In difficult circumstances, people try to hold on to a thought or memory of a person or idea that gives them lasting hope. This inspiration makes the desperate party believe that their situation will improve. In the novel The Handmaid's Tale written by Margaret Atwood, the protagonist Offred faces internal and external conflicts constantly living in the totalitarian society of Gilead. The narrator recalls the story of her strong and rebellious friend Moira; which gives him hope and makes his life a little more bearable. Moira's roles in the novel are to provide Offred with memories of their past to make her life as a Handmaid more bearable, becoming the voice of reason and logic in the story, becoming a role model for the other Handmaids through her determination and rebellion. in addition to being the woman's sign of hope and contrasting her characteristics with Offred's way of acting in the society of Gilead. Moira represents courage and hope for the narrator, qualities she possesses that most other women have lost or been brainwashed into forgetting. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Offred's memory of Moira is the only thing that keeps her sane while she is a servant in Gilead. For Offred, Moira is a constant reminder of pre-Gilead Boston. Lying in bed, Offred remembers her time at university with Moira and how they took basic things for granted. “Let’s go have a beer.” I had an assignment due the next day. What was it? Psychology, English, economics. We studied things like that, then.” Recounting this conversation with Moira shows the restrictions placed on women in Gilead; they are prohibited from consuming alcohol or cigarettes and it is illegal for women to read or write. The basic need for education is suppressed to restrict women's ability to communicate with each other and limit the risk of rebellion. This allows Gilead to have complete control over the lives of all women. Offred thinks of a time when Moira talked about having a "whore party" saying, "Once they start getting age spots, they think they have to beat the competition." Pornmarts and everything else” (Atwood 50). This flashback relates to the clothing/lingerie worn in ancient society and how this type of attire is forbidden in Gilead. Women now only wear conservative long dresses and different colored bonnets depending on their rank. Porn and makeup are also illegal in Gilead. Offred explains that this type of conversation was once normal in the society they once lived in. In this same chapter, Offred sees the commander outside her window, towards whom she feels hatred. She considers spitting or throwing the Faith cushion out the window in hopes of hitting him. The narrator remembers a time when she and Moira used "paper bags filled with water." Water bombs (…) I would lean out of my dorm window and drop them on the heads of the boys downstairs” (Atwood 58). Offred uses this comedic memory with Moira to make her suppress her harsh feelings towards the Commander. Before Gilead, this prank was a lot of fun and no one was punished. The narrator does not dare to throw anything at the commander, claiming that dishonoring a man in power would result in serious punishment. Offred often thinks back to these good memories with her dearest friend Moira to keep her afloat in the unbearable society of Gilead. Moira is the voice of reason in the novelwhich tries to get women to make decisions using the logic and evidence that Gilead tries to take from them. The narrator thinks that her friend will not approve of her secret relationship and nightly visits with the commander. As in the past when refuting an affair with Luke, “she said I was rationalizing. I said I was in love. She said that was no excuse. Moira was always more logical than me” (Atwood 171). Moira gives Offred a straight, unbiased answer about her affair with her now-husband Luke, and tells Offred that she knows it is not morally correct. The narrator knows that his close friend Moira will not agree with his dangerous relationship with the Commander because it is also unethical. In a flashback to the Red Center, Offred remembers the time when Janine was no longer there and Moira slapped her, saying, "Get out of it, Janine." They won't try to cure you. They won't even bother sending you to the colonies. You go too far and they take you to the chemistry lab and shoot you. Then they burn you with garbage, like a non-woman.” In this memory Offred describes, Moira trying to talk some sense into Janine while the other women watch idly. Moira tries to explain to Janine that it is important to act normal around the aunts if she wants to survive and not end up in a short, sad death. Offred craves love when he holds Nick's gaze while outside in the dark. Realizing that she cannot replace Luke with Nick, Offred remembers when Moira once said, "You can't stop how you feel, but you can influence how you behave" (Atwood 192). Offred uses Moira's logical advice at the time to ensure that she does not act on her feelings for Nick due to the fact that this act is illegal and Offred does not trust Nick yet, wondering if he is an eye for the government. Moira tries to protect her friends and the women she is close to by thinking rationally about how they should act in this totalitarian society. Moira is a role model for Handmaids especially Offred. Her rebellion instills determination and hope in the women around her. Moira's apparent escape from Gilead gives the other Handmaids the ambition to want to rebel as well. “Nevertheless, Moira was our fantasy. We held her close to us, she was with us in secret, a laugh; she was lava beneath the crust of daily life. In Moira's light, the aunts were less scary and more absurd. Their power had flaws.” This lava metaphor suggests that a rebel movement in Gilead is just beneath the surface, making Gilead's society seem fragile. Unlike the other Handmaids, Moira does not give in to brainwashing and is never willing to concede her freedom. “Moira was like an elevator with open sides. It makes us dizzy. We were already losing the taste for freedom, we were already finding the walls secure. In the upper layers of the atmosphere you would disintegrate, you would vaporize, there would be no pressure holding you together” (Atwood 133). The narrator means that Moira has a dangerous/rebellious side. Elevators give us freedom of movement, so we can say that Moira is the initiator of freedom in the novel. She is a free spirit because no matter the consequences, she will do whatever it takes to make herself happy. When she finds Moira in Jezebels, she is no longer rebellious and determined to escape, she now complies with the rules instilled in her after her second failed attempt so close to the border. “She scares me now, because this.