<P> The Commander says that he is a sort of scientist and was previously involved in something similar to market research, pre-Gilead . Later, it is hypothesized, but not confirmed, that he might have been one of the architects of the Republic and its laws . Presumably, his first name is "Fred", though that, too, may be a pseudonym . </P> <P> He engages in forbidden intellectual pursuits with Offred, such as playing Scrabble, and introduces her to a secret club that serves as a brothel for high - ranking officers . Offred learns that the Commander carried on a similar relationship with his previous handmaid and that she killed herself when his wife found out . In the epilogue the academics speculate that one of two figures, both instrumental in the establishment of Gilead, may have been Fred, based on his first name . It is strongly suggested that the Commander was a man named Frederick R. Waterford who was killed in a purge shortly after Offred was taken away, charged with harboring an enemy agent . </P> <P> Serena Joy is a former televangelist and the Commander's wife in the fundamentalist theonomy . The state took away her power and public recognition, and tries to hide her past as a television figure . Offred identifies her master's wife by recalling seeing her on TV when she was a little girl early on Saturday mornings while waiting for the cartoons to air . Believed to be sterile (although the suggestion is made that the Commander is sterile, Gileadean laws attribute sterility only to women), she is forced to accept that he has use of a handmaid . She resents having to take part in the monthly fertility ritual . She strikes a deal with Offred to arrange for her to have sex with Nick in order to become pregnant . According to Professor Pieixoto in the epilogue, "Serena Joy" or "Pam" are pseudonyms; the character's real name is implied to be Thelma . </P> <P> Ofglen is a neighbour of Offred's and a fellow Handmaid . She is partnered with Offred to do the daily shopping . Handmaids are never alone and are expected to police each other's behaviour . Ofglen is a member of the Mayday resistance . In contrast to Offred, she is daring . She knocks out a Mayday spy who is to be tortured and killed in order to save him the pain of a violent death . Offred is told that when Ofglen vanishes, it is because she has committed suicide before the government can take her into custody due to her membership in the resistance, possibly to avoid giving away any information . </P>

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