The Handmaid's Tale Journal 1: Topic B

Moira struggles with the new Gilead society. While in the Rachel and Leah Center, Moira resists by ignoring the lessons she is taught and arranging times to talk with Offered in the bathroom.. She does not believe the ideology the Aunts teach her, that women are more protected now and are meant to produce children. Moira shows contempt for the Aunts, calling them "old bitch[es]" (Atwood 89). She also shows disgust for the Center, as she describes it as "a loony bin" (Atwood 71). Her greatest means of resistance is when she tries to escape the Center by pretending to to be sick and bribing the Angels in the ambulance to let her go. Moira's resistance is not successful as the Angels do not accept her bribe and she is caught and sent back to the Rachel and Leah Center. As punishment for trying to escape, Moira's feet are beaten with steel cables, and she cannot walk for weeks. Offred describes Moira's feet as looking like lungs and the other Handmaidens have to carry Moira to classes. This punishment is done because the use of one's feet is not necessary to be a Handmaiden. The consequences of Moira's attempted escape slows her down but does not crush her resistance, as she escapes from the Center successfully. On her second attempt, Moira forces Aunt Elizabeth to give her clothes and pass to her. This attempt is successful and Moira leaves the Rachel and Leah Center. Offred has not heard Moira since her escape until she meets her at Jezebel's, where she finds that Moira does not resist the society anymore as a result of being caught and tortured.