the master bedroom

The master bedroom in the Commander's house is the primary stage for the Ceremony, the monthly ritual of sanctioned rape that defines Offred's existence as a Handmaid. More than a private space, it is a carefully constructed theater of power where the regime's ideology of fertility, the Wife's authority, and the Commander's duty converge, leaving Offred as a passive, observing body caught between them.

Physical Description and Atmosphere

The master bedroom is dominated by a large, outsized colonial-style four-poster bed with a white canopy "suspended like a sagging cloud above us, a cloud sprigged with tiny drops of silver rain" that, on closer inspection, reveal themselves to be four-petaled flowers. The canopy suggests both ethereality and matter, like the sail of a ship, "big-bellied sails... bellying. Propelled forward by a swollen belly." The room is not warm; a chilly, crisp mist of Lily of the Valley perfume surrounds the occupants. The carpet is white, and there is a skirted dressing table with a silver-backed brush and mirror set. The overall effect is one of cold, sterile elegance, a space designed for a function rather than for intimacy.

The Ceremony: Roles and Ritual

During the Ceremony, the three participants assume prescribed positions that visually enact the regime's hierarchy. Serena Joy is arranged at the head of the bed, outspread, with her legs apart. Offred lies between them, her head on Serena Joy's stomach, her pubic bone under the base of Offred's skull, a thigh on either side. Offred's arms are raised, and Serena Joy holds her hands, a gesture meant to signify they are "one flesh, one being," but which in reality means Serena Joy is in control of the process and the product. The Commander then performs the act, fucking "the lower part of" Offred's body. Offred distinguishes this from making love, copulation, or even rape, as she has signed up for it, however limited her choice. She lies still, picturing the canopy, and wishes he would hurry up. The act is devoid of passion or desire; it is serious business, a duty for the Commander, who fucks with a "regular two-four marching stroke, on and on like a tap dripping." Kissing is forbidden between Offred and the Commander, which makes the act bearable for her, allowing her to detach and describe.

Power Dynamics and Aftermath

The Ceremony reveals the complex and often contradictory power relations within the household. Serena Joy grips Offred's hands as if she herself is being fucked, and her rings cut into Offred's fingers. When the Commander finishes with a stifled groan, Serena Joy expels her breath and immediately commands Offred to "get up and get out," refusing to let her rest for the prescribed ten minutes to improve the chances of conception. There is loathing in her voice, as if Offred's touch sickens her. Offred, standing up, feels the Commander's juice running down her legs, and wonders which of them it is worse for. The room, with its cold elegance and the lingering scent of perfume, becomes a silent witness to this transaction, a space where the regime's laws are enacted and where the personal hatreds and dependencies of its subjects are laid bare.