“When we think of the past it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.” (Atwood, Page 30)
This quote comes from a part of the story in which Offred and Ofglen are returning from the market. Ofglen suggests that they go past the church, changing their old routine. Offred agrees and the two begin to walk. Offred talks about how, due to the wings they wear on their head, the Handmaids have learned to see the world in gaps. As they are walking to the church she recalls the surroundings about her, remembering them from the days before they became Gilead. She recalls rivers, bridges, and dormitories. All of the things that she recalls, she remembers as being beautiful. This is when she realizes that almost everything she has picked out is beautiful to her, thus prompting her to say this quote. I chose this quote …show more content…
This quote perfectly captured that theme and especially Offred’s attitude throughout the story and, even if she didn’t know what it meant, it kept her going and inspired her. Not letting the horrible, awful people of Gilead or the strict laws and regulations get Offred down is ultimately what kept her alive. If she would have let the “bastards” grind her down, she would have lost who she was, her sense of fight. But she didn’t, she kept going and finding a will to live which led to a lot of pain, but it also led to her romance with Nick, her friendship with the Commander, and her courage to join the subversives. I love this quote because it is so simplistic, but the message it holds is so meaningful. Margaret Atwood wrote this book to warn future generations, to prevent our society from becoming the toxic world that is Gilead and this quote sums that up in four simple Latin words. With this book, Margaret Atwood is telling everyone to never let the bastards grind you