Moira’s purpose in the handmaid’s tale Silas & Molly

Key points Moira represents strength and a feeling of hope for both Offred and the reader. This is done through her consistent, determined rebellion against the totalitarian system of Gilead, and her indestructible friendship with Offred. She prevents the reader from being sucked into the idea that the Republic of Gilead is normal by being self-deprecating, amusing, outrageous, and a lesbian separatist. In a society which punishes her for being herself, she still in no way does she fit into the passive and docile role that is expected of a woman. Her multiple escape attempts presents Moira as resourceful and clever. She disassembles a toilet, using mechanical skills, which is rebellious in the sense that this would have been seen as a traditionally masculine role. She also steals a uniform – yet another act of defiance to a society in which even the clothing demonstrates a lack of identity. Her eventual repression and disappearances reinforces that one person, no matter how strong a symbol of hope and rebellion they are, cannot overcome the crushing regime of Gilead.

Key quotes “ankle on knee, in her purple overalls, one dangly earring, the gold fingernail she wore to be eccentric.” (chapter 7) -Everything about Moira seems to suggest a non- conformist. Even the clothes she wore in the time before are rebellious and Offred seems to admire her. “Moira had power now, she’d been set loose, she’d set herself loose. She was now a loose woman.  I think we found this frightening. ” (chapter 22) -This shows how successfully and efficiently the Center has brainwashed these women and taught them to trust and believe in this new higher power. Also, Moira was once seen as a motivation and a symbol of hope within the handmaids but now they are starting to retract their trust and stop believing in freedom and rights.

Key quotes “Moira was like an elevator with open sides. She made us dizzy.” (chapter 22) -Remembering Moira's story gave Offred hope and made her life a bit more bearable and that feeling left the instant she'd found out Moira hadn't really escaped and was working at Jezebel's. Even Moira had been beaten. “Moira laughed; she could always do that.” (chapter 31) -Moira's laughter becomes a potent weapon against oppression, one that Offred learns to value. It also symbolises the little hope left within the handmaids and how unity is being lost.

Critical viewpoint Queer Theory: In the Gileadean Republic, homosexuality – also known as “gender treachery” – was deemed abnormal. It was punishable by death, even if the accused was fertile. The novel, through Offred’s narration, attempts to normalise Moira’s sexuality, but at the time it was written homosexuality was still deeply feared and criticised, especially due to the AIDs epidemic. Feminists such as Betty Friedan discouraged lesbianism and stated that it wasn’t a significant issue for women. She also said “the whole idea of homosexuality made me profoundly uneasy”. Despite this, the readers are encouraged to admire and celebrate Moira, in spite of, or even because of her sexual inhibition. It is seem as part of her heroism and defiance – and perhaps why Atwood made her homosexual.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH – What effect does Moira’s defeat have on Offred? Throughout the novel, Moira is a symbol of hope and resilience for the handmaids due to her bravery and rebellion. “Moira was like an elevator with open sides. She made us dizzy.”. In this chapter Offred is driving back from the birth, remembering Moira’s escape from the Red Centre and how no one has seen Moira since then. This simile shows how remembering Moira's story gave Offred hope and made her life a bit more bearable. The fact that it is written in the past tense shows that the feeling of strength left the instant she'd found out Moira hadn't really escaped and was working at Jezebel's. Even Moira had been beaten, meaning hope was lost within the handmaids.