Yearning From The Heart

Wow, i must say, this new book we're reading is "weirder" than The Leffhand of Darkness. It took me a really long time to actually figure out what was going on, but even now, i am still confused >.<. What exactly happen to Earth (i'm assuming they still live on Earth)? Are their religious wars going on? Are the men in charge, as in the permanent dominant species? What is a Handmaid? Well, i've come to a conclusion that a Handmaid is a woman that the Commander has intercourse with in order to bear a child becuase .. i guess his wife is incapable? But then again, if that's really the case, why don't they just marry someone who CAN bare a child? Why do you need specific women to do that o_O?

Also, not only are the roles of the people confusing, i don't really understand their rules. They can't even speak to each other openly - it's a crime. And the women can't even give eye contact because it's form of penetration? I don't really understand the logic. There are so many rules, limitations! I feel that the women, and even some of the men in the story are stripped of their freedom. I guess what i'm more interested in is how this happened.

The relationships are so complicated. What is the difference between and Angel and a Guardian in context with the story? To me, i've always regarded those two as similar beings. An angel is a person's guardian. I assume the book refers to Angels as warriors and Guardians as .. police? I don't know - it's all so confusing!

Why did they hang the people at the Wall? The women mentioned something about they were doctors that took life away? I assume that means they helped women with abortions - but wasn't that the choice of the women? They were simply doing their jobs - just perhaps taking another's life away is wrong but still i don't think they deserve to be hung. And the others that were hung - they were suppose to be examples to the women of what they shouldn't do/be. But how? Like the narrator said, the women can even concieve even if they WANTED to - they had to chosen or something.

Anyways, i look forward to discussing this in class - THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED >.<.