Dystopia Journal 1: Topic A

" 'I was coming to find you,' he says, breathes, almost into my ear. I want to reach up, taste his skin, he makes me hungry. His fingers move, feeling my arm under the nightgown sleeve, as if his hand won't listen to reason. It's so good, to be touched by someone, to be felt so greedily, to feel so greedy. Luke, you'd know, you'd understand. It's you here, in another body.
Bullshit" (Atwood 99).

This passage holds great significance in the book. Offred has disobeyed certain minor rules before, but never has she disobeyed such a major rule. The fact that she has disobeyed a major rule by messing around with another man besides the Commander shows her desire for passion, love, and to feel, not just touch. Throughout the entire book, she is not able to fulfill any of these desires. Offred and many other characters in the book crave to fulfill their wants and desires, but are left frightened seeing those who disobey the rules dead and hanging on the Wall. Offred's desire for love is especially seen here as she talks about her old husband, Luke. He has become a motif throughout the story as she reminisces about the old times. Here she feels the need to justify her actions with the man, which shows how her love for Luke still remains.
Another need which is seen in this passage is the need to feel valued or valuable. Offred says,"It's so good, to be touched by someone, to be felt so greedily, to feel so greedy". She feels as if she is worth something, which is showed in how she is "felt greedily". All the man wants is her, and she wants him. Here, she has the option to feel that way. It is in the darkness of the night that she is disobeying the rules.

Word Count: 245