Handmaid's Tale - Passage Analysis 2

Pg. 137: “’Close the door…’” – “…reconstruction, too.”

The interactions between the Commander and Offred in this scene show just how striking the difference is between the old world and the new world.  The language used by Offred when she describes the situation gives the scene a sense of familiarity and comfort.  However, as a result of the juxtaposition between the actions of these people and the world in which they live, the tone is one of uncanny anxiety.

This uncanny feeling begins as soon as the Commander speaks.  His use of such casual language in this world immediately forces Offred to think in terms of what was, causing internal tension both in Offred and in the reader.  This is made obvious by the language and diction that is used in various places in this scene, such as: “…was a phrase my mother uses.  Used,” “I think I should have a hat on,” “Sheepish was the word,” etc. All of these uses of language are more like the diction the speaker would have used in the old world.

Offred’s first inner monologue perfectly describes the tone set in place in this scene: “It’s an old form of greeting.  I haven’t heard it for a long time, for years.  Under the circumstances it seems out of place, comical even, a flip backward in time, a stunt.  I can think of nothing appropriate to say in return.”  This immediately establishes the tone of the following scene, as well as what will take place.  Offred is temporarily thrust back into the past, and the language shows this perfectly.