Final answer:
The two meanings of 'compose' include creating a work of art and maintaining emotional composure. Offred's play on these meanings reflects her creative expression as a composer challenged by gender norms and her composure in navigating societal expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two meanings of the word "compose" that Offred (a character by Margaret Atwood) is playing with in the last paragraph of the text likely refer to the dual sense of creation and composure. To "compose" can mean to create, as in writing or putting together a piece of music, which alludes to the intellectual and creative process of constructing a narrative or artwork.
At the same time, to "compose" oneself can mean to remain or appear calm and in control, which reflects a state of emotional self-regulation that might be integral to the themes of womanhood and systemic inequality discussed in the text.
As a composer in the literal sense, the speaker deals with societal expectations related to gender roles that attempt to pigeonhole her creative works into themes of motherhood and womanhood.
Through her music, she challenges these expectations, which aligns with the second meaning of compose—maintaining composure in the face of societal pressures and expectations. This dual play on the word underscores the complexity of language and the layered nature of a woman's experience and self-expression.