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The Commander is presented as a character who is friendly towards Offred, but who is also responsible for some of the evil in Gilead.

On one hand, Offred values his attention. He provides her with intelligent discussion, forbidden games and objects, and an opportunity to lessen her boredom. Never does he treat Offred poorly, and for that reason he appears to be a sympathetic character.

On the other hand, Offred cannot ignore that the Commander is responsible for many of the injustices in her society. As a high ranking official, he plays a large role in instituting Gilead's regime of terror and oppression. The most significant quotation on this matter is in chapter 24, when Offred recounts how the mistress of a Nazi concentration camp guard decribed her lover as a gentle, kindhearted man. Even the most evil of people can appear friendly on the surface, and Offred reminds herself that she cannot "invent a humanity" for the Commander. In the end, the fact that he appears sympathetic heightens the reader's awareness of his immorality in bringing about the regime in Gilead.

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