Sudden Change In The Handmaid's Tale

Her name is Offred, in the beginning, she doesn’t accept her room, nor her name, but Offred decided to assimilate into Gilead’s society. She declares her name is Offred forgetting her old name and accepts the Commander's house is now hers. We finally get a description of Offred she tells us, “I am thirty-three years old. I have brown hair. I stand five, seven without shoes. I have trouble remembering what I used to look like. I have viable ovaries. I have one more chance.“ Something had to bring about the sudden change in Offred, right? Yes, she recalls what Aunt Lydia told her about men being “ sex machines, and are easily manipulated. In return, she uses the situation to her advantage by playing Scrabble and giving the Commander kisses so she can get luxuries, such as Vogue magazines. Offred has a laughing fit.

It is now spring time. Offred and the Commander have an arrangement and meet two/three nights a week. The two have set-up a signal, Nick the man

Offred fantasized about once before. This arrangement between the two of them can potentially be a problem. She isn’t only sneaking around Serena Joy’s back who visiting another Commander wife who is sick, Nick the man she desires is caught in the middle. She reveals the Wives get sick a lot if the Martha’s or Handmaids get sick, they’ll be sent to the Colonies. Once again, we see another arrangement between the Commander and Offred nothing physical causing her to feel perplexed. While she is with the Commander playing Scrabble, she practices her words and spelling. Sex between the Commander and Offred is awkward, but she sees it as a job. Offred has an epiphany the Commander no matter how nice he is the Commander is still her oppressor. The Commander represents the system of patriarchy, but she still liked him.

The interesting dynamic between Wives and Handmaid is shown. Offred claims she feels guilty for Serena Joy despite her having “power” over Serena, she still has fear of being sent to the Colonies if Serena Joy finds out about the arrangement. Being sent to the Colonies because of the arrangement is one of her major conflicts. Summertime: Ofglen and Offred go shopping she tells us how different summer is now under the regime, “It's warm, humid; this would have been sundress-and-sandals weather, once”. The women are to wear certain clothes depending on what group they belong to in Ofglen and Offred case it’s a long red dress and their hair is covered. Offred still wonders if Luke is dead, behind the Wall in the library. While standing outside of the window in Soul Scrolls Ofglen asks “Do you think God listens," she says, "to these machines”. Offred replies NO. Though, the novel revolves around religion this is the first time the women actually discussed religion. Offred ends with her saying, she is relieved it wasn’t her that was taken away by the Eyes. Her relief shows how dangerous discussing certain things can be. Moira, her best friend didn’t approve of her relationship Luke, and most likely won’t with the Commander she was/is the mistress in both relationships.

Climax: It is revealed that the president was shot after the president was shot after that it became a domino effect. Things not only started to change, but fall apart. Instead of paper money the people of Gilead now use Compubank and all of them must carry around an Identipass. Everything was gone from Feels of Wheels to Pornomarts. Offred was then fired for being women, because by “law” in Gilead women aren’t allowed to work. Offred begins to get a little bit more comfortable with the Commander. Her red shoes are off, and the Commander is causal as well. Not only do the two have signals to let them know the coast is clear for their arrangement, but gesture they use with each other. Offred asked if he could translate "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum," which was written in the closet of her room by another handmaid. The Commander discloses that the previous handmaid committed suicide in the room. Using what Aunt Lydia told her Offred divulges for more information and indirectly ask what's going on.

The feelings are still there for Nick since she later fantasized about him as she always does. Once again, Ofglen and Offred go shopping while out shopping on the wall two people are hanging. One is a Catholic and another one body is marked with a J. Offred is unsure what the J she knows that it doesn’t stand for Jewish. The J is for Jezebel another class women are separated into. We get to see Serena Joy and Offred interact again, the two have a discussion about Offred getting pregnant. Serena Joy states that maybe her husband is sterile(forbidden to say about a man). Because of her desperation to have a baby she suggests Offred get pregnant by Nick and pass it off as the Commander baby. Tension rises when Serena Joy tells Offred she can get a picture of her daughter. How did she know about her daughter? Offred has worried about her daughter’s whereabouts a lot. In spite of her treachery Offred agrees to Serena Joy’s plan. Offred went from accepting the house as hers then wanted to burn the house down with the matches for the cigarette Serena Joy gave her. The Commander and Offred engage in an intimate conversation in which shows how nice of a man he actually is.

Prayvaganza: All the women Wives, Aunts, Marthas, Handmaid, and the Econowives are in attendance.

A rope segregates the handmaids from everyone, and they must kneel on the cement floor while the Wives are seated. During the prayvaganza, Ofglen tells Offred that Janine’s baby Angela was deformed, a “unbaby”. After giving her what I assume is lingerie-like attire the Commander says he is taking her out. What the Commander proposes is dangerous, particularly for Offred. Still, she decides to go out with him knowing the risk she is taking. He takes her to a club where Jezebels are all the women dressed in feathers and bright colors. At the club, she spots Moira, who gives her a signal to follow her into the bathroom. The two catch up with Moira telling her how she escaped from the red center. After heading back to the house from the hotel Offred comes home and finds out Serena Joy arranges for Nick to have sex. Nick was unwelcoming toward Offred, but she continued to see him on her own with Serena Joy

consent.

Women are being executed, this is called Salvaging everyone gathers to witness the execution of the women. Two handmaids and a wife are being salvaged. Aunt Lydia is one of the salvagers. Offred tries to guess the conviction of the one, the handmaids could’ve tried to kill a Commander or the wife of Commander. Wives who are rarely salvaged usually only are for attempting to kill a handmaid unfaithful behavior or trying to escape. After the hanging of the three women, two guardians are hanged one for raping a woman. A particicution takes place where the handmaid is allowed to get “justice”. Ofglen commits suicide because she was afraid of the Eyes. Serena Joy is aware that Offred has broken her trust by sleeping with the Commander outside of the rules. Falling action: Offred ends up going with the ones she always feared the Eyes. Some of Offred’s suppose cassette tapes have been found. Professor Pieixotois trying to find authenticity since artifacts have been destroyed. No one knows what happened to her in the end.