Offred - is getting used to Gileadian life and by having the rare partiticuti she began to see her repressive life as 'back to normal'. Once she finds out about Ofglen's sacrifice she vows that she will 'become a chalice' and submits herself mentally to the Gileadian regime. She says many things about what she 'could' do, such as suicide, but doesn't go through with them either due to thinking she is 'a wimp' or her strong desire to survive.

Wife - feels betrayal, when Offred goes behind her back after she 'trusted' and 'tried to help' her. Shows a very sadistic side of her in planing to punish Offred herself rather than give her to the Eyes. We get an idea that she gave the same treatment to the last Handmaid by saying Offred will 'end up the same' as her.

She shows possession towards what little she has of the commander. Physically she has nothing but mentally (as in the commander thinks of her) it's the only thing she has left to hold onto whether it is love or not. By Offred spending time with him outside the strict protocol she is controlling him mentally too. Her respect as a wife may be linked to what the commander and others think of her.

Commander - does nothing for Offred, 'distancing himself' as she is being taken away. He looked 'worried and helpless' but this could be for his own problems. Previously he seemed to think he was above all the Gileadian laws but he shows that his power can also be easily taken away from him, even by his subordinates. In historical notes we find out that he may have been the man to decide all the marketing and psychological symbolism designed to brainwash everyone, especially the Handmaids.

Character development