Who Is The Protagonist In The Handmaid's Tale

Women in Lit.
Take-home essay: The Handmaid’s Tale – Question 1 A rebel is defined as a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler. In Margaret Atwood’s book, The Handmaid’s Tale, I characterized Moira to be a rebel. She showed much resistance against Gilead and wanting to be treated like the old ways, before the city was taken over. She also shared many of the same qualities as Offred’s mother, Janine, and Aunt Lydia. Offred’s mother was a hardcore feminist and a protestor. She rallied in “Take back the night” with a group of other women, dressed in the same fashion; holding a stick, a part of a banner (Atwood 119). She was similar to Moira because they both were very strong willed
Offred’s mother stated that, “… I’m twenty-two, I could run rings around you any day. I could have triplets and walk out of here while you were still trying to get up off the bed” (Atwood 120). Moira, although didn’t directly say it but was of her language, had a similar quote. “I could kill you, you know, said Moira… I could injure you badly so you would never feel good in your body again. I could zap you with this, or stick this into your eye. Just remember I didn’t, if it ever comes to that” (Atwood
Janine was so hopeful when she got pregnant and was out shopping: “She’s come here to display herself. She’s glowing, rosy, she’s enjoying every minute of this” (Atwood 26). Later in the story, when her baby did not make it, she made a huge turn around when the narrator saw her passing by during the salvaging: “But she’s let go, totally now, she’s in free fall, she’s in withdrawal” (Atwood 281). Moira, on the other hand, was determined to find an outlet after escaping but had given up when arriving to Jezebel. The narrator stated that, “She is frightening me now, because what I hear in her voice is indifference, a lack of volition. Have they really done it to her then, taken away something that used to be so central to her?” (Atwood 249). Aunt Lydia and Moira are similar in that they are the ones with the ideas; almost like the masterminds. Aunt Lydia appears to have the voice of rules and regulations. The narrator constantly remembers hearing her voice project this new lifestyle in Gilead and what should and should not be done: “Think of it as being in the army said Aunt Lydia” (Atwood 7) “Aunt Lydia said it was best not to speak unless they asked you a direct question” (Atwood 14), “Consider the alternatives, said Aunt Lydia. You see what things used to be like? That was what they thought of women, then” (Atwood