing the
commander’s car- it is evident that the narrator feels sexually attracted to
Nick yet when he makes a move and ‘winks’ at her, she puts up her guard
once more as she believes that he could be an ‘eye’ that has been sent to
spy on her.
-The narrator tries to blend into the surroundings and pretends to be a ‘tree’-
it is evident that the narrator is so insignificant that she can easily be
ignored and go unnoticed.
-The narrator meets up with Ofglen who she embarks on a journey with to
the shops: There is a reference to the fact that before Ofglen, there was
another person, yet she cannot enquire about her disappearance; the
narrator conveys that Ofglen is a spy to her just as much as how she is a spy
to Ofglen-Lack of trust between them
-The narrator and Ofglen get to the first barrier where they meet the
guardians- the narrator recalls a past event of a Martha being shot by the
guardians because they thought she had a bomb- During a discussion, Cora
justifies the killing of the woman which was to protect others whilst Rita
conveys that she would have wanted more time, to set things right.
