Simple Reunion

The first thing I noticed when reading this chapter was the bathroom sign. This bathroom is very fancy and high-end. The author supports this idea of having a nice bathroom by saying (pg 241) “There’s a rest area, gently lit in pinkish tones, with several easy chairs and a sofa, in a lime-green bamboo-shoot print, with a wall clock above it in a gold filigree frame.” The letters for the sign that says the lady, are made of gold script and give the place a more luxurious style. The bathroom is also a break room for the ladies and has plenty of things in there that they can use. There are even mirrors left in this bathroom that they can still use.

The Next thing I noticed in this chapter is how Moria acted when she was with Offred. It has been a while since Offred and Moira had seen each other since Moria escaped from the school. She has not changed and seems to still have a positive attitude but seems to have lost the fighting spirit she had before. Once she made it out she was caught again and then came here where the Aunts don’t try to fix you now. She stayed running for 9 months and when she was about to finally escape they caught on and stopped her. The author shows Moria getting when, (pg 247) “Whatever it was, they picked us up just as we were coming out the back door to go down to the dock.” Moria tried her best to escape and almost managed to do it but in the end, she was caught. She now stays at the hotel Where she plans on staying and even invited Offred to stay as well.

This chapter also takes place in a ladies’ bathroom just like the scene in chapter 13 where Moira and Offred meet in the bathroom to speak to one another. In both of these scenes, they want to talk to one another without having someone overhearing them and getting in trouble. In chapter 13 they tried to speak away from the Aunts, while in chapter 38 they didn’t want Offred’s Commander to overhear them. The ladies’ bathroom seems to be the only place in this world of Gilead where they can speak to each other. While in the bathroom both scenes are very similar with how they work and how much time they get in there. There are even Aunts outside of both of them to track who goes in and how much they are in there.

Offred is given a cigarette in this chapter and uses it. The cigarette appears multiple times throughout the book and is first introduced, and it’s said that they are banned items that no one should have. All the cigarettes were taken away once the new power took over now the only way to get them was through the dark market. Cigarettes only appear with high-ranking individuals like the commander and Serena Joy. The cigarette could be seen as a metaphor for power and freedom. The only time Offred has a cigarette is when someone in power gives it to her or she is somewhere where she does not have someone who has completely taken away her freedom. The author supports the idea of Offred wanting cigarettes by saying,( pg 73) “God, do I need a cigarette, says Moria. Me too, I say.” Offred says she wants cigarettes because they give her the illusion that she is someone important and free like she was in her past.

When Offred and Moira are in the bathroom Moria asks why she is there and who she is with. Offred says she is with her commander and that he brought her there so they could go out for a little. Offred tells her she will be leaving soon and that she is temporary. The word temporary appeared when (pg 243) “I pull her head over so I can whisper in her ear. “I’m temporary,” I tell her.” The word temporary felt deeper than just staying at the hotel and could mean the commander may replace her soon. Though the commander shows a deep connection to Offred and gives her plenty of what she wants there have been other women besides Offred in his life. Like Serena Joy who was the Commander’s wife whom he does not feel a connection anymore. There was also another Handmaid before Offred who took her own life, so he is fine with replacing one Handmaid with another. Maybe in the end, if Offred escapes the commander will find someone else.