A Female Hero''s Self-quest in Daniel Defoe''s Moll Flanders

• Main Authors: Hui-chun Wu, 吳慧君
• Other Authors: Shyh-jong Ren
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/91748804349032210424

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 外國語文學系 === 89 === A Female Hero’s Self-quest in Daniel Defoe’s Moll Flanders Abstract In Defoe’s time, the system of production was changing from farming to commerce in the society of England. The rise of cities and commerce brought about intense competition for survival. As far as class was concerned, the upper and middle classes used their property as a weapon to fight for their benefit. Hence, the lower classes’ life became harder and harder. As for gender, women were denied opportunities in commerce because they were regarded as witless in trading. In this way, men created a social position of advantage for themselves over women. This is the social background of Defoe’s novel --Moll Flanders. In the patriarchal capitalist society, Moll, a female orphan, wishes whole-heartedly to become a gentlewoman of the upper class. Thus, Moll’s dream leads her to her self-quest, from which the reader can discover that the inferior position of women causes Moll’s journey to her dream to be filled with hardships and difficulties. In the eighteenth century, women were usually deemed to be witless, so they did not deserve to be given chance. However, in contrast to the traditional perspective, Defoe showed his far-sightness about women in Moll Flanders. For him, what women lack is not wit but chances, as can be discovered in Moll herself. After overcoming many trials in her journey, Moll at last carries out her independent gentlewoman dream because she gets a chance to exhibit her talent on a plantation in the new continent. This thesis begins with an introduction, in which the background of the author and the novel are given in brief. In addition, the motive and the approach of this study are also revealed. The first chapter is “ the Origin and Change of Moll’s Gentlewoman Complex.” In this chapter, as the title illustrates, I will discuss the origin of Moll’s gentlewoman dream and how it changes with the interaction between Moll and people around her. The second chapter,“ Moll’s Marital Career,” relates Moll’s gentlewoman dream to her married life. There I will interpret Moll’s failure in realizing her gentlewoman dream through men. The third chapter, “ Moll’s Career as a Thief,” deals with Moll’s gentlewoman dream and her trade as a thief. There I will describe the process by which Moll achieves her success by herself through thievery. In the conclusion, I show that Moll’s marital career is a necessary mistake, from which she learns that it is impossible to realize her dream through men. She has to carry out her gentlewoman dream by herself.