Moll Flanders is a novel written by Daniel Defoe and first published in 1722. Moll is a character of limitless interest. Defoe’s vision is one that values the personal qualities of self-reliance and perseverance and dignifies human labour even when it takes the form of a crime.
Moll is a very indicative character which continually changes during the novel. Born at the borders of society she lives her life trying to become better than she was. She tried to reach perfection by accumulating goods and money.
Moll Flanders can be seen as a partially representative character of her age. In the 18th century England was still a patriarchal society, and for women, the best way to gain social status and acquire recognition was marriage. She clearly criticizes the eighteenth-century society and tries to break every social rule of that period. Women, for example, were praised when silent and humble, but Moll is  loquacious and speaks about herself with pride and vanity.
Since an early age, she was exposed to different kinds of troubles that she had to face bravely. Her behaviour was not prompted by her inclination to sin, but by the  continuous stimulation of her socio-economic necessity. She discovered soon that men had the power to choose their wife and inquired about their property condition. On the contrary, females could do merely obeying their father’s orders.
Thus, in order to survive she believes that marriage was the best choice, but after five failed  marriages  she understood that she had no opportunity but to be independent by doing what is considered unacceptable by people in this period.




 











Does Moll Flanders represent eighteenth-century society?
Moll Flanders is a novel written by Daniel Defoe and first published in 1722. Moll is a character of limitless interest. Defoe’s vision is one that values the personal qualities of self-reliance and perseverance and dignifies human labour even when it takes the form of a crime.
Moll is a very indicative character which continually changes during the novel. Born at the borders of society she lives her life trying to become better than she was. She tried to reach perfection by accumulating goods and money.
Moll Flanders can be seen as a partially representative character of her age. In the 18th century England was still a patriarchal society, and for women, the best way to gain social status and acquire recognition was marriage. She clearly criticizes the eighteenth-century society and tries to break every social rule of that period. Women, for example, were praised when silent and humble, but Moll is  loquacious and speaks about herself with pride and vanity.
Since an early age, she was exposed to different kinds of troubles that she had to face bravely. Her behaviour was not prompted by her inclination to sin, but by the  continuous stimulation of her socio-economic necessity. She discovered soon that men had the power to choose their wife and inquired about their property condition. On the contrary, females could do merely obeying their father’s orders.
Thus, in order to survive she believes that marriage was the best choice, but after five failed  marriages  she understood that she had no opportunity but to be independent by doing what is considered unacceptable by people in this period.