One of the language structures I still haven’t quite grasped is Atwoods’ use of quotes during some conversation and not using quotes during other conversation. It makes it very difficult to always determine if you’re a thought internally or externally. Another piece is the sequences that are in the current time versus the memories that strike Offred at any moment. At various points they are blended in with real time events and others they are clearly separated by paragraph so the reader is well aware that we have left the present and have ventured into the past. It can be Atwoods’ way of showing the reader how scattered Offred is becoming as we understand the world she’s in, how she’s adapting, and perhaps a rebellious side of her slowly coming out to challenge the nature of how things currently stand. As much as Offred goes with the flow of normal every day routine, her thoughts about doing something different are always at the forefront and we begin to see these possibly play out in actions more so than thoughts. One very good example of this are her late night visits with the Commander. During her time with him, Offred becomes more and more comfortable. She is adapting to a new routine and experiencing breaking rules. Atwood introduces these moments with the Commander to give Offred a means to eventually break from the life she knows. I also think this shows that even in hard times, if someone is given an opportunity to rise to the occasion and rebel, they will take it. Along with these nights with the Commander, Atwood is also separating Offred’s memories of her previous life and giving us insight to what happened. The further along the story goes, the more Atwood starts revealing the past and maybe somehow connecting it to the present.