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How Does Offred Change In The Handmaid

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I will evaluate how the character Offred has changed through time. Before she was a handmaiden she was very carefree and did not care for the rules of Gilead. Before Gilead sets its totalitarian rules in place Offred is young and carefree. Though she does not mention her life before becoming a Handmaiden often, when she does it often includes her daughter and her husband Luke. At one point, Offred mentions that she was romantically involved with Luke while he was still married. She also describes being with Moira. Moira is Offred's closest friend, she is very headstrong and outspoken. Offred feels that as long as she has Moira she will be taken care of because of Moira and her strong personality. Eventually, Moira and Offred are taken to the …show more content…

… Nevertheless 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” (Atwood 133). Prior to saying this, Offred explains how word of Moira’s escape spread to everyone. Subsequently, she explains the effect it has on her and her peers. She says that the thought of escaping is so strange, so unbelievable that it makes the women dizzy. This is because many of them were starting to believe that being a handmaiden was the absolute best option for them. Despite all of this, says Offred Moira became a fantasy for many. She became a mythological figure, a beacon of hope. Many grasped onto her story and used it to get through everyday life. After she became a handmaiden she slowly assimilated into the lifestyle of a handmaiden and began to agree with Gilead's laws. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Handmaids are like animals in captivity, controlled by their Commanders and the Commanders' wife. It is the Handmaid's job to provide a child for the barren couple and do certain chores, such as shopping for food. Due to this treatment, many Handmaids start to believe and practice the extreme rules of

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