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Ofglen is another Handmaid, belonging, as her name suggests, to a Commander named Glen. In Gilead, Handmaids are forbidden from traveling alone, and, as such, the administration pairs Handmaids together so that they may accompany each other on daily errands. Additionally, the pairing of Handmaids also results in a citizen-administered surveillance system, in which both women must adhere to Gilead’s rules or potentially face being reported on by their fellow Handmaid. This system prevents insurgent and radicalizing discourse between Gilead’s disenfranchised women. When Offred first meets Ofglen, she is unsure of the other woman’s allegiance. Both women are cautious with their conversation, and when they stop at the wall to view the bodies of executed rebels, Offred is uncertain if Ofglen is crying for the dead or celebrating the punishment of the treasonous. Eventually, through small hints and exchanges, however, Ofglen reveals to Offred that she is part of an underground rebel group inside Gilead, denoted by the word “Mayday.”
After Ofglen reveals herself to Offred, her character changes immensely. She shows herself to be a sharp mind and devoted rebel and pushes Offred to join the cause. It’s unclear how Ofglen obtains her information, but she shares several useful and enlightening tidbits, such as that Offred’s Commander is a particularly powerful figure in Gilead’s hierarchy, and that the man offered up to the Handmaids at the Salvaging is not a violent rapist deserving of death at the hands of a mob but rather a member of the resistance. Ofglen hopes that Offred will use her proximity to the Commander to spy for the resistance, but becomes increasingly disappointed at Offred’s refusal. Ofglen’s determination and rebellious nature stand in some contrast to Offred’s more submissive and cautious personality. While Offred hates Gilead, and often has the urge to rebel, her main instinct is to survive, which means she hesitates to take risks. On the other hand, Ofglen’s instinct is to fight, and she is clear-eyed and practical when it comes to the personal sacrifices she may have to make. Indeed, near the end of the novel, Offred learns that Ofglen, having been found out by the Eyes, has hanged herself to avoid being tortured and forced to reveal rebel information. Her death marks a horrifying and depressing transition for Offred, who, despite her reticence to join the cause, found a taste of hope and rebellion through Ofglen’s ties to the resistance. Without Ofglen, Offred’s connection to this hope is greatly reduced.
