The risks and rewards of female solidarity in GileadIn Gilead, women face division from one another in all aspects of their lives and experience more separation within their restricted groups: guardians, wives, servants, all groups in which they can form cliques to reinforce their isolation. Atwood highlights the importance of female solidarity within The Handmaid's Tale by exploring the relationships they have. Friendships are a dangerous but necessary gamble, especially for Offred, who struggles to balance her submissive facade and her thoughts of hope, her past and her rebellion. Ultimately, the incredibly important relationships Offred forms with other women, particularly Moira, Ofglen, and Serena Joy, define her evolution and how she perceives and interacts in the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Moira was one of Offred's most powerful influences in her early experiences as a Handmaid. With the other women, they dared to communicate in secret, and Moira's resilience and resourcefulness inspired her. Instead of quickly succumbing to Gilead's indoctrination, she helped Offred and others quietly resist, becoming "[their] fantasy...In Moira's light, the aunts were less frightening and more absurd" (Atwood 133 ), thus undermining the power of their oppressors, at least in the minds of the Handmaids. Even his eventual disappearance had meaning for them. If it was an escape, it offered hope like the one who fled; and if she died, she would be a martyr. When Offred discovered her true destiny, it was very devastating because her “idol,” in a way, had broken. Yet the lessons her friend had instilled in her had not dissipated - she still refused to be broken in the same way and continued on her dangerous and rebellious path. Additionally, later Ofglen changed the course of Offred's life as Handmaid, especially by integrating her into Mayday and establishing the sense of community in her life. Mayday, along with Ofglen's friendship, turned Offred's hopes for freedom into reality. It also reintroduced the perilous concept of “we” instead of “I,” an opportunity for relief, security and confidence – albeit hard-won. However, their relationship was much more important in Offred's daily life. With no one else to speak truly freely with, they became each other's confidants and sources of information, but most importantly, they trusted each other. At the very end, as Offred is about to be rescued – presumably by Mayday – the importance of their friendship becomes clear. The underground community that Ofglen locked her into saved her, at least for a time, all because she took the risk of accepting the olive branch in the face of a potential threat. Finally, Serena Joy had a rather unique effect on Offred's life. Although their relationship was awkward at best, Serena undoubtedly broke from her expected role to help Offred. Her kindness was in no way necessary, and yet she offered her servant a path of survival that would not really have brought her any benefit. While this doesn't justify Serena's overall complacency with the system in place, or even make her a good person, she was kind to Offred at her own risk. Traditionally, superiors have done nothing to help Offred that would not also benefit them, including the Commander - nevertheless, Serena's act is..