Comparative Key Quotations

Identity and Naming

Both Frankenstein and The Handmaid's Tale explore themes of identity and the significance of names, illustrating how names shape self-perception and the perception of others.

Frankenstein

"I am solitary and abhorred… I was in reality the monster."

• The Creature's identity is shaped by the names and labels imposed on him by Victor and society.
• This quote highlights the Creature's internalization of the monstrous identity given to him.
• It emphasizes the power of naming in defining and limiting one's identity and self-worth.

The Handmaid's Tale

"My name isn't Offred, I have another name which nobody uses now because it's forbidden. I tell myself it doesn't matter, but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter."

• Offred's struggle to maintain her identity in the face of enforced naming underscores her resistance to Gilead's oppression.
• This quote illustrates the importance of names in preserving a sense of self and individuality.
• It highlights the conflict between personal identity and societal imposition, showing how names can be a form of control and rebellion.

Isolation and Loneliness

Both novels depict characters who suffer profound isolation and loneliness, driven by their circumstances and the actions of others.

Frankenstein

"Increase of knowledge only discovered to me more clearly what a wretched outcast I was."

• The Creature's growing awareness of his isolation intensifies his feelings of alienation and despair.
• This quote underscores the impact of intellectual growth on emotional suffering, highlighting the curse of knowledge.
• It reveals the deep loneliness experienced by the Creature, exacerbated by his understanding of his outcast status.

The Handmaid's Tale

"I want Luke here so badly. I want to be held and told my name. I want to be valued in ways that I am not; I want to be more than valuable."

• Offred's longing for connection and validation reflects her profound isolation within Gilead's oppressive regime.
• This quote illustrates her emotional need for human connection and recognition.
• It highlights the personal cost of isolation, showing how it strips individuals of their humanity and self-worth.

Power and Control

Both Frankenstein and The Handmaid's Tale explore the dynamics of power and control, depicting how individuals exert authority over others.

Frankenstein

"I possessed a coolness of judgment that fitted me for illustrious achievements."

• Victor's belief in his superior judgment and capability underscores his authoritative and controlling nature.
• This quote illustrates his ambition and sense of power, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
• It highlights the dangers of unchecked power and the hubris associated with it.

The Handmaid's Tale

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

• The Commander's acknowledgement of the unequal distribution of power reflects the systemic control in Gilead.
• This quote highlights the inherent inequality and oppression within the regime.
• It underscores the ethical implications of power and control, showing how they perpetuate suffering and injustice.

Creation and Responsibility

Both novels examine the themes of creation and the responsibility that comes with it, portraying creators who fail to foresee the consequences of their actions.

Frankenstein

"You are my creator, but I am your master;—obey!"

• The Creature's assertion of dominance over Victor highlights the inversion of their creator-creation relationship.
• This quote underscores the consequences of Victor's irresponsible creation and abandonment of the Creature.
• It illustrates the theme of responsibility, showing how Victor's actions have led to unintended and uncontrollable outcomes.

The Handmaid's Tale

"My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech. What I must present is a made thing, not something born."

• Offred's need to construct her identity in response to Gilead's oppressive regime reflects the theme of creation and self-fashioning.
• This quote illustrates the artificiality and performance involved in maintaining her sense of self.
• It highlights the struggle for autonomy and the responsibility of preserving one's identity in a repressive society.

Rebellion and Resistance

Both Frankenstein and The Handmaid's Tale feature characters who resist their oppressive circumstances, striving for autonomy and justice.

Frankenstein

"When I reflected that they had spurned and deserted me, anger returned, a rage of anger; and unable to injure anything human, I turned my fury towards inanimate objects."

• The Creature's rebellion against his treatment and isolation manifests in destructive actions.
• This quote illustrates his response to rejection and the desire for vengeance against those who wronged him.
• It highlights the theme of resistance, showing how the oppressed seek to assert their power and agency.

The Handmaid's Tale

"Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Don't let the bastards grind you down."

• This phrase, passed down to Offred, symbolizes defiance and resilience in the face of oppression.
• This quote illustrates the shared spirit of resistance among the Handmaids.
• It underscores the importance of solidarity and the enduring hope for liberation and justice.

Knowledge and Ignorance

Both novels explore the dichotomy of knowledge and ignorance, portraying the pursuit of knowledge as both enlightening and dangerous.

Frankenstein

"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been."

• Victor's warning to Walton reflects the perilous nature of unrestrained pursuit of knowledge.
• This quote highlights the theme of knowledge and its potential to lead to ruin and suffering.
• It underscores the duality of knowledge as both a source of enlightenment and a path to destruction.

The Handmaid's Tale

"Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it."

• Offred's reflection on willful ignorance underscores the active effort required to remain uninformed.
• This quote illustrates the theme of knowledge and the deliberate suppression of information in Gilead.
• It highlights the tension between awareness and denial, showing how ignorance is maintained through conscious effort.

The Body and Identity

Both Frankenstein and The Handmaid's Tale explore the relationship between the body and identity, depicting how physical form influences self-perception and societal treatment.

Frankenstein

"I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers—their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions; but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool!"

• The Creature's horror at his reflection contrasts with his admiration of human beauty, highlighting the dissonance between appearance and identity.
• This quote illustrates the impact of physical form on self-perception and social acceptance.
• It underscores the theme of the body as a determinant of identity and worth.

The Handmaid's Tale

"I used to think of my body as an instrument, of pleasure, or a means of transportation, or an implement for the accomplishment of my will… Now the flesh arranges itself differently."

• Offred's changing perception of her body reflects the shift in her identity under Gilead's regime.
• This quote illustrates the theme of bodily autonomy and its impact on personal identity.
• It highlights the dehumanizing effects of treating the body as a mere vessel for societal purposes.