h the author Margaret Atwood, Atwood herself asserts the danger in conduct such as Offred's, "It seems a real possibility. So we shouldn't sit complacent with the view that it can't happen here. Who was it that said 'Vigilance is the eternal price of freedom.?'"( Dodson, 1). Rather than taking matters into her own hands, Offred was weak, and ignored her surroundings at the price of her freedom.
             Offred must lead a life of forced compliance where rebellion could lead to serious consequences including the death of her. Although Offred has a tinge of rebellion to her, for the most part, her rebellious acts are emerged out of fear. Offred begins to disobey many rules impinged on her, although she would only appear to be living on the edge. She gives in to powerful people such as the Commander, the doctor, and Serena. She rebels by beginning an affair with the Commander; however, "...to refuse to see him could be worse. There's no doubt about who holds the real power"(136). This passage suggests that she makes this choice not purely upon a decision to rebel, but also as a result of fear of the commander. It is not a heroic act. Further, she begins an affair with Nick. This affair is also handed to her on a silver platter by Serena Joy, rather. She is protected by Serena and also fears Serena's reaction should she decline the offer. Therefore, the rebellion involved in Offred's affair with Nick also fails to constitute heroism. In addition, Offred considers the offer by the doctor to impregnate her. Offred knows however, that saying no could lead her being shipped to the colonies for he could declare her barren or cancerous. Although Offred would seem heroic by her rising to her own self – satisfaction, she is not because her revolting is a consequence to the opportunities that are presented to her effortlessly, as well as the simultaneous fear. The transgressions that Off...