Handmaid Character Analysis - 1475 Words

Throughout most of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Moira is a character who refuses to be beaten down and conform to the new society that Gilead had created. She is one of only characters that is referred to by her real name, and this is because Moira never really becomes a Handmaid like the others. In lieu of the passivity that the other Handmaid’s come to have, she fights back against the new system. Her resistance can be seen not only in her attitude while she is a Handmaid, but in her two attempts at escape as well. Moira’s refusal to conform to the society that the Republic of Gilead created represents the rebellious spirit of humanity, as well as how an oppressive society such as Gilead can break even the strongest of†¦show more content†¦This didn’t change even after stricter rules were in place, as when Moira was first brought to the gymnasium she wore a blue sweatshirt along with jeans, along with sporting a short haircu t (71). Once the Republic of Gilead was formed, the pressure to conform to society’s new rules was harshly enforced. However, this didn’t stop Moira from continuing to rebel in whatever ways that she was able. She was the polar opposite of what the majority of the Handmaids were like, as all of the other Handmaids that have been introduced were seen to be very reserved and many had even accepted their new role in life. These characteristics were the exact opposite of Moira’s, with her attempting to escape two times during her stint as a Handmaid. After Moira was caught during her first attempt at escape, she was tortured severely. This was done by using steel cables on both the feet and the hands, since these were seen as non-essential parts of a Handmaid (91). Although she was caught quickly in her first attempt at escape, the beatings that she endured only fueled her desire to find a way out of this oppressive society even more. Along with her attempts at escape , she fought against Gilead in a more subtle way, by showing true solidarity among her fellow Handmaids. Although the Republic of Gilead was supposed to be about fostering this solidarity among women, in reality it made all of the women suspicious of each otherShow MoreRelatedThe Handmaid s Tale, By Margaret Atwood1629 Words   |  7 Pages Atwood s novel, The Handmaid s Tale depicts a not too futuristic society of Gilead, a society that overthrows the U.S. Government and institutes a totalitarian regime that seems to persecute women specifically. Told from the main character s point of view, Offred, explains the Gilead regime and its patriarchal views on some women, known as the handmaids, to a purely procreational function. 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Similar, the language Gilead uses in the text is a technique of rhetoric to justify and persuade characters into following along with its oppressive ideologies. Atwood also uses language to highlight the oppression of women while exploring the consequences it has on their identity. In the society of Gilead, women are defined only by their gender roles, such as wife or handmaid. The women of Gilead are stripped of their individuality when forced to be renamed and divided into functions