{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"3855115","dateCreated":"1208837684","smartDate":"Apr 21, 2008","userCreated":{"username":"jaynevahle","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/jaynevahle","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1202793136\/jaynevahle-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/vahlebchs.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/3855115"},"dateDigested":1532128781,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Handmaid's Tale Make-Up Discussion ","description":"What is the significance of the open-endedness of the novel's conclusion? Why are the historical notes included? Is this ending an optimistic or pessimistic one? Why?","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"3968711","body":"I believe that the significance of the open-endedness of the novel's conclusion is based on the idea of insecurity existing within this society. As it is a newly devloped society there remains several questions as to properly sustain and maintain control over the people. This society must work endlessly to distinguish between the various groups escpecially with women. How can one guarantee that a handmaid won't read? Also, uncertainty somehow exists withing each character. The Commander's wife has her insecurity with Offred and the connection between her and her husband. The commander has insecurities with his sexuality and therefore takes Offred to Jezebels. Offred, obviously has a great amount of insecurities with herself. Yet, as the novel carries on and her rebellious attitude escalades she begins to lose these insecurites. It was appropriate for the ending to also have a sense of uncertainty as it connects to the emotion of the whole story. There is no answer at this point for this society. It may prosper or it may fail, it is too soon to tell. I believe one must approach the conclusion with an open mind, it can be either optimistic or pessimistic. Offred may have been set free with the help of nick or she may have been betrayed by him. What is important is that for once she made a decision that affected her life. She chose to go with nick and the eyes. That, in itself is an accomplishment for her.","dateCreated":"1209432091","smartDate":"Apr 28, 2008","userCreated":{"username":"hugbubbles","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/hugbubbles","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"4092789","body":"Atwood has a knack for finishing novels with a sense of ambiguity.  Oryx and Crake ends with a similar open-ended conclusion that provides hope for the optimistic reader.  Ambiguous conclusions like these remind us that humanity has a very limited vision.  Atwood reminds us that, despite our efforts to foretell the future and analyze the past, we can only understand the moment.  The historical notes and uncertain end of Offred force the reader to live in the moment, just as the characters must.  One of our practice AP prompts urged us to explore how literature is the question minus the answer.  The Handmaid's Tale certainly supports this concept by prompting a wide variety of questions without providing the readers with the answer.  Atwood forces the audience to come to their own conclusions: positive or negative in nature.  The ambiguity of the ending creates some neutrality, allowing the reader to determine the meaning and significance.  Optimistic readers will interpret the ending differently than pesimistic audience members.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe historical notes provide evidence of a slightly more optimistic ending by revealing that Offred had the opportunity to record her story.  Whatever the reader's take on the novel's conclusion, they must admit that Offred was not executed immediately after her abduction.","dateCreated":"1210056794","smartDate":"May 5, 2008","userCreated":{"username":"alexneve","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alexneve","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"4092819","body":"Assuming that Offred is pregnant in the last chapter of the novel, how would a baby change the outcome of the novel?  In the pesimistic interpretation, would the Eyes have treated Offred with mercy if they knew she was pregnant?  Would being pregnant complicate escape from the Republic of Gilead in the optimistic interpretation?  If Nick did bring the Eyes to help Offred escape, was it to save Offred or save his future child?  Would he have helped her if she had not been pregnant with his child?","dateCreated":"1210057418","smartDate":"May 6, 2008","userCreated":{"username":"alexneve","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alexneve","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"4092871","body":"(In response to hugbubbles)  The ambiguity of the novel's conclusion includes the uncertain success or failure of the Republic of Gilead.  Although the continued presence of the society remains questionable in Chapter 46, the novel reveals that the society has undoubtedly failed to accomplish its' goals.  The government intended to control humanity and regulate reproduction, but the inward rebellion of the characters renders the government 'control' fruitless.  The presence of deviance--prohibited relationships between males and females, open discussion, handmaids reading, friendships between handmaids, and rebellious cognitions--illustrates how the Eyes have failed to control all aspects of humanity.  Gilead has proven to be a failure, despite the ambiguity of Offred's situation.","dateCreated":"1210058129","smartDate":"May 6, 2008","userCreated":{"username":"alexneve","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/alexneve","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}