Subjugation in Chapters 37-39 (Henna and Rosie)

Chapter 37
Within this chapter, Offred describes what she sees including costumes and her surroundings. She also mentions seeing Moira.

• "Well, some of them are real pros. Working girls" - The Commander, page 249

The term "girls" connotes that the Commander thinks he's better than these women, making them seem inferior. The idea of "some" of them shows that he's addressing them as a group instead of giving them all their own identity.

• "Well, we have quite a collection. That one there, the one in green, she's a sociologist. Or was. That one was a lawyer, that one was in business, an executive position; some sort of fast-food chain or maybe it was hotels." - The commander, page 249

The term "we" gives the impression that the Commander feels he owns these women and they are his possessions. However, the women would rather be there than go to the colonies or be Handmaids, Moira is an example of this. The fact that he knows all of the previous professions of the women at the club shows how often he goes there and that he's important and higher in the hierarchy because he knows about peoples pasts.

Chapter 38

In this chapter, Offred strays from the Commander and goes to speak to Moira in private, which wouldn't have been openly allowed in the Red Centre. Moira describes how she escaped. Moira seems to try to convince and encourage Offred to get herself sent to the club.

• "You look like the Whore of Babylon." - Moira, page 254

The term "whore" connotes prostitution. The phrase is ironic because Moira is comparing Offred to a whore when Moira is a prostitute. She seems proud to be in this profession because she can fulfill her sexual desires and will not be condemned for being a lesbian, she tries to convince Offred to join her at the club because she will be 'free'.

• "He's my commander" - Offred, page 255

The personal pronoun "my" makes it seem as if the Commander is a possession of Offred, which is a juxtaposition because Offred is essentially his property and if he hadn't taken her to the club, she wouldn't have seen Moira. The sentence as a whole is ironic because she says "He's my Commander" as opposed to "I'm his Handmaid", which makes it seem as if she's proud. Claiming that she's his Handmaid makes her seem inferior to him and less important, like an object. The fact that other women are present when Offred says this, seems as if she's showing off about the fact that she's there with her Commander, because it's as if she's proud of her fertility. 

Chapter 39

In this chapter, the Commander takes Offred to a private room and Offred describes the events that occur. She also describes, in great detail, the surroundings while in the room and her feelings, as if remembering the past.

• "He shows it to me, slyly. I am to understand." - Offred, page 263

The use of the auxiliary verb "am" in this context is effective because it gives the impression that she's supposed to understand the implication, as opposed to actually understanding fully. The adverb "slyly" connotes that, even in his position of power, the Commander still needs to be careful with his actions and lower himself to the expectations of others. He treats Offred like a sexual object, as if she's nothing more to him than a prostitute, ironic as they are at the club. It is also disrespectful and undermining that he doesn't ask if she will go up to the room with him, he simply shows her the key which is clearly enough to show her that he has made the decision for her.

• "He stops at the foot, his fingers encircling the ankle, briefly, like a bracelet, where the tattoo is, a Braille he can read, a cattle-brand. It means ownership." - Offred, page 266

The noun "ownership" connotes that Offred has given into the oppression of Gilead. She accepts that she is a possession of him, contradicting the fact that earlier on in the section she gives the impression that she feels she owns him. The repetition of the personal pronouns "he" and "his" signifies that Offred is not enjoying him touching her, she's too aware and keeps reminding herself that he's the one touching her. The noun "cattle-brand" shows that she feels helpful, as if she's being hunted against her will. The fact that she feels branded shows that she feels that she only belongs to him.