A couple of sentences I read today from this book disturbed me–more than usual anyway. On page 164 of my trade paperback edition, Offred (the narrator) talks about being able to shop at the fishmonger’s for a change. She says:
Loaves and Fishes is hardly every open. Why bother openning when there’s nothing to sell? The sea fisheries were defunct several years ago; the few fish they have now are from fish farms, and taste muddy. The news says the coastal areas are being “rested.” Sole, I remember, and haddock, swordfish, scallops, tun; lobsters, stuffed and baked, salmon, pink and fat, grilled in steaks. Could they be extinct, like the whales?
In this book there are frequent mentions of what had happened to the world right before the revolution, if that’s what you can call it. In particular, this books is peppered with references to severe pollution. And it doesn’t seem like the Republic of Gilead is really doing anything to help heal the environment apart from leaving the worst places alone. Kind of strange, given that this society has regulated just about everything else about people’s lives and behaviors.
Or think of it this way– great swathes of ruined and dangerous land = places to fear. The world becomes a dangerous place, and only by staying within the Republic can one truly be safe.So perhaps the Republic doesn’t do anything about the polluted places because their existence provides another means to control their populace. Much like I tell my cats:“It’s a cold, mean world out there, and nobody will feed you. Better stay inside.”
That’s a point. I’ve read some things since then (which I’ll blog about later) that make me doubt the Gileadan media even more.And the idea of lying to the population on this issue is a great way of keeping people in line and at least nominatively supportive of the regime.