Grey
05-24-2005, 06:07 PM
I'm currently working on my senior (high school) research paper, and I've chosen Moll Flanders as my primary work. I'm considering also using Defoe's Robinson Crusoe as a secondary book because it offers a masculine perspective on how the materialism of the 18th century is essential to survival.<br><br>One of the things that I've picked up about this materialism is that the characters spend increasing amounts of time listing and catalouging their possessions and costs as they perceive disaster approaching. For example, in the opening of M.F., Moll talks about love for around 40 pages. The first time she even mentions a monetary amount is when she becomes independent as a result of her husband's death. But then later in the novel, when she is at her worst-- pregnant, poor, and starving-- she takes the time to list out every single payment plan that her mistress offers for services. That's where I'm going with my research project anyways.<br><br>But I really enjoyed reading M.F. precisely because of the amoralness of Defoe's writing. R.C. was essentially a survival novel, but Defoe used R.C.'s faith to pull the man through. What does it say about the sturdiness of women that they don't need reliance upon some etheral concept in order to survive? You have to admire Moll- the woman has so many dysfunctional marriages (thine own brother, anyone?) that it's almost comic in nature. She's amazingly adaptable, and very adept at rolling with the punches. She can control her life despite the slippery grip. I would even say that she is my literary hero. I admit that Defoe's writing style can become tedious at times, and the lack of chapters may be a problem, but I couldn't imagine the story in any other way. M.F. is one of my favorite British novels.