Throughout the novel, characters are presented to the reader by Atwood through the eyes of Offred. Although the Commander is firstly seen to be simply another part of Gilead's society that Offred has to live with, the reader is later shown to feel just as restricted and depressed as Offred is.

The first time the reader is properly introduced to the Commander's character in "The Handmaid's Tale" is during chapters 15 and 16, in what Offred refers to as "The Ceremony." This monthly event is obligatory between each Commander, his wife, and his Handmaid, and is simply the ritual to impregnate the Handmaid. It seems ironic to the reader during these chapters, that while what we might consider to be a monthly `organised' rape is considered perfectly acceptable by Gilead's society, things which we would associate with love and emotions, like kissing, are completely taboo and unacceptable between these two...