Scrabble Anyone?

So, in the book we've been reading there has been a lot of mentioning of language and words and this motif has also been brought up in the handouts we've been getting. Insofar, I'm pretty sure that since language and reading is forbidden for women to learn in the current society, Offred uses it in order to connect with the past when she could read and use language without any punishment as well as live equally with men. Originally, I thought it was just herself who thought this but now I have noticed that I wouldn't really know if she was the only one who longed for the past but it isn't as if any of the other characters are able to speak their mind freely anyhow. The Commander in the chapter 23 kind of proved this point, I'm pretty sure that he played Scrabble because by playing it, Offred proves that she knows how to read and use language and seeing that it is now forbidden, the Commander probably finds it rather nostalgic. Although this still does not make the asking her to kiss him any less creepy, just somewhat understandable.