Who is the
Commander?
The commander is the most powerful authority figure in Offred’s world, and she
takes his first name
Despite his position, the commander is presented as a lonely man
The first time we encounter the Commander, ‘he is violating custom', standing
The Commander the hallway near the door to Offred's room
Personality
Commander is the head of the household where Offred works as a Handmaid. He
initiates an unorthodox relationship with Offred, secretly playing Scrabble with her
in his study at night.
He often seems a decent, well-meaning man, and Offred sometimes finds that she
likes him in spite of herself.
He almost seems a victim of Gilead, making the best of a society he opposes.
However, we learn from various clues and from the epilogue that the Commander
was actually involved in designing and establishing Gilead.
Commander is presented as an ambiguous figure, substantial but shadowy, whose
motivations like his career in Gilead, remain unclear to Offred
Appearance
Offred describes the commander in detail, his high ranking status means he wears
a black uniform and is driven in an impressive car a “Whirlwind”.
His is an elderly man with “straight nearly brushed silver hair” and a moustache
and blue eyes
Commander Fred has grey hair, wears a black suit and looks "like a Midwestern
bank president
Key Quotes
“Commander is the head of the household. The house is what he holds”-Chapter
14
Demonstrates Offred’s sensitivity to language-educated
Phallocentric society-Commander is in charge
Social hierarchy
“For the eyes of the lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth”-Chapter 14
Commander ends chapter with a reminder that they are all constantly being
watched by state spies-Allusion to Gestapo?
Dystopian trope-Control through surveillance
“Commander has on his black uniform”-Chapter 15
Social Stratification/Hierarchy
He is inferior
“The commander too, is doing his duty”-Chapter 16
Commander is there to recreate species
Sex and desire is no longer joined only purpose of creation
“Hello he says”-Chapter 23
Language of transgression, he should be saying “Praise Be”
Ironic as he helped create the totalitarian regime-Gilead
“I’d like you to play a game of scrabble with me”-Chapter 23
Suggests he is lonely and craves companionship
, “Mistress of a man who had supervised one of the camps”-Chapter 24
Reference to Ruth Kalder the mistress of Amen Goeth,commandant of Plazow
concentration camp
Similar to Offred and Commander’s relationship as he is friendly towards her due
to lack of companionship
Scrabble is seen as a dangerous subversive in Gilead due to power of language
Atwood’s choice of such an unlikely activity for commander symbolises the power
language possess
“How easy it is to invent a humanity”-Chapter 24
Atwood asks us to consider how for if all we should accept this society
Gilead-Similar to Nazi Germany, Reinforces idea of a speculative fiction
“I have a little present for you he said”-Chapter 25
Transgression should not be communicating with Offred
Present-friendly-selfish
“His motives and desires weren’t even obvious to him”-Chapter 25
The commander initially subverts the expectations of readers to demonstrate he
has found himself suffering in his own creation-Ironic
Also alludes to Nazi Germany where those in power ignored the callousness of the
oppressive Nazi regime
“Truly ignorance of the real conditions under which we lived”-Chapter 25
As in many oppressive regimes those in power prefer to remain ignorant of the
effects of tyranny-“Ignorance is bliss”
“Impersonal he said”-Chapter 26
Ironic as he is responsible for the oppressive regime of Gilead
“For them one and one and one don’t make four”-Chapter 29
Commander jokes that women lack mathematical ability-Patriarchal idea
“I thought you were enjoying it……watching me with intent bright eyes”-Chapter
29
Appeases his guilt if Offred has some happiness and enjoyment in her life-
Justifying his actions
“He’s way up there”-Chapter 32
Architect of Gilead, Demonstrates social hierarchy
“Sex was too easy anyone could just buy it.There was nothing to work for”-
Chapter 32
Demonstrates men felt emasculated by women’s sexual autonomy which led
them to the state of Gilead
“Better never means better for everyone”-Chapter 32
Ironic as he’s suggesting the forming of Gilead is for the greater good
Commander attempts to justify the regime in Gilead but his argument is
Machiavellian(devious)-The idea that the “End justifies the means”
Reinforces ideas of a phallocentric society
“It’s a juvenile display”-Chapter 37
Commander behaves like a young man showing off a new girlfriend unlike the
sober sombre behaviour expected of him in Gilead
Shows that women in Gilead are only for men’s entertainment rather than
individuals
“But everyone’s human after all”-Chapter 37
At first commander’s comment seems to offer hope that even people in power in
Gilead recognise the need of forgiveness and understanding
However, as he continues it is apparent that he is justifying male infidelity
exploitation of women -Phallocentric society
Who are these people ….it’s only for officers”-Chapter 37
Phallocentric society-Reinforces the oppressiveness of Gilead as to the
commander the only people in the room are men
Quite a collection ... a sociologist … a lawyer”-Chapter 37
, The women forced into prostitution are like a ‘collection' in a zoo. The fact that
these were highly educated, professional women, makes their situation all the
more demeaning, demonstrating the misogynistic state of Gilead
“You’d have to watch your weight, that’s for sure”-Chapter 37
Biological reductionism for men’s desires
Reinforces Gilead’s control of women
“Nature demands variety for men”-Chapter 37
Biological imperative-View that men are programmed to sleep around
“I like there like a dead bird. He is not a monster”-Chapter 39
Links to Chapter 24
The simile demonstrates that Offred possess no power within this relationship,
reinforcing the callousness of Gilead’s incompetent rulers.
The adjective “dead” illustrates that he exerts his control over Offred, clearly
expecting sexual intercourse without any regard to consent due to his superior
position within the domineering regime.
Thus a religious interpretation of this dynamic may allude to the proponent of
Antinomian Heresy where certain members of a religious body believe they are
above any religious law because God has placed at them at the top of the social
and religious hierarchy highlighting the manipulation of scripture within the
dystopian society
“a security risk now ... There have already been purges. Serena Joy goes white “-
Chapter 36
- The euphemistic word ‘purges', which originally referred to purifying the body's
internal workings, came to be associated in the 1930s and afterwards with
political purges, in which opponents of a régime, or those whom the state found
undesirable, were removed, usually by being executed
Offred’s “arrest” may threaten commander’s position within Gilead
Commander?
The commander is the most powerful authority figure in Offred’s world, and she
takes his first name
Despite his position, the commander is presented as a lonely man
The first time we encounter the Commander, ‘he is violating custom', standing
The Commander the hallway near the door to Offred's room
Personality
Commander is the head of the household where Offred works as a Handmaid. He
initiates an unorthodox relationship with Offred, secretly playing Scrabble with her
in his study at night.
He often seems a decent, well-meaning man, and Offred sometimes finds that she
likes him in spite of herself.
He almost seems a victim of Gilead, making the best of a society he opposes.
However, we learn from various clues and from the epilogue that the Commander
was actually involved in designing and establishing Gilead.
Commander is presented as an ambiguous figure, substantial but shadowy, whose
motivations like his career in Gilead, remain unclear to Offred
Appearance
Offred describes the commander in detail, his high ranking status means he wears
a black uniform and is driven in an impressive car a “Whirlwind”.
His is an elderly man with “straight nearly brushed silver hair” and a moustache
and blue eyes
Commander Fred has grey hair, wears a black suit and looks "like a Midwestern
bank president
Key Quotes
“Commander is the head of the household. The house is what he holds”-Chapter
14
Demonstrates Offred’s sensitivity to language-educated
Phallocentric society-Commander is in charge
Social hierarchy
“For the eyes of the lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth”-Chapter 14
Commander ends chapter with a reminder that they are all constantly being
watched by state spies-Allusion to Gestapo?
Dystopian trope-Control through surveillance
“Commander has on his black uniform”-Chapter 15
Social Stratification/Hierarchy
He is inferior
“The commander too, is doing his duty”-Chapter 16
Commander is there to recreate species
Sex and desire is no longer joined only purpose of creation
“Hello he says”-Chapter 23
Language of transgression, he should be saying “Praise Be”
Ironic as he helped create the totalitarian regime-Gilead
“I’d like you to play a game of scrabble with me”-Chapter 23
Suggests he is lonely and craves companionship
, “Mistress of a man who had supervised one of the camps”-Chapter 24
Reference to Ruth Kalder the mistress of Amen Goeth,commandant of Plazow
concentration camp
Similar to Offred and Commander’s relationship as he is friendly towards her due
to lack of companionship
Scrabble is seen as a dangerous subversive in Gilead due to power of language
Atwood’s choice of such an unlikely activity for commander symbolises the power
language possess
“How easy it is to invent a humanity”-Chapter 24
Atwood asks us to consider how for if all we should accept this society
Gilead-Similar to Nazi Germany, Reinforces idea of a speculative fiction
“I have a little present for you he said”-Chapter 25
Transgression should not be communicating with Offred
Present-friendly-selfish
“His motives and desires weren’t even obvious to him”-Chapter 25
The commander initially subverts the expectations of readers to demonstrate he
has found himself suffering in his own creation-Ironic
Also alludes to Nazi Germany where those in power ignored the callousness of the
oppressive Nazi regime
“Truly ignorance of the real conditions under which we lived”-Chapter 25
As in many oppressive regimes those in power prefer to remain ignorant of the
effects of tyranny-“Ignorance is bliss”
“Impersonal he said”-Chapter 26
Ironic as he is responsible for the oppressive regime of Gilead
“For them one and one and one don’t make four”-Chapter 29
Commander jokes that women lack mathematical ability-Patriarchal idea
“I thought you were enjoying it……watching me with intent bright eyes”-Chapter
29
Appeases his guilt if Offred has some happiness and enjoyment in her life-
Justifying his actions
“He’s way up there”-Chapter 32
Architect of Gilead, Demonstrates social hierarchy
“Sex was too easy anyone could just buy it.There was nothing to work for”-
Chapter 32
Demonstrates men felt emasculated by women’s sexual autonomy which led
them to the state of Gilead
“Better never means better for everyone”-Chapter 32
Ironic as he’s suggesting the forming of Gilead is for the greater good
Commander attempts to justify the regime in Gilead but his argument is
Machiavellian(devious)-The idea that the “End justifies the means”
Reinforces ideas of a phallocentric society
“It’s a juvenile display”-Chapter 37
Commander behaves like a young man showing off a new girlfriend unlike the
sober sombre behaviour expected of him in Gilead
Shows that women in Gilead are only for men’s entertainment rather than
individuals
“But everyone’s human after all”-Chapter 37
At first commander’s comment seems to offer hope that even people in power in
Gilead recognise the need of forgiveness and understanding
However, as he continues it is apparent that he is justifying male infidelity
exploitation of women -Phallocentric society
Who are these people ….it’s only for officers”-Chapter 37
Phallocentric society-Reinforces the oppressiveness of Gilead as to the
commander the only people in the room are men
Quite a collection ... a sociologist … a lawyer”-Chapter 37
, The women forced into prostitution are like a ‘collection' in a zoo. The fact that
these were highly educated, professional women, makes their situation all the
more demeaning, demonstrating the misogynistic state of Gilead
“You’d have to watch your weight, that’s for sure”-Chapter 37
Biological reductionism for men’s desires
Reinforces Gilead’s control of women
“Nature demands variety for men”-Chapter 37
Biological imperative-View that men are programmed to sleep around
“I like there like a dead bird. He is not a monster”-Chapter 39
Links to Chapter 24
The simile demonstrates that Offred possess no power within this relationship,
reinforcing the callousness of Gilead’s incompetent rulers.
The adjective “dead” illustrates that he exerts his control over Offred, clearly
expecting sexual intercourse without any regard to consent due to his superior
position within the domineering regime.
Thus a religious interpretation of this dynamic may allude to the proponent of
Antinomian Heresy where certain members of a religious body believe they are
above any religious law because God has placed at them at the top of the social
and religious hierarchy highlighting the manipulation of scripture within the
dystopian society
“a security risk now ... There have already been purges. Serena Joy goes white “-
Chapter 36
- The euphemistic word ‘purges', which originally referred to purifying the body's
internal workings, came to be associated in the 1930s and afterwards with
political purges, in which opponents of a régime, or those whom the state found
undesirable, were removed, usually by being executed
Offred’s “arrest” may threaten commander’s position within Gilead
