Item: Moll Flanders
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28 Haziran 2023 19:36

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THE THEME OF MONEY AND SOCIAL NOBILITY IN MOLL FLANDERS

Moll Flanders tells the biography of a woman born in 18th century England from her own point of view. Born in a prison, a prostitute for twelve years, a thief for twelve years, married five times, her adventures taking her from England to America, Moll Flanders is one of the most interesting heroines in English literature with her controversial view of life and her in-depth portrait. Through Moll Flanders' life and philosophy, Daniel Defoe sharply criticises and debates 18th century England's accepted notions of human relationships, gender discrimination, social structure, morality, sexuality and crime. Since its publication in 1722, Moll Flanders has been the subject of much debate and discussion, both in terms of its subject matter and its narrative style. It is not Moll Flanders who is criticised, but society itself. The book is also significant as one of the first examples of the novel genre. When Defoe wrote Moll Flanders, women had limited freedom and choice. Because men were assumed to be better than women in everyday life, they ruled everything in this society. Upper-class women were expected to marry a socially superior man, keep a home and give birth. Less fortunate women generally had less options, being servants, mistresses, wives or criminals. Being a woman was quite a challenge, especially for lower class women. Moll suffers from poverty, class divisions, materialism, the oppression of women and capitalism as a member of the working class. These problems led her to start stealing and prostituting. The protagonist, Moll, was born in Newgate Prison when her mother was sent there for theft. After her mother was exiled to America, Moll wandered with gypsies for a few years. She was then taken in and cared for by an elderly nurse. Moll had a strong desire to become a noble lady, even though she was only eight years old. Moll realises that her lack of nobility and wealth prevents her from moving up the social ladder. With no husband and no money, she lies in order to achieve the status she desires. Getting out of the class you were born into was a big challenge at the time 18th literature commonly addressed the desire to shift social status and social norms. Money is at the heart of both the book and the protagonist. It takes precedence over status, over affection, over everything else. Moll needs money to get out of the servant's life. And once she is free, she needs money to maintain, let alone enjoy, her independence. Money is the driving force behind all of Moll's decisions, be they good or bad. Women lived through their male companions, and getting married was the only way to be socially included. Moll, on the other hand, has no desire to be a marriage woman or a mom. She keeps getting married and having children, but she never feels emotionally attached or committed to any of them. She constantly desires security and stability in her married life, but she never fulfils her responsibilities as a mom, wife and housewife, which were customary for women at the time. Moll is never seeking to love, but rather to find someone to help her improve her social status. She uses her beauty and her appeal to persuade men to give her their wealth. She demonstrates that her appeal overcomes any man's strength by consistently influencing men. Her strength comes from her beauty and behaviour. Moll represents the new emerging woman of the Victorian era. Daniel Defoe had written Moll Flanders to portray how marriage was evolving in society. Women were beginning to get married for wealth rather than marrying who they either wanted or who their parents chose for them. Moll sees marriage as a system for gaining security and social position. Moll succeeds in capitalizing on her valuable body by acting as a prostitute and getting herself cunningly married. Moll was socially limited by the children she had. Whenever one of her marriages failed or her partner died, she left the kids behind and sold them to move on to greater opportunities. Moll has no option but to become a stealer as she grows older. Moll is caught stealing and sent to Newgate Prison. In prison she meets her former husband, a Lancashire man also in prison for robbery. Moll is given the death penalty after being found guilty of a crime, but she persuades the Minister that she has changed her heart. Moll and her Lancashire husband are transferred to the Colonies, where they will live once the Minister recognises her remorse. She and her husband enjoy their life together in the colonies. She discovers that her mother has left her a plantation while she is there. She also learns that her brother-partner and their son are still alive. She finds out that they are owners of a farm in Maryland with 50 workers. Moll receives her mother's estate from her son after telling him that she is his mother. The estate includes a farm and an annual income of £100. She gives her child the title of heir and gives him a stolen gold watch. Moll, who's now 70, and her Lancashire-born husband decide to go back to England. Both are deeply sorry for their sinful past. Although Moll has obviously fulfilled her ambition to become a noblewoman, her identity is continuously shifting throughout the book. Every person and situation she comes across has an impact on her, making her wonder if her way of life and the choices she makes are the correct ones. In short, Moll Flanders sheds light on the social values of the time. It also clearly shows the world of crime and sexuality, without moralising. The narration of the story through Moll's voice is an indication of the early belief that women were equal to men, which was not the norm at the time. Moll opposes the commonly held gender stereotypes of the 18th century as a powerful, independent woman. This adds to the novel's importance as a feminist work that was innovative for its day. Both money and social standing play a major role in this.

Moll FlandersDaniel Defoe · Can Yayınları · 2021721 okunma

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