Identity

• '' I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely. ” - Offred, Chapter 12 


  • Alienated from her body, reduced to object for producing babies
  • More seperated from her body as she's seperated from her former identity
• 'I have another name, which nobody uses now because it’s forbidden. I think of this name as buried.' 'some treasure i'll come back to dig up.' - Offred, Chapter 14


  • Restricted of real names, former identities, now a possession of their commander (able to be replaced) - objectification
  • Her past belongs to her, cannot be taken away - something she values
  • Hope she will retain her former identity again
• The name 'Offred'


  • composed of prefix 'Of-' and her Commander's name - belongs to him, not her own person
  • Slave name, reference to American Slavery
  • 'Offered' - sacrifice or religious offering