Important Quotes from The Handmaid's Tale II

"Bodily functions at least remain democratic" (263).

I think that this quotation is important in that it signifies how many aspects of Gilead are forced and regulated. To be democratic is to have the freedom of choice, and this is a right that the Republic of Gilead denies its citizens. The fact that Offred has to search all the way to bodily functions in order to find an aspect of Gilead that has a democratic nature says a lot about the environment she is living in, as well as the regimented life she is subjected to.

"I lie there like a dead bird. He is not a monster, I think" (267).

This quote casts doubt on whether or not the Commander is a monster. When Offred is describing her sexual encounter with him, she "lies there like a dead bird" and I see this as her accepting her role and giving in to the Commander, and thereby into authority. Offred, at this point, decides to 'fake it' and this attitude reflects her routine and fabricated approach to intercourse. One interesting point comes after the passage when Offred notes, the "Commander looks smaller without his uniform, "older, like something being dried" (267). In this moment, the Commander seems to be stripped of all his power, all his intimidation, and Offred takes over, faking her way through pleasing him.

"I would like to be without shame, I would like to be ignorant" (275).

This excerpt brings into question whether or not Offred would be better off if she did not know about the formation of Gilead. She wishes she was ignorant of how life used to be before modern day Gilead. This quotation relates to the saying, 'what you don't know can't hurt you' in the sense that if Offred did not know a better life, she would not be as opposed to Gilead because it would be normal for her. This is a scary aspect for Offred, especially when she meets the new Ofglen who seems to be brainwashed and has shut out the former Gilead, only accepting the new republic. Ignorance, for Offred is an easy solution, because if she never knew a previous life, how could she feel shame in living her current one?