"In the semidarkness we could stretch out our arms, when the Aunts weren't looking, and touch eachother's hands across space."(4). This line captures the mood from the present. It shows a rather dark mood because the characters are laying in the dark, and they cannot show any signs of interaction. In addition, it shows a lot of secrecy because they can only interact when the Aunts are not looking. This meaning that their actions were little acts of rebellion.
From this line I would immediately choose the past over the present because in the present you cannot socialize. Whenever you want to socialize its like you are being a delinquent. I would also not choose the present because I wouldn't like to sit in the darkness, and have the power to touch taken away from me. I would not like to be in the present because then I would have to be extremely cautious with my actions, and the possibility of being caught.
I agree with Amarelis about choosing the past over present because the past has a more peaceful and joyful setting than the present. From the text, "Dances would have been held there; the music lingered, a palimpsest of unheard sound, style upon style...powdering the dancers with a snow of light" (3). This presents that the gymnasium of the past is more lively and more joyful than because life is more open and more free than the present.
In comparison to the present time, the setting is an army refugee camp where women have little to no rights and the life in these camps are miserable. From the text, "Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth patrolled; they had electric cattle prods slung on thongs their leather belts" (4). This shows that the people especially the women in the army camps are being threatened by superiors who have whip-like weapons to hurt anyone who goes against them. In addition, this kind of fear makes the people of the camp and life miserable since they have to becareful of being whipped for insubordination.
I actually disagree with Amarelis and Mathew. I prefer the present. Atwood stated, "We learned to lipread, our heads flat on the beds, turned sideways, watching each other's mouths" (4). It is clear that learning to lipread was a way for the narrator and her family to communicate now. Talking in the present gets straight to the point about what is going on. The past can get confusing because you have to imagine some sort of flashback that is going on. It was described that the narrator had to communicate in a certain way, and that showed that there was some sort of conflict going around them, since they had to hide actual spoken words. Thus, the present is more clear and easier for me to visualize.
"In the semidarkness we could stretch out our arms, when the Aunts weren't looking, and touch eachother's hands across space."(4).
ReplyDeleteThis line captures the mood from the present. It shows a rather dark mood because the characters are laying in the dark, and they cannot show any signs of interaction. In addition, it shows a lot of secrecy because they can only interact when the Aunts are not looking. This meaning that their actions were little acts of rebellion.
From this line I would immediately choose the past over the present because in the present you cannot socialize. Whenever you want to socialize its like you are being a delinquent. I would also not choose the present because I wouldn't like to sit in the darkness, and have the power to touch taken away from me. I would not like to be in the present because then I would have to be extremely cautious with my actions, and the possibility of being caught.
I agree with Amarelis about choosing the past over present because the past has a more peaceful and joyful setting than the present. From the text, "Dances would have been held there; the music lingered, a palimpsest of unheard sound, style upon style...powdering the dancers with a snow of light" (3). This presents that the gymnasium of the past is more lively and more joyful than because life is more open and more free than the present.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison to the present time, the setting is an army refugee camp where women have little to no rights and the life in these camps are miserable. From the text, "Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth patrolled; they had electric cattle prods slung on thongs their leather belts" (4). This shows that the people especially the women in the army camps are being threatened by superiors who have whip-like weapons to hurt anyone who goes against them. In addition, this kind of fear makes the people of the camp and life miserable since they have to becareful of being whipped for insubordination.
I actually disagree with Amarelis and Mathew. I prefer the present. Atwood stated, "We learned to lipread, our heads flat on the beds, turned sideways, watching each other's mouths" (4). It is clear that learning to lipread was a way for the narrator and her family to communicate now. Talking in the present gets straight to the point about what is going on. The past can get confusing because you have to imagine some sort of flashback that is going on. It was described that the narrator had to communicate in a certain way, and that showed that there was some sort of conflict going around them, since they had to hide actual spoken words. Thus, the present is more clear and easier for me to visualize.
ReplyDelete