2.12.9

Chapter 39

Test yourself

Chapter 39 - Summary and Key Quotations

The action moves to one of the hotel rooms. The Commander gets Offred alone to have sex with her.

Illustrative background for Offred's thoughts during sexIllustrative background for Offred's thoughts during sex ?? "content

Offred's thoughts during sex

  • While he is trying to seduce her, Offred cannot stop thinking about Moira telling her that she had seen her mother in a film about the "unwomen" in the Colonies.
  • She remembers being with Luke when she discovered that her mother had disappeared.
  • The Commander says that he wants Offred to enjoy the sex but she is not interested at all. She goes along with it because she doesn't want to displease him.
Illustrative background for __"The same... serviced"__Illustrative background for __"The same... serviced"__ ?? "content

"The same... serviced"

  • "The drapes are the same"
    • Irony. Previously, Offred visited with her lover. Now, she visits with a Commander who uses her for sex and nothing more.
  • "Serena wants me serviced"
    • This references the plan for Offred to sleep with Nick to get pregnant. The verb "serviced" indicates that this is a purely mechanical action, like having a vehicle serviced.
Illustrative background for <b>"Dead bird... afford pride"Illustrative background for <b>"Dead bird... afford pride" ?? "content

"Dead bird... afford pride"

  • "I lie there like a dead bird... I can't afford pride or aversion"
    • Offred is aware that she's powerless in her relationship with the Commander. In the Ceremonies, she's supposed to suppress any reaction. But here, she's trying to get her body to respond as if she has an emotional or physical response.
    • The entire sex scene is awkward and creates an atmosphere of deadness.

Jump to other topics

1Author Background

1.1Margaret Atwood

2Chapter Summaries

3Dedications & Epigraph

3.1Dedications & Epigraph

4Context

5Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques

6Themes & Imagery

7Characters

8Readings

8.1Readings of The Handmaid's Tale

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