Scrabble Words

On page 139, Offred describes playing Scrabble with the commander. She mentions several words that she spells throughout the game. These words have significance, together and individually. Together, it is notable that she has several letters that have high value, but are difficult to use. The Q, the Z, and the X are all rare. Offred’s position as a fertile woman in this society is also rare and highly valued, but a difficulty and a burden. Individually, the words are also significant. Larynx is the voice box; Offred does not have a voice in her society, but this secret meeting with the commander could give her some leverage. Valance is notable because curtains are one of the few items in Offred’s room. She frequently mentions the curtains. It is also symbolic, because a valance only hides part of the window. This meeting is secret, but Offred doesn’t totally trust the commander. He could give her up at any moment. A quince is a symbol of Aphrodite, goddess of procreation. Procreation is Offred’s entire value to this society. Zygote follows the same theme; and, if Offred had become pregnant during the most recent ceremony with the commander and his wife, her pregnancy would likely be in the zygote phase at the time of this secret scrabble game. The next two words mentioned are limp and gorge, which are listed separately from the others. Their significance is in not only their meaning, but their placement. Offred narrates, “This is freedom, an eyeblink of it. Limp, I spell. Gorge. What a luxury.” Limp then can be taken to describe the freedom; in the same way it is a short period of freedom as an eyeblink, it is a limp freedom, minimal, somewhat pathetic. It is barely freedom, but she describes it as a luxury. To her, even this seemingly insignificant freedom is significant, luxurious, and the fact that she is indulging in such a freedom, indulging in this dangerous breach of the rules of this society, it feels like she is gorging herself on something so forbidden. 

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 3, 2017 at 1:58 PM

    I really appreciate your focus on the symbolism and connections between the words used in the Scrabble game. This scene was depicted very similarly in the book and the TV series (I watched it to try to find comparisons), and although in that first moment I was unfamiliar with the true depth of the words used, it all makes much more sense after seeing your interpretations of them and their placements. The eyeblink of freedom, even in the distrust, was such a critical part of the scene, too.

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