Genuine Relationship

The third part of the Handmaid's Tale shows the extent the Commander will go to see Offred. He longs for really communication and interaction with a genuine person. As we find out through the Commander that the marriages in Gilead are arranged because he says they work better. Regardless if that is true or not we realize in this section that he is not happy and wants more face to face true human interaction enough he is a high ranking official in the Republic of Gilead. The meetings with the Commander and Offred become more frequent and more complex in the set up of such meetings. Using Nick to relay messages of when the Commander wants to have Offred come see him is smart but very challenging and is dangerous. Offred begins to start asking the Commander more stuff about what is going on within Gilead as well as asks the Commander for hand lotion, which he freely gives her. He finds it funny that the handmaids and other women use butter as a hand cream replacement as well as the fact that she has to steal food from the dinner table that is hers. The Commander is completely left in the dark and does not know much about the society in which these women have to live and the conditions upon which are cruel to them. The need for genuine relationships in life are extremely important for ones own sanity, as we see in this part of the book, the Commander enjoys the time spent with Offred because he feels a bond between them. Imagine a life without all the friendships and relationships in your own life. It would be difficult to not have them there day in and day out.