Moira : The HandMaid's Tale
"Consider the Importance and Presentation of Moira in the Novel"Moira is important to "The Handmaids Tale", representing the more rebellious nature of humanity, she refuses to accept her fate as a handmaid, contrasting starkly with the other women in the novel who behave in a much more passive manner. Moira represents an alternative to the meek subservience and acceptance of one's fate that most of the Handmaids adopt.Moira is always known by her real name because she never actually becomes a Handmaid. She is a strong individual, which is a personality trait, which can be viewed in two ways, depending on whether we look through the eyes of Offred or through the eyes of a Gilead authority figure. From Offred's point of view Moira is the embodiment of female heroism. Though the eyes of a supporter of Gilead, Moira is a 'loose woman', a criminal element, and a danger to the other, more obedient women. Throughout the novel, Moira's relationship with Offred epitomises female friendship. Gilead claims to promote solidarity between women, but in fact it only produces suspicion, hostility, and tyranny. The kind of relationship that Moira and Offred maintain from their college years can not be maintained in Gilea
But as far as I know that didn't happen. Moira is one of the spirited feminist heroines, like Offred's mother and Offred's predecessor in the Commander's house who left the message scrawled in the closet. Behind the comedy, however, is the fact that Moira has not managed to escape after all, and as an unregenerate has been consigned to the brothel. The sad fact is these women do get sent off to the Colonies or commit suicide, which Offred herself refuses to do. Again, Moira manages to express her dissidence in the brothel, for she remains a declared lesbian, something which Gilead society certainly does not approve of, encouraging only male-female sexual interactions. Even in what could be described as a desperate situation by most people, working as a prostitute, Moira still looks on the bright side, telling Offred of face cream, drink and drugs, 'luxuries' she can obtain through her position, but which would be impossible for Offred to obtain in Gilead society. Moira continues to emerge in Offred's memory throughout the novel, until her devastatingly final appearance at Jezebel's working as a prostitute in a club for the Commanders. Their voices survive as images of hope and defiance in history. I don't know how she ended, or even if she did because I never saw her again' (Chapter 38). Their stories highlight the actions of two individual women whose very different private assertions become exemplary or symbolic. We hugged her to us, she was with us in secret, a giggle; she was lava beneath the crust of daily life. She removes her own clothes and wears those of an Aunt. We hear Offred end this memory with the words 'I'd like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her. Although most women would be disgusted at the thought of being a prostitute, Moira seems to have accepted this as her fate and even talks about it with an air of sarcasm and indifference, still showing her cheeky rebellious side at the worst of times.
Common topics in this essay:
Gilead Moira,
Handmaids Tale,
Offred Moira,
Moira Aunts,
Red Centre,
Moira Offred,
gilead moira,
gilead society,
prostitute moira,
throughout novel,
rebellious nature,
feminist heroines,
sent colonies,
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Acceptance Essays
