Explanation:
Offred, the central character in dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” chooses not to reveal her real name when recording her story as a means of self-preservation and protection. In the totalitarian society of Gilead, where she lives, women are stripped of their autonomy, reduced to their assigned roles, and deprived of individuality. By concealing her true identity, Offred shields herself from potential retribution, as disclosing her name would expose her to the oppressive regime’s control and punishment. Additionally, withholding her name symbolizes the loss of personal identity and the dehumanization imposed upon her and other women in Gilead, emphasizing the novel’s themes of identity, powerlessness, and resistance.