“Dances would have been held there; the music lingered, a palimpsest of unheard sound, style upon style, an undercurrent of drums, a forlorn wail
When describing the repurposed school where she was first taken after the fall of the US government, Offred says, “Dances would have been held there; the music lingered, a palimpsest of unheard sound, style upon style, an undercurrent of drums, a forlorn wail…” Look up the definition of “palimpsest.” Why do you think Atwood chose this word specifically? What might it have to do with the story world so far?
Sample Answer
A palimpsest is a manuscript page where the original writing has been scraped or faded, but traces of it are still visible underneath newer writing. The new text is written on top of the old, creating a layered effect where both elements are faintly present.
Atwood’s choice of “palimpsest” to describe the repurposed school is rich with meaning and connects to the themes explored in the story so far:
- Loss and Transformation: The school building embodies the loss of the old world and its transformation into a new, oppressive order. The lingering music represents the past way of life, now obscured but not entirely erased.
- Haunting Memories: Offred can’t hear the music, but she senses its presence, a faint echo of a life that is gone. This highlights the characters’ struggle to grapple with the past and its lingering effects on the present.