Something interesting I noticed in The Handmaid’s Tale was all the flower imagery. I remember one distinctive scene where Serena Joy is “cutting off the fruiting body” because the “tulips have had their moment and are done, shedding their petals one by one” (153). At first, I really thought nothing of that line. However, upon closer analysis, I realized the hidden significance. Tulips are typically red, and the irises that replace them are generally a blue color. These flower colors definitely parallel Offred’s red dress and the blue characteristic of wives, like Serena. When Serena Joy is cutting of the “fruiting body” of the red tulip, it seems as if she is trying to cut off the womb of the red Offred. Thus, Serena is jealous and feels threatened by Offred’s fertility. In addition, the blue irises replace the red tulips, which could possibly represent Serena Joy’s desire to overtake and control Offred.

Another creative part of The Handmaid’s Tale is Offred’s name. When I first started reading, the meaning of the name seemed obvious. Offred is simply “Of Fred” because she must submit to the Commander, Fred. However, Michael then told me about how the name could also be read as “Off red.” Such reading suggests that she could rid of the red which is the color of “everything except the wings around her face” and “defines” her (8). Therefore, it foreshadows that Offred may become engaged in some sort of resistance and will stop being defined by the red color that she must wear. I finally thought of another possible way to look at the name Offred. The name “Offred” is very similar to the word “offered.” I feel like Offred is offered to the society and people around her. It’s interesting to note that Offred “is offered” is in passive voice, so Offred is perhaps very passive and submits to the men and society around here. Once Offred starts offering something herself, she will be active and assertive. The multiple meanings of Offred really show Atwood’s brilliance.

I also want to discuss the scrabble encounters because they are such and important part of the novel. They seem to be some sort of forbidden sexual desire. Even the dialogue used in the encounters indicates sexual undertones. When the Commander “held it a moment, casually enough, between thumb and finger, as if deciding whether or not to give it to men,” the Commander seems to be offering Offred some sexual object or even his sexual object (156). However, it is simply a women’s magazine that Offred wants “with a force that made the ends of [her] fingers ache” (156). Offred wants the magazine with such a “force” that it truly seems sexual. However, I wonder what the actual relationship between the Commander and Offred is. Are they truly equals? While the Commander flirts with Offred, he also makes some belittling comments. In addition, he also is a father figure because he tries to protect Offred. As I read on, I’m especially going to take note of the relationship between them. Maybe, Offred’s and Nick’s relationship could parallel their relationship.