The Handmaid's tale - the character of the Commander

Despite the Commander’s powerful position in Gilead, he does exhibit some forms of rebellion as well. Jezebel’s is the Commander’s form of rebellion and he seems to frequent this forbidden night club. He also seems to be in the habit of tricking himself into believing in Gileadean society. Offred observes, “[...]he says many things that way [as if he believes it]. Maybe he believes it, maybe he doesn’t, or maybe he does both at the same time. Impossible to tell what he believes” (Atwood 298). Although he clearly has doubts about the regime, the Commander does maintain a position of power throughout the novel. He admits to being some sort of scientist involved in market research and he appears to be under pressure, caused by his position in the government, at several points in the novel. The true extent of his power though, is not revealed until the end of the novel, but Offred observes earlier in the novel that, “[...]he’s reached that state of intoxication which power is said to inspire, the state in which you believe you are indispensable and can therefore do anything you feel like, anything at all” (Atwood 297). The Commander is so powerful that he thinks he is invincible and it appears as though he is right. He was a part of the Sons of Jacob which was the think tank that helped to create the regime. He was most likely, according to the Historical Notes at the end of the novel, Frederick R. Waterford. If this is true, he would have been responsible for some of the more creative aspects of Gilead, such as the naming of ceremonies like the Particicution. Although this would link him to some of the more violent aspects of the society, the link would be very indirect. It would also suggest that he is a very intelligent man. Another interesting piece of information to note from the Historical Notes is that, as suggested earlier in the novel, the Commander, like many others, was most likely sterile as the result of a biological sterility causing virus that was meant for Moscow officials pre-Gilead. The Historical Notes also reveal that the Commander was executed soon after Offred’s escape for harbouring a subversive individual. This may have been Offred, but it was most likely Nick who’s allegiance to the Mayday group was probably discovered when he rescued Offred from the Commander’s household.