Examine the Significance of the Relationship between Offred and Moira, for the Handmaids Tale as a whole

Sarah Cowie Examine the Significance of the Relationship between Offred and Moira, for the Handmaids Tale as a whole Moira and Offred; one a non conformist rebel and a confessed bisexual, the other a hardworking dreamer who sees the values in family life. They are two very different people, yet have been the best of friends from as far back as their college days, pre Gilead, "Moira breezing into my room, dropping her denim jacket on the floor. Got any cigs, she said." Theirs is a long-term friendship, one that lasts the course of time. Within the friendship between Offred and Moira it is obvious to see that Moira is the leader, she is a role model for Offred throughout her whole life. Outwardly she is much more of a heroine than Offred, she is very domineering and outgoing, openly campaigning for gay rights, "You're crazy. Where'd you get an idea like that?" Moira's ideas and schemes may seem 'crazy' to her, yet it is these things that really inspire Offred. Her confidence is something that Offred really admires. It is in this way that Moira is a mentor to Offred, not consciously but in the way that Offred thinks of her. Whenever times in Offred's life get tough, she seeks comfort from the thought of Moira and guidance by her example. Moira's confidence and rebellion are evident throughout her whole life, both in small ways in college, and then later in much larger

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The Handmaids Tale

The Handmaids Tale The Handmaid's Tale is a unique story about the oppression felt by the women of a society that has changed dramatically from that which we know today. The novel was written in 1985 and is set in 2000-2005 it tell the story of a society which revolves around women being the sacred vessels for life; ironically in this society women have no rights, or freedoms. Only those who are on the upper scale, (the wives) have power, even so the husbands or commanders control them for the most part. This novel was written by Margaret Atwood and is very futuristic for its time, it symbolizes how many women all over the world and particularly in the Middle East were and still are subjected to oppression. By analyzing the novel one can begin to see the different topics which it is meant to symbolize and what effect the presentation and format these topics are discussed in have on the reader and the novels over all effect. Although there are many characters in the novel only the real personalities of a selected few are revealed. Offerd is the main protagonist and the narrator of the novel, she is a younger woman who has lived through a great deal of change and chaos. Offred survives to make several tapes of her life's journey that serve as the story line for the novel. Offred does not seem to a particularly strong character, however she does endure a lot. She takes what

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'Discuss The Variety Of Narrative Techniques Used In The Handmaid's Tale'

Sanjay Chopra Friday, 23 November 2002 'Discuss The Variety Of Narrative Techniques Used In The Handmaid's Tale' The Handmaid's Tale belongs to a science fiction genre of dystopian fiction. There is a combination of genres used here, for this is also a woman's fictive autobiography and a novel of feminist resistance, which includes a critical history of North Americans 'second wave' feminism and a love story. The epigraph in this novel helps us to appreciate the issues, which we face as we are given the impression by reading the epigraph of it being a satire and we gather the new cruel environment which is created as Offred we see Offred is only allowed 'one function: to breed.' There are numerous dissimilar types of narrative techniques, which are exemplified in the dystopian novel as we distinguish that Offred is a self-conscious, discontinuous narrator. Throughout the novel Offred seems to revert to her flashbacks, which take us as a reader back to the past from present. We can perceive that the purpose of these narrative techniques is to connect the reader, as we want become puzzled and want to read on. We encounter many dissimilar ways in which Offred changes her narrative techniques, as this is what makes the story complex, but engages us. We approach Offred's narrative through Atwood's own comments as a writer, 'I'm an artist...and in any monolithic

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Analyse the relationships between the characters in the Handmaids Tale.

Analyse the relationships between the characters in the Handmaids Tale. In this essay I will be looking at how the relationships are presented between Offred and some of the other characters. The main relationship that progresses in the Novel is the relationship between Offred and the commander. The Commander originally seems to be the one in power and this is true Offred tells us how weary she is in this quote "I'm watching you, one false move and I'm dead," in this quote Offred knows that she is been judged and that she must be seen to be perfect. "I'm watching you," shows that Offred is wary and "one false move and I'm dead," shows Offred knows she's in a venerable position and her future lies in someone else's hands. Before the Commander and Offred's first meeting we see this apprehension again, "I feel like a child who's been summoned at school... what have I done wrong." This quote shows how Offred feels before her first meeting with the Commander. The image of her standing outside the principles office gives me that impression that Offred feels nervous because she knows that the power isn't with her, the Commander is in control he can decide her fait which is why she feels nervous. We see how not all the power in this relationship is with the commander. He might have the social power and be able to decide the fate of Offred but still Offred has something the

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'Don't ever ask for the true story' - an examination of the narrative methods used in "Alias Grace" and "Affinity."

Abigail Rawlins JSL 'Don't ever ask for the true story' - an examination of the narrative methods used in Alias Grace and Affinity. Both Alias Grace, a fictionalised account of a true story and Affinity, a modern novel, display contrasting and comparable features within the narrative structure. They are also both similarly set within the depths of a woman's prison providing an insight into a particular female prisoner. Margaret Atwood has been thorough in her research for Alias Grace and has brought to life a fascinating story. The narrative methods and structure play a vital role in how we perceive each character and whether or not we consider the narrator to be a stable, trustworthy storyteller, or whether, as a reader we are being manipulated and starved of the truth. The central figure in Alias Grace is a young girl called Grace Marks. She is one of the most "celebrated" women of her generation, having been convicted of murder in 1843 at the tender age of sixteen. Dr Jordan, a young Doctor intrigued by insanity and memory loss takes up Grace's case in an attempt to help recover her memory. (compare dr jorden with margeret here). Inspired by a true story, Alias Grace arouses many uncertainties within the finished piece. Interspersed with Dr Jordan's own problems, Grace's story unfolds in her own words. She is brought to life, provided with first person narration,

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How does Atwood explore the theme of love in the novel 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

Mandip Dhillon 2N How does Atwood explore the theme of love in the novel? The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood describes the story of Offred, a Handmaid, a woman ascribed a breeding function by the society in which she lives in, and who is placed with a husband and wife higher up the social ladder that "need" a child. Through Offred's eyes we explore the rigidity of the theocracy in which she lives, the contradictions in the society they have created, and her attempts to find solace through otherwise trivial things. In this essay I will talk and explore the issue of how "love" is portrayed throughout the 'Handmaid's Tale.' The people and the situations, where love is required and abused, such as in the 'ceremony!' The immediate form of love in the novel is the love between 'Offred' and her best friend 'Moira.' This love is portrayed to the readers through the eyes of 'friendship' shared between two people through times of childhood, right through to the times of hardship, such as in the society of Gilead. Moira has been Offred's friend right from high school, when she would come around her house, 'dropping her denim jacket onto the floor...' Right through to the times where Offred was having an affair, with Luke, her present husband. Moira's love for Offred seems to come across as her guide and advisor, she is the one individual described by Offred as being a

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Howis memory used in the novel? Atwood

How is memory used in the novel? (Timed essay typed up) We learn much about Offred through her own personal private thought. Atwood uses a technique of writing known as stream of conscientious which allows Offred`s thoughts to flow providing the reader with a real sense of intimacy with Offred as she reveals her innermost secrets and emotions to us. In Offred`s thoughts and dreams she is taken back to memories of when she had freedom to do as she desired, when she was in college with Moira, and times with Luke and her daughter Offred does most of her contemplating, she says 'The night is mine.' She is not withdrawn or examined at night. She frequently reminisces about the past, paralleling the experiences to her present state of mind. This is part of the exposition used by Atwood in order to help the reader understand how Offred came to where she is to provide us with background information of the plot. Offred's person is in addition revealed in flashback demonstrating that her female counterparts from the past generally influence her such as her mother and her best friend. Her best friend is a lively and bubbly character named Moira who is a key figure in Offred's character development in the novel. Offred says of her, 'Moira was our fantasy. We hugged her to us, she was with us in secret, a giggle; she was lava beneath the crust of daily life. In light of Moira, Aunts

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The creation of Offred, the passive narrator of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, was intentional.

The creation of Offred, the passive narrator of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, was intentional. The personality of the narrator in this novel is almost as important as the task bestowed upon her. Atwood chooses an average women, appreciative of past times, who lacks imagination and fervor, to contrast the typical feminist, represented in this novel by her mother and her best friend, Moira. Atwood is writing for a specific audience, though through careful examination, it can be determined that the intended audience is actually the mass population. Although particular groups may find The Handmaid's Tale more enjoyable than others, the purpose of the novel is to enlighten the general population, as opposed to being a source of entertainment. A specific group that may favor this novel is the women activists of the 1960's and 1970's. This group, in which Offred's mother would be a member, is sensitive to the censorship that women once faced and would show interest to the "possible future" that could result. Offred is symbolic of "every woman". She was conventional in prior times, married with one daughter, a husband and a career. She is ambivalent to many things that may seem horrific to the reader. On page 93, Offred is witness to Janine's confession of being raped. She doesn't comment on how the blame is placed on Janine. Is this because Offred

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'There is more than one kind of freedom,' said Aunt Lydia. 'Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.' Examine the qualities of life for women in the light of Aunt Lydia's statement.

Rachel Crick 15th October 2003 'There is more than one kind of freedom,' said Aunt Lydia. 'Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.' Examine the qualities of life for women in the light of Aunt Lydia's statement. Illustrate methods used to protect women. In chapter five, Offred reminisces about her past, about the time before she was thrown into this dystopia, Gilead. She remembers her previous life and all the things that she took for granted and now wishes she could be reunited with. When out shopping, Offred recounts the changes that have been made to the town where, it seems, she has lived all her life. Often Offred's memories are started by smells, or by sights that are familiar to her. It is through these memories that the reader discovers what has happened over the past few years, and how society has changed. Offred starts in Chapter One by using the past tense to refer to her situation and for what the gymnasium represented in the past. The past for Offred is now gone, and probably will be forgotten or changed by future generations in time. We learn about Offred's background as she recounts her past and she tells us about the situation she now finds herself in. We know that Offred is educated; she studied Psychology, English and Economics to a high level, maybe studying these

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The narrator says of her tale 'I'm sorry its in fragments like a body caught in crossfire and pulled apart by force' how appropriate description of the structure of the novel do you consider this to be?

The narrator says of her tale 'I'm sorry its in fragments like a body caught in crossfire and pulled apart by force' how appropriate description of the structure of the novel do you consider this to be? The handmaids tale as a novel is fragmented and disjointed this gives an effect to show the character has been traumatised and is delirious. The handmaid's tale is very disjointed and it is written in the present tense although it is always referring to the past. The first chapter of the book start6s in 'training time' which is in the characters past, the first chapter is really intriguing and makes the reader want to read further. We don't no the first chapter is in the narrators past until the reader comes to the second chapter, when the surroundings are totally different and the narrator is describing the place she lives in. the novel, for the first few chapter or sections has no background information of who the narrator is, what has happened in her past, or why their being treated like a prisoner. The writer uses the narrator to tell the story bit by bit not all at once. Throughout the novel she refers back to the past to give the reader information on what has happened in her world, to e like this its not until chapter 28 that offred the narrator reveals what actually happened to Gileads, the place she lives ad lived and how it all happened. The are no speech marks when

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