The Handmaid's Tale Quotes

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Cat Power’s “The Greatest” encompasses many of the themes of powerlessness in The Handmaid’s Tale. If we imagine the song coming from the point of view of Offred, or any handmaid, the song becomes a reflection on Gilead and its effects on the handmaid’s psyche. Offred reflects often on the past and in these reflections the beginning traces of Gilead, warning signs, are present. For example, a woman attempts to steal Offred’s daughter claiming that “the lord told her too” (find actual quote) (Atwood 72). Despite these warning signs Gilead still came as a surprise to Offred, a shock like the “rush of a flood”. Due to this she became hopeless, which is reflected in the line “stars at night turned deep to dust”. The second verse of the song touches