The Handmaid's Tale

These continuous flashbacks gives a representation of Offred’s life before becoming a Handmaid. So far several people appear in her flashbacks and each representing some human need. Moira represents the need for friendship, Offred’s mother for family, her daughter for giving love or need for children, Luke the need for romantic love. Atwood uses the flashback as a device where Offred uses to deal with her current life.