Moira the "Ideal"

From the beginning, it was apparent that Offred admired her college-friend-turned-fellow-Handmaid, Moira. Moira was not only technologically able, she was capable of harnessing these abilities in order to successfully escape the Center, where all Handmaids received their indoctrination- something which involved fervent admissions that rape was invariably the woman's fault. Offred looks upon herself and can only survive with a passive hope. While Moira was able to overcome, Offred fails at times to survive. Also important to note are their differences in decisions. According to Offed, Moira "chose" to be homosexual. Offred herself is heterosexual and furthermore cannot seem to keep from craving physical experiences with  men (both Nick and Luke). While Moira seems to be able to choose, Offred cannot. It is for these reasons that Offred glorifies Moira, recounting how Moira referred to herself often as "larger than life and twice as ugly." At the end, however, Offred becomes disillusioned with this glorified standard which is in contrast to the "honey" that is a Handmaid.. Moira is revealed to not be totally free, as some Handmaids had thought. She is working as a disheveled prostitute, in a club that on record did not exist, and reveling in what she called "Jezabel's." Finding in Moira complacency, Offred realizes that Moira's days are numbered. Offred, on the other hand, plans to survive. It is in this way that Offred grows as a person, no longer the "overgrown schoolgirl."