Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
Posted: 09 May 2012, 11:54
I apologize if there is already a thread on this book.; post contains spoilers
One must always remember context when reading a book, and The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, is certainly no exception. In today times Moll Flanders would be selfish, manipulative and with more luck then one should be allowed. However put Moll Flanders in 18th Century England, (when the book was written); and you could see a different person. It is remarkable how she rose above her station at birth. She is a bit conniving, resourceful and determined, and fear drives her more than anything, throughout the novel you can see Moll’s dueling nature – a repenting women admonishing herself for her behavior and a ruthless pursuer of ill-gotten wealth for her own security.
I will admit the book was hard for me to get through at first. The language was a bit distracting, repetitive bursts, staccato and over-punctuated, it was hard for me to understand events and I had to read certain passages a couple time to grasp what was happening.
Moll Flanders was very naive at first in her childhood and when living with the family with the two brothers. I do believe the heartache she received there did help harden her to what lay ahead of her life. Although many would scoff and her being ill and taken to bed over a man, I can not imagine a more heartbroken person then young girl,
The continued saga of this heroine her high misdemeanors and delinquencies, her many careers as a prostitute, a charming and faithful wife, a thief, endures as one of the most candid records of a woman's progress through the hypocritical labyrinth of society ever recorded
In comes to end when Flanders finds herself in Newgate prison, she finally repents under guidance of a minister. She is reunited with her favorite husband, and both set off for America to finally prosperous life that she so desired.
I must say I am a little confused as to what message Defoe was putting across this book, I understand that is probably a political and social satire, also one could say the description of her life as thief and the fate of those around her could serve as warning of those who would venture that way, or the entire book could drive home the point that circumstances is what makes us who and what we are.
One must always remember context when reading a book, and The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, is certainly no exception. In today times Moll Flanders would be selfish, manipulative and with more luck then one should be allowed. However put Moll Flanders in 18th Century England, (when the book was written); and you could see a different person. It is remarkable how she rose above her station at birth. She is a bit conniving, resourceful and determined, and fear drives her more than anything, throughout the novel you can see Moll’s dueling nature – a repenting women admonishing herself for her behavior and a ruthless pursuer of ill-gotten wealth for her own security.
I will admit the book was hard for me to get through at first. The language was a bit distracting, repetitive bursts, staccato and over-punctuated, it was hard for me to understand events and I had to read certain passages a couple time to grasp what was happening.
Moll Flanders was very naive at first in her childhood and when living with the family with the two brothers. I do believe the heartache she received there did help harden her to what lay ahead of her life. Although many would scoff and her being ill and taken to bed over a man, I can not imagine a more heartbroken person then young girl,
The continued saga of this heroine her high misdemeanors and delinquencies, her many careers as a prostitute, a charming and faithful wife, a thief, endures as one of the most candid records of a woman's progress through the hypocritical labyrinth of society ever recorded
In comes to end when Flanders finds herself in Newgate prison, she finally repents under guidance of a minister. She is reunited with her favorite husband, and both set off for America to finally prosperous life that she so desired.
I must say I am a little confused as to what message Defoe was putting across this book, I understand that is probably a political and social satire, also one could say the description of her life as thief and the fate of those around her could serve as warning of those who would venture that way, or the entire book could drive home the point that circumstances is what makes us who and what we are.