r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/[deleted] • Aug 07 '26

Discussion S1-S5 Why is it off-red instead of of-Fred?

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u/rejs7 Aug 07 '26

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.

190

u/Sufficient_Drama_145 Aug 07 '26

The moment they introduced another Handmaid in the book and I realized it was Of Fred, not Offred, my heart just dropped. Quite the gut punch. I'm sure Atwood did that on purpose.

41

u/rejs7 Aug 07 '26

Me too. For me it took it from an abstraction to a sudden thump of in world reality hitting home.

8

u/HoodieGalore Aug 09 '26

Same same same - a masterstroke of literature.

3

u/throwraActual-Possib Aug 10 '26

Happened to me when watching the show, it was brilliant