Answer
Commander Fred Waterford is a high-ranking official in the Republic of Gilead, the totalitarian society depicted in "The Handmaid's Tale." As the Commander of the Waterford household, he exercises power and control over the lives of the women in his household, particularly his Handmaid, Offred. Waterford plays a pivotal role in the oppression of women and the enforcement of the strict religious and social rules of Gilead.