Paper 2 Quotes from The Handmaid's Tale

Kiss

Not like that, he says. As if you meant it.

Offred thinks about Moira at Jezebel’s

I want gallantry from her, swashbuckling, heroism, single-handed combat. Something I lack.

Continuing her relationship with Nick

It wasn’t called for, there was no excuse.

The Nazi and his wife

He was not a monster, to her… how easy it is to invent a humanity, for anyone at all. What an available temptation.

Mother’s words

Humanity is so adaptable, my mother would say. Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations

Offred on the Commander

I don’t love the Commander or anything like that, but he’s of interest to me, he occupies space, he is more than a shadow.

The Commander’s preferences

The Commander likes it when I distinguish myself, show precocity, like an attentive pet, prick eared and eager to perform

Commander’s honesty

Better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse, for some.

Red room women’s perspective on Moira

Moira was like an elevator with open sides. She made us dizzy. Already we were losing the taste for freedom, already we were finding these walls secure.

Before Gilead

We were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edges of print. It gave us more freedom.
We lived in the gaps between the stories.