The first major theme becomes apparent from the first chapter. As the first characters appear, it becomes apparent that the only form of communication they are capable of is through their ability to "read lips with their heads flat on the bed, turned aside and looking at each other. » (Atwood, 4 years old); meaning they are deprived of something as basic as communicating with each other. We later find out that one of the women in the first chapter is forced to be called Offred. She had another name at one point, but no one was allowed to use it because all real names become banned, you were “of” someone; meaning they had ownership over you. No handmaid is even able to read the basic signs, she can read one word and that is faith. They [the government] had decided that even “the names of the stores were too tempting” (Atwood, 27) for the maids. To be a servant is to become nothing more than a bearer of children. They had even broken Offred to the point where she was completely devastated when her time of the month came, because each period meant another month, she had failed, failed "once again to meet the expectations of others, which became mine" . (Atwood