The Role of Moira in 'The Handmaid's Tale'

Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was the United States. This regime treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. In a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced into sexual servitude. One of these women, Moira, is determined to survive and struggle with the terrifying world she lives in. In the story, Moira is a unique character whose courage, determination, strong beliefs and her sharp political consciousness render her play a leading role throughout the whole story. In the story, the handmaids like Moira stand as a symbol of the proletariat that are dominated by the capitalist class to the point of slavery and are deprived the freedom, but Moira is a only person has strong beliefs to change this situation, or in other words, Moira is an extremely brave person who dares to make the class struggle. Thus, from a sociological perspective, Moira can be scrutinized by the theory of Marxism that originates from the works of 19th-century German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and it is a theory that focuses on discussing and analyzing the class structure, struggle and revolution.

Above all, throughout the story, Moira can be interpreted as a symbol of hope to the handmaids, particularly to Offred. The first time in which Moira gives Offred hope that her situation might get better is when they meet again at the Red Center. Offred arrived at the Rachel and Leah Center several weeks earlier than Moira. At that time, Offred felt lonely, helpless and hopeless whereas her disposition changed immediately once her friend Moira arrived. Offred said, “it makes me feel safer, that Moira is here”, which shows that Moira’s arrival truly gives Offred hope and the sense of safety for the living. In addition, the best hope that Moira brings for all handmaids is Moira’s second escape since at this time, Moira successfully escaped from the Red Center so it acts as a strong proof that the other girls also could possibly escape. Even though none of them actually did escape, Moira symbolizes hope to all of the girls at the center because she challenged and broke the bonds that kept handmaids all in slavery. There is a quotation - “In the light of Moira, the Aunts were less fearsome… their power had a flaw to it. This sentence proves that Moira provided Offred with hope and courage to give her a different outlook on her situation. Moreover, After Offred got out of the Red Center, though Moira was not with her in person, in Offred’s mind Moira is still her source of hope for survival. However, as the Commander took Offred to Jezebel’s which is a gentlemen’s club for high up men in the government, Offred met Moira for the last time where Offred did not see a strong, brave and passionate Moira that Offred expected, but she found a woman whose life had ruined and, as mentioned in the book , “taken away something… that used to be so central to her”. Moira is the symbol of hope to Offred, so, seeing Moira has given up for her belief in freedom, Offred suddenly loses her hope and courage for the life of the future. There is an important quotation - “I don’t want her to be like me… I want gallantry”. This line shows that Offred has put Moira in a position of emotional anchor and the spiritual pillar so when she sees her former source of motivation for life ruins, Offred also loses the belief that her situation, her life, her everything will get better and better. Thus, when being in a dilemma, an indispensable thong to keep going is the hope while one loses the hope , they tend to be unable to continue to go ahead, which is similar to this novel. Offred obtained tremendous hope from her former friend Moira, who was always brave to struggle. As time goes on, Moira gradually became the symbol of hope, yet when Moira was defeated by the life and succumbed to the life, Offred’s source of hope was shattered simultaneously.

Besides, Moira has a vital role to be a contrast to Offred in Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. In the first place, the most important contrast between the two is that Moira has a more sensitive political consciousness than Offred. When the Gilead quickly takes control and established its own independent regime, it is Moira that tells Offred everything that happened in this turbulent society. There is also a quotation that can prove this point in the text. “She was not stunned, the way I was. In some strange way she was gleeful, as if this was what she’d been expecting for some time and now she’d been proven right.” This quotation is mentioned when Offred recalls Moira’s reaction on the day at which they heard women could no longer possess property of their own. At that time, almost all women were astonished about it but only Moira seems to have predicted this event. This is because, unlike Offred, Moira took an active part in social activities and was concerned about current events and affairs so she could foresee the future and be not much amazed to the upheaval. While Offred and others simply let the changes happen and felt incredible to that, Moira was energetic to find the opportunity to fight back, which made a striking contrast between Offred and Moira to show Moira’s sensitivity to the politics. An additional example that shows that Offred is apolitical is that at one point in the novel, we are told that Offred's mother was a determined feminist activist, whereas Offred does not feel so motivated by her. Offred is passive and prefers to lead a life that she sees fit. She does not attach too much attention to the deteriorating politics, until she loses her job, could not be able to possess her own private property and even loses the basic freedom. After losing all this, Offred began to reflect and think like Moira. Moreover, there was another contrast between Moira and Offred. “There was a time we didn't hug after she told me she was gay, but then she said I didn't turn her on”. Here, Moira dare to joke about her own sexuality in order to comfort Offred, which shows that Moira is more outspoken and frank. She appears to be a complete contrast to Offred as she is bold and out-going, her language is vulgar and casual. Therefore, it is clear that Moira serves as a strong to Offred in utterance, political thinking and the determination to the freedom.

Apart from these two points, Moira is also a clear role model and a natural leader for the handmaids. She displays exceptional courage and determination through her time at the Red Center. There is one quotation - “You can't let her go slipping over the edge. That stuff is catching.” When Janine shows weakness in the Red Centre, Moira volunteers to take it upon herself to help her and tries to make sure the Aunts don't find her like it, which shows Moira’s kindness, courage and wisdom. Meanwhile, these qualities also deeply impress Offred. At one point, Offred states that “if I were Moira, I'd know how to take it apart.” This line shows Offred's respect for Moira and also shows that in Offred’s mind, Moira has been a person who is clever and has an excellent problem-solving ability; She has successfully established a model image in Offred’s mind so Offred suggests her will to be like her. Another example that shows Moira’s leader's ability is in chapter thirty two.“Moira slapped her across the face, twice, back and forth. Get back here, she said. Get right back here! You can’t stay there, you aren’t there anymore. That’s all gone.” Offred recalls Moira’s interaction with Janine in the Red Center, when Janine seemed to be insane and be in a daze remembering her previous life as a waitress. Seeing this, other handmaids try to patiently take her back to the present, but it is only Moira that literally slaps her back to the reality. Moreover, there is also a quotation that shows Moira’s model image has deeply influenced Offred. “What I hear in her voice is indifference, a lack of volition. Have they really done it to her... that used to be so central to her. And how can I expect her to go on, with my idea of her courage, live it through, act it out, when I myself do not?”. Offred behaves so frightened when Moira describes her satisfaction with her current life at Jezebel’s. She listed benefits such as face cream, alcohol, and drugs, which shows that Moira has completely given up her belief and determination to freedom. It is an immense blow to Offred since Moira has existed in Offred’s mind as the paragon of courage, and defiance, giving Offred hope so not only does Moira’s degeneration show how badly Gilead has eroded her individuality, it also destroys any optimism Offred had about the future. Thus it can be seen that in Offred or other handmaids’ mind Moira has been the paragon and model for them; Moira’s actions and thinking profoundly affect other handmaids’ outlook on life.

In a nutshell, Moira is without doubt an indispensable crucial character in The Handmaid’s Tale since she serves as a symbol of hope to Offred, a strong contrast to Offred and a role model to the whole handmaids. Moira's determination is a contrast to Offred's, and her bravery is something, which all the Handmaids wish they had. Moira's heroine status makes her seem she can help any of them and they perceive her to be successful. Moira has become something that symbolizes what she has fought against mentally and physically throughout her life. From this point, there is a similar instance in the 1970s, in response to the extreme degree of racism and sexism they faced Black women and other women of color began organizing against their oppression, forming a multitude of organizations and they described its vision for Black feminism as opposing all forms of oppression — including sexuality, gender identity, and social class to strive for the equality. Thus, both examples of Moira and those Black feminists in the 1970s show the resistance to oppression, which also reflects the Marxist theory (class struggle). In terms of our real life, we also will encounter and have to head many unequal situations, but Moira’s actions and behaviors teach us that we ought to be brave and active to struggle with the life as well as strive to hold our own fate. Only in this way, can we survive with respect and dignity in the society. Otherwise, once we succumb to the fate as Moira abandons hope in Jezebel's, our dignity will go away at the time. It is also the most important point that Moira this character is eager to express.