4 Chapter: Shopping

The Handmaid Tale

• As she leaves the house to go shopping , Offred notices Nick ( a guardian of the Faith), washing the Commanders car.

• Nick live above the garage

• Nick winks at Offred but she ignores him, fearing that he’s an eye who was sent to spy on her.

• She waits at the corner for Ofglen.

• Handmaid always travel in pairs.

• Ofglen arrived and they exchange greeting which are strictly orthodox.

• Ofglen mentions how the war is going well and Offred responds with “Praise be”

• They reach a checkpoint with two young guardians

• These guardians are men too young or old for war and they serve as a police force doing unskilled labour.

• At the checkpoint, Offred flirts with one of the Guardians by making eye contact, cherishing her small rebellion against the rules.

• She considers how sex starved the young men must be. Mentioning how they aren’t permitted to masturbate or own pornographic magazine

• Mentions “Handmaid” for the first time.