“Oh yes, he said. I’ve read the magazines, that’s what they were pushing, wasn’t it? But look at the stats, my dear. Was it really worth it, falling in love? Arranged marriages have always worked out just as well, if not better.” (220)
Such a shallow man the Commander is, fueled by a society that puts masculinity on a pedestal. The Commander hypocritically attempts to attack love and marriage while he himself yearns for the simplicity of intimacy he has lost with his wife. He wants Offred to kiss him like she means it, something his wife doesn’t do anymore. He also asks her to play scrabble with him. These are signs that he desires the emotions of intimacy.
This may also be why he asks if it is really worth it. His marriage has become this regimented aspect of his life where there is a simple march from Ceremony to Ceremony. Both him and his wife have their role that enables their society to be extremely regimented and work while they both have their private criminal acts.
The Commander also uses a pet name to refer to Offred. This can be seen as both a term of endearment and a way to minimize her opinions and emphasize the way she is solely valued for her gender and the sex she can provide. He wants her to feel as though he thinks of her as something special, this way he can take advantage of her as their relationship progresses.
Primarily, however, this passage serves as a statement on this society’s view of love. They eliminate the idea because they feel it can damage the foundation of the society. I felt this passage was extremely important because it is one of the few times in the novel when a clear opinion is put out into the open. This is a real opinion driven by sexuality and elitist views, not the pressure and fear of regulation.
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