Moll Flanders: Examining Defoe's Law and Morality Teachings - Essay Sample

Introduction

Much of the debates that surround Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders revolves around the debate whether Defoe makes good in the opinion and promise he makes in the preface that the story will be morality instructive. In his book, for example, Ira Konigsberg offers an exposition a divergent argument about Defoe's teachings on law and morality. Ideally, this appears as a tremendous misunderstanding for me about Defoe's arguments about this thematic issue.

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In actuality, Defoe employs a high level of a realistic approach to this novel. Thus, through the novel, Defoe succeeds in addressing much of the view of 16th-century society, which experienced a tremendous tonal shift in morality through its movement from religious values linked to the Middle Ages towards the value systems founded on a religious suspicious of sloth and diligence. Observably, the moral lesion shown in the Moll Flanders revolves around the view that she is an honourable example of the new model of the people envisioned by Defoe as being critical to maintaining the growth of England promised through the developing economic structures of the 18t century.

A broader view of the novel would reveal that Moll Flanders is meant to be interpreted through the employment of a realistic, moral heroine that can be understood through making a comparison to her economic perception. Through this, it becomes evident that Defoe creates a fully realised mouthpiece of his theories on a law that governs the economic aspiration as a means of attaining moral salvation. At one instance, Moll asserts that the marriages were as a result of the influences of the politic schemes for establishment interests, carrying on a business. This implies that love had little role in contributing to such kind of unions.

Notably, she can learn about this lesson early enough and therefore constitutes a tremendous guiding force for her throughout her life. Majority of Moll's belief about the economic criticality of marriage highly coincides with Defoe's perspective. A closer look at this concept would even reveal that even the cases in Old Bailey revolve around this concept. As such, it is undeniable that Defoe establishes an original character who resembles nearly every aspect of economic theory expressed in his novel. It appears that Defoe would have inconceivably created a character designed to be a mouthpiece for his economic opinions who was not heroic, a good figure or even admirable.

As such, it is also evident that the moral that Defoe provides in his novel, Moll Flanders does not concerns how bad or good capitalism is for the nation, but instead the reverse. The search for upward mobility by the individuals in the middle of the social hierarchy is undeniably a moral imperative. It involves a mechanism of attaining upward morality, which is not restricted only to virtuous.

The economically-based virtue of Defoe appears as though it is warped to the 20th-century readers, and thus makes it more likely to interpret the novel more ironically. However, a close loom would show that Defoe was not out of his contemporaries.

The modern audience is made conditioned to read the novels about the business and commerce as a cautionary tales as well as about the unethical behaviour of individuals who engage in any acts for money, while not bearing in mind that there are others present along with their ways. In this sense, the readers may face difficulty in understanding the mindset that generated the restoration as well as the 18-century playwrights who were associated with businesses. The moral world order has received a tremendous transformation between the Dark ages as well as the Renaissance

According to Watt, poverty was not only shameful but also the wickedness and even present future damnation. This is because of the new emphasis on economic achievement. The grave gentleman holds the worth of an able husband even though the wealth does not directly belongs to him. He thinks on moll decision as to whether or not they will get married. Moll, however, realises he is on the hands of financial assistance, someone who could take watch over money.

This money acts as a symbol of herself. By the end of every affair, she gets concerned about every change in the financial account. The financial review represents both emotional and psychological analysis. Moll later gets convinced that the gentleman would control here money. The same makes him think that he can make a good husband. It sounds much interesting that the association of Moll with her money modifies her actions. The novel ends, Moll is seen a happy and fortunate man. He raises the question whether her action can be categorized as wicked or not. The novel relates the economic theory of Defoe's hence achieving coherence. Thereafter Moll is considered moral who us fond of personifying individual's economy.

She could no longer accumulate much well as her previous dream. She only wants to preserve what she has at the moment. Self-preservation cannot be categorized as a strange mercenary object. Within this novel, the question of divorce also sounds much interesting. Figuring out Moll's time cannot be compared to how it is currently.

Nevertheless, the same get considered as the last solution as the grave gentleman view it as expensive and even tedious. She thinks quite reasonably that so long as there exists a common law on divorce, he would have nothing attached between him and the unfaithful wife. The wife was, at some point, lived with another man; this proves her unfaithful nature. The problem attached to this approach is that Moll has to acknowledge himself to the common law. The lack of trust, which leads to immoral life is not a great deal to his wife.

At this particular time, she comes up with new friends who keep her company every time. However, she is not that happy due to fear of being betrayed. She experiences much fear that her success will get blemish by remorse. Moreover, this novel portrays theft as well as deception. However, much Moll feels guilty of what the experiences, he gets hardened for her situation.

This is natural and never seem striking. The interest in the novel lies between the descriptions. Defoe is coming up with tricks which makes his readers defend themselves. He makes it much clear by claiming over the story. He says that this is evidence of moral intent. On the same note, Moll carries a message which does not feature in the prologue. Defoe readers learn the terrible thing of thievery, which is awful for being a victim.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Moll Flanders provides exciting teaching about the law of marriage and morality. Moll Flanders is meant to be interpreted through the employment of a realistic, moral heroine that can be understood through making a comparison to her economic perception. Moreover, a more significant portion of the novel does not concerns how bad or good capitalism is for the nation. Instead, it is the upward mobility by the individuals in the middle of the social hierarchy. In the view of Defoe, economic perception is a mechanism of attaining upward morality, which is not restricted only to virtuous.

The question of divorce in the novel provides insight regarding marriage law. Notably, Moll's husband things quite reasonably that so long as there exists a common requirement on divorce, she would have nothing attached between him and the unfaithful wife. The grave gentleman possesses a value of an able husband even though the does not directly belongs to him. He thinks on moll decision as to whether or not they will get married.

A closer look would reveal that the wife was at some point, lived with another man; this proves her unfaithful nature. The trust leads to immoral life is not a great deal to his wife. Such a description provides the audience with tremendous insights regarding how to address issues whenever they arrive. Defoe is coming with a wise approach that makes his readers defend themselves. He makes it much clear by claiming over the description. He says that this is evidence of moral intent. As a result, Moll carries a message which does not feature in the prologue. Defoe readers learn the terrible thing of thievery, which is awful for being a victim. Overall, the moral lesson is shown in the Moll Flanders centres around the perspective that she is an honorable example of the new model of the people envisioned by Defoe as being critical.

Works Cited

Defoe, Daniel. Moll Flanders. Bantam Books: Toronto, 1989.

Donovan, Robert Alan. The Shaping Vision: Imagination in the English Novel from Defoe to Dickens. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, 1966.

Grassby, Richard. The Business Community of Seventeenth-Century England. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1995.

Konigsberg, Ira. Narrative Technique in the English Novel. Archon Books: Hamden, 1985.

Meier, Thomas Keith. Defoe and the Defense of Commerce. University of Victoria, 1987.