Unwanted Company- Lit Log #2 Talia Femia

For my visual representation I choose to highlight a moment between Offred and the commander. Throughout the last couple of chapters we see their moments of them playing scrabble, reading, writing, talking and other experiences. My piece of artwork highlights their scrabble games. Using my creativity I choose to have them in either element of emotion rather than the actual scene. To show what is in their minds as they have their intimate meetings. While we can’t actually know, I can infer the mental state of both Offred and the commander.

I made very specific artistic choices while creating this. To start I have the commander with his back facing to Offred, this shows the complicated relationship between them. Even though this is rather unusual for a commander and a handmaid to have these private moments they continue to do so. The bubble above his head shows his thoughts of Offred. His enjoyment of the time they spend together and her as an individual rather than her as a handmaid. It’s a confusing feeling which is why he stands with his arms crossed. Across the room is offered. While we know she never actually lays on the floor with her head buried in her knees I made her in this position to signify her upset feelings towards the whole situation, her emotions as a handmaid and being this new version of herself. In the bubble above her head we see the name Luke. In all this time they spend together Offred can’t help but just think of Luke. Where he might be, their memories together, their child together and him as she can’t forget their love. On the floor between the two we can see scattered prices of scrabble. The game the two of them play together. The reason I scattered it was to signify the unwillingness to want to play on Offred’s part. How she doesn’t enjoy it like he does and how she wishes to be freed of this isolating life. It’s confusing for both of them. The game is nothing but an object in their unique relationship. It doesn’t signify any fun. That is the reason for that chosen element in my art work. Finally I drew a window behind Offred. I don’t know for sure the layout of this room. Although I added this to represent the distance between the outside work of nature and fun and the house she finds herself always in. The wanted feeling of freedom lingers behind her. The path of stones is to be seen in the Commander’s Wives garden.

The reason I choose this scene is because as I read these moments between them tend to stick out to me. In a world full of confusion, despair, mayhem it is easy to get lost in a small down to earth moment. To me I see the commander as not a bad guy. It’s easy to see him as the villain but we can see guilt he carries for the role Offred was put in. These moments they spend together I believe relieve him of the guilt. We don’t get to see many one on one moments between any two characters for long periods of time. Although with these two it has made me confused and curious to how this will turn out. Whether they will continue to have time together or not. The confusion on if either party truly likes one another in a friendship sense or if the commander feels more. I enjoy reading to see the development between these two characters and not in a sense of romance but to wonder why all the sudden he is curious about Offred and why he is so open to her being more than just a handmaid but a companion.