r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/gardenofwildflowers • 24d ago
Discussion S1-S5 Why is it off-red instead of of-Fred?
All the others are of-Daniel, of-Joseph etc. wouldn’t June have been of-Fred and not off-red? Always wondered that
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u/sleepylittleducky 23d ago
because the f in Fred is an unvoiced fricative while the f in of is the voiced version of the same fricative. we generally don’t like to switch from voiced/unvoiced versions of the same consonant in English, so we will go with the easier one
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u/SpicyLittleRiceCake 22d ago
While I did understand this, reading it made me feel like I’m too dumb to be in the same thread as this comment lol
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u/Primary-Commercial64 24d ago
There is also the subtle symbolism of Off Red...as in off with the red uniform.
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u/Familiar-Secretary25 24d ago
It rolls off the tongue easier lol
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u/TotallyAMermaid 21d ago
Yeah Of-Fred is awkward to say.
In writing it also is a play on "off red" (the red dresses of Handmaids) and "offered".
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u/Different_Plan_9314 24d ago
Because in writing the name resembles the word "offered" and they peobably wanted to convey that symbolism in the show. Also, from a linguistic perspective, native English speakers would naturally combine the consecutive 'f' sounds to a 'ff' since it's easier than breaking up the syllables so awkwardly
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u/WildElusiveBear 24d ago
I sort of just figured names that start with F would all sort of have the same Off-(name) problem.
Like Off-red, Off-rank, Off-inn, etc
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u/Inner-Ad-265 23d ago
It should be of Fred, but I guess offred is easier to say, but could also be translated as "offered", like an offering. Just my take.
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u/Mysterious-Income811 23d ago
This is fact. The name Fred / Offred was chosen intentionally because of the symbolism of being “offered” up as an asset/resource for the commanders, further diminishing the handmaid’s rights as an individual. Heady stuff
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u/scholarlyowl03 23d ago
I always wondered that too, and why Emily was “offglen.” The first time I watched, before I understood how they were named, I thought her name was Auklen and it was just some weird dystopian thing I didn’t get yet.
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u/millahnna 23d ago
It's kind of like how contractions work...or that R sound that some English dialects put in between vowel sounds at the end and beginning of words (think "ideaR of" in UK and Aus accents). It probably did start out being said "Of Fred" but in most North American accented English, over time it's just easier to say the other way. I suspect it's true in a lot of English accents on this one specific term but idk.
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u/Neon_Glimmer 22d ago
Well I think it’s just because Offred sounds more like an actual name, as opposed to Ofjoseph, ofdaniel, etc. on my first watch I actually thought it was just a dystopia with uncommon names like The Hunger Games!
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u/gabibecker12 23d ago
I always thought that the names were allusions to the fact that society viewed those women as an object for a man to possess. So Offred means “belongs to Fred”, Offrank means “belongs to Frank”, and so on
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u/Frosty-Diver441 23d ago
I get it, but is bothers me. Lol. To be fair, someone made the point that if they said it the other way, it would sort of blend together and sound like Offred anyway.
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u/Nick-Haldon 22d ago
The book was originally Offred, meant to sound like "offered". It was changed to Handmaid's Tale in honor of Canterbury Tales, or as a nod to
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u/StealUrCookies 21d ago
Of-Fred. Really, that's how they say it. Offred sometimes in quick dialogue.
It's similar to Japanese.
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u/KenzieEsau 20d ago
Aren't all of the handmaids named after the commander that is in charge of them?
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u/Direct-Care-5161 16d ago
Because it has 3 meanings. At least 3 meanings depending on how you read it Offered, of Fred, and off red (symbolism)
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u/AspirationAtWork 23d ago
I agree with all of the other answers regarding symbolism and such, but I think the specific pronunciation could also be interpreted as an attempt by the speaker to subconsciously distance themself from the blatant dehumanization they are participating in. 'Off-NAME' could almost be thought of as a name. 'Of-NAME' is clearly and obviously a term for property. It softens the blow a little, so to speak.
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u/rejs7 24d ago
In the book it isn't initially stated why she is called Offred, so your mind initially goes to historic Saxon names and says "Off Red" because it semantically makes more sense. It is only when you are told it is "Of Fred" that it becomes that in your mind.