Kindness, when given, is routinely expected to be reciprocated. More often than not it is seen that kindness is, in fact, given so that something else of value can be returned. Kindness is often exchanged for similarly invaluable things like favoritism and prosperity, making the giver of such manners manipulative. When one contains the hidden motive of receiving something in exchange for expected kindness, one has the ability to control not only the relationships around them, but also one's own singular destiny. For example, the character Offred from The Handmaid's Tale treats her masters Serena Joy and The Commander, as well as her only friend Ofglen, with kindness only to gain firm confirmation of her own well-being. In Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, Offred uses kindness to mask her inner thoughts and feelings in order to ensure her survival and her believed destiny as a handmaid. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although Offred's kindness and calmness are expected in her classification as a Handmaid, Offred's treatment of Serena Joy is different from her attitude. Having previously known Serena Joy as an enthusiastic pioneer of Gilead's new regime, Offred works diligently to live up to her mother's expectations. Understanding that "it was best not to speak unless [asked] a direct question," Offred secures her status in the family in her silence and servitude, even as she harbors the belief within herself that as long as she presents herself well, she will ultimately be . awarded. This inner belief translates into Offred's small acts of rebellion; although she speaks and acts as she should, Offred still identifies as an independent, free-thinking woman, her only rebellion. This discrepancy between her inner nonconformity and her outward ways towards Serena Joy is what Offred believes will ultimately bring her some freedom. Operating under the guise of servitude, Offred can eventually gain small amounts of independence, per Serena Joy's will. Offred achieves this goal soon enough in the form of a cigarette and a match given to her by Serena Joy, proving that to truly manipulate someone, you have to be truly kind and hide your inner motivations. Offred's kindness to her only friend Diglen is originally performed to secure her social status among the other Handmaids, but Offred quickly learns that to gain information from her partner, she must act upon it. Ofglen reveals herself as a true source of rebellion, and if Offred wants to share this rebellion, she must show her will. Offred does this by politely greeting Diglen with the forbidden greeting "Hello" and mocking Gilead enthusiasts with "I thought you were a true believer." By acting in this "old-fashioned" way and voicing their opinion, both Offred and Ofglen secure their friendship and declare their superficial commitment to each other. Although Offred only joins to gain information about the underground resistance, it is this behavior that does not associate Offred with anyone. He shows kindness towards Diglen only to manipulate her, conveying to the reader that although Offred does not identify with the traditional Gilead regime, she does not identify with the resistance movement either. Here it is shown that although Offred possesses the traits of rebellion and kindness, she only does so to ensure the survival of only herself. Toward her supreme master, the Commander, Offred is gentle and nearly invisible, thus ensuring her destiny as a Handmaid. Offred remembers the story.