Moll Flanders Questions and Answers
Moll Flanders
To what extent is Moll Flanders a feminist novel?
Moll Flanders can be considered a feminist novel to the extent that Moll demonstrates intelligence, independence, and a refusal to be confined by traditional gender roles. Despite questionable...
Moll Flanders
How is realism portrayed in Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders?
In Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders, realism is portrayed through a blunt, unromanticized first-person narrative and a detailed depiction of the harsh reality of eighteenth-century London life. The...
Moll Flanders
How does Moll Flanders end, and what is the significance of this ending?
Moll Flanders ends with Moll and her "favorite husband", Jemy, living a comfortable life in England, in which they are repentant for their past actions. Moll has achieved her goal of living a...
Moll Flanders
In "Moll Flanders," why do ladies find Moll's desire to be a "gentlewoman" amusing?
In Moll Flanders, ladies find Moll's desire to be a "gentlewoman" amusing because she is born poor and without connections, making her aspirations seem impossible. In a rigidly hierarchical society,...
Moll Flanders
Why does Daniel Defoe conveniently dispose of Moll's children in Moll Flanders?
Daniel Defoe conveniently disposes of Moll's children in Moll Flanders for two reasons. The first reason is because they would get in the way of their mother's adventures. The second is because Moll...
Moll Flanders
How is morality explored in Moll Flanders?
Morality in Moll Flanders is explored through the protagonist's actions and rationalizations rather than explicit moralizing. Moll, a serial thief and prostitute, often justifies her immoral behavior...
Moll Flanders
Daniel Defoe's interest in crime and criminals in Moll Flanders
Daniel Defoe's interest in crime and criminals in Moll Flanders reflects his fascination with the complexities of human behavior and societal norms. Through the character of Moll, Defoe explores...
Moll Flanders
Why does Daniel Defoe portray Moll Flanders as both greedy and deserving of sympathy?
Daniel Defoe's depiction of his flawed heroine Moll Flanders, who is greedy, licentious, and vain, is not necessarily intended to provoke guilt in the reader. It is, however, meant to make the reader...
Moll Flanders
What should the reader expect in the story Moll Flanders?
Readers should expect a story about a woman who leads a life of sin and crime but ultimately repents. The narrator claims to have edited Moll's story to make it suitable for publication, removing...
Moll Flanders
What is the role of servitude in Moll Flanders?
Servitude in "Moll Flanders" is depicted through Moll's ability to transcend her roles as a servant. Despite societal constraints on women, particularly those of lower class, Moll uses her...
Moll Flanders
What is the significance of the Colchester episode in Moll Flanders?
The Colchester episode in Moll Flanders is significant because it sets the foundation for Moll's lifelong pursuit of independence and self-sufficiency. After escaping a gypsy troupe, she is placed...
Moll Flanders
Does Defoe's detail in Moll Flanders create verisimilitude and make it a realistic novel?
Defoe's use of detail in Moll Flanders creates verisimilitude, making it a realistic novel. The narrative, told from Moll's perspective, offers insight into her experiences and societal observations,...