Character relationships

Here, you can read about the relationships between Offred and the various characters in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Offred and Nick

Offred and Nick appear to be attracted to each other from the beginning. Their first interaction has a flirtatious undertone as Nick winks at Offred, which is dangerous and not allowed. 

Though Offred is also attracted to him, she also initially feels guilty about being attracted to Nick. When they kiss in secret, she tries to convince herself that Luke would understand, but she does not manage it: “Luke, you’d know, you’d understand. It’s you here, in another body. Bullshit.” (Chapter 17, 83%). When she eventually has sex with Nick at Serena Joy’s suggestion, it is partly because she knows that she does not have many chances left to get pregnant.

In her relationship with Nick, she quickly becomes reckless, ignoring the danger: “I went back to Nick. Time after time, on my own, without ...