One of the topics I am interested in writing about in my research paper is the concept of surveillance and how people are constantly watching others in order to keep control of them. The ideas I plan to talk about are how different characters are being watched by others and how they react to the feeling of a person always watching them.
A quote that relates to the how people are being watched is, “The trust is that she is my spy, as I am hers. If either of us slips through the net because of something that happens on one of our daily walks, the other is accountable” (Atwood 19). This quote is from Offred and she is talking about her relationship with Ofglen. It shows how handmaids are being watched even when they are out of the house. Offred …show more content…
He’s offering himself to me, his services, at some risk to himself… ‘Thank you,’ I say. I must leave the impression that I’m not offended, that I’m open to suggestion…My hands are shaking. Why am I frightened? I’ve given no trust, taken no risk, all is safe. It’s the choice that terrifies me” (61). This quote is from Offred when she is at the doctors. The doctor has offered to have sex with her so that she would get pregnant. She reacts to his offer the way she does in order to not anger or disappoint the doctor. She does not know if he is trying to be helpful and will actually have sex with her or if he is another Eye and he is testing her to see what she will do. She has to think about the possibility that he could an Eye and he is watching her and wants to see what her response is to his offer. If he is unhappy with her response, he has the power to fake some test results and get her sent away to the Colonies. She is afraid of the possibility choosing the wrong response because she could get in trouble and be sent away. This relates to how characters react to the feeling of a person watching them because Offred has to decide how to respond to the doctor’s offer to have sex with her because he could be watching
A quote that relates to the how people are being watched is, “The trust is that she is my spy, as I am hers. If either of us slips through the net because of something that happens on one of our daily walks, the other is accountable” (Atwood 19). This quote is from Offred and she is talking about her relationship with Ofglen. It shows how handmaids are being watched even when they are out of the house. Offred …show more content…
He’s offering himself to me, his services, at some risk to himself… ‘Thank you,’ I say. I must leave the impression that I’m not offended, that I’m open to suggestion…My hands are shaking. Why am I frightened? I’ve given no trust, taken no risk, all is safe. It’s the choice that terrifies me” (61). This quote is from Offred when she is at the doctors. The doctor has offered to have sex with her so that she would get pregnant. She reacts to his offer the way she does in order to not anger or disappoint the doctor. She does not know if he is trying to be helpful and will actually have sex with her or if he is another Eye and he is testing her to see what she will do. She has to think about the possibility that he could an Eye and he is watching her and wants to see what her response is to his offer. If he is unhappy with her response, he has the power to fake some test results and get her sent away to the Colonies. She is afraid of the possibility choosing the wrong response because she could get in trouble and be sent away. This relates to how characters react to the feeling of a person watching them because Offred has to decide how to respond to the doctor’s offer to have sex with her because he could be watching