Secondary Characters in The Handmaid's Tale
Moira
Moira represents the spirit of rebellion and resistance that Offred both admires and fears. As Offred's best friend from the time before Gilead, she serves as a powerful contrast to what Offred has become.
ExampleMoira's escape attempts from the Red Center showcase her defiance:
"She got out of bed, went to the washroom, stood close beside Aunt Elizabeth, and then jabbed her with the sharp end of the lever, hard, in the ribs."
Key characteristics:
- Openly lesbian and feminist activist
- Refuses to conform to Gilead's rules
- Eventually breaks down at Jezebel's, showing the regime's crushing power
- Serves as both inspiration and warning for Offred
Nick
Nick occupies an ambiguous position as both potential savior and possible Eye (secret police). His relationship with Offred represents:
- Hope for genuine human connection
- Danger of trust in Gilead
- Possible route to resistance or betrayal
The ambiguity of Nick's true allegiance mirrors the broader uncertainty that pervades life in Gilead.
Serena Joy
The Commander's Wife embodies the contradictions within Gilead's female hierarchy:
- Former televangelist who advocated for traditional values
- Now trapped by the very system she helped create
- Complex relationship with Offred, mixing cruelty and desperate need
Her bitterness is evident in moments like:
"She wanted me to feel that I could not come into the house unless she said so. There was power in that, she needed to display it."
Aunt Lydia
Represents the internalized oppression and enforcement of Gilead's ideology:
