quotes?

so, it kind of annoyed me that margaret atwood did not use quotes. i found it a little hard to read and understand because i was not sure if she was speaking to the person or thinking it. it dawned on me though, that she did this because maybe she wanted to show that offred was actually thinking of what she was trying to say. sometimes people do not actually think before they act or speak, and i think atwood was trying to make it a point of showing that without the quotes, offred is actually thinking of what to say and what not to. i feel as if their language and literacy is very restricted. if they say something out of line, they would get in trouble and be punished. i noticed that the only things in quotes are the words that other people are saying because it is not what she is thinking, but what she is comprehending what is being said to her. i also noticed that the words taht are italicized are the words or phrases that offred is reflecting on and is actually trying to make sense of what this word/phrase means to her. although atwood does not use quotes in most of the dialogues, i find it interesting because she is trying to prove a point that im not so sure about, but im pretty sure that it has to do with the fact that any form of communication is restricted. =)