Journal Prompt:

In your opinion, what is the relationship between poverty

and crime? Is it so straightforward as to say that where there is poverty, there

will also be crime? Try to expand your response beyond

that conclusion.

Moll Flandersby Daniel Defoe

A Historical Background

Daniel Defoe Born in London in 1660

Wrote Moll Flanders, Robinson Crusoe, hundreds of political tracts and pamphlets, books on history, economics, and geography, and guides to family living and business success

Defoe’s Early Life Father, James Foe, butcher and candlemaker

Dissented from teachings of Church of England – Protestantism

Denied access to business and political circles

Defoe studied at Newington Green to become Presbyterian minister Left to enter clothing trade

1684: Married Mary Tuffley

Changed name to de Foe or Defoe to look more aristocratic

1692: War in France hurt his business and he went bankrupt

Defoe’s Political Life Secret agent and propagandist for William of

Orange Protestant who reigned from 1688-1702

Defoe produced pamphlets in support of King William

1702: Queen Anne took throne Defoe arrested for writing The Shortest Way

with the Dissenters – a satire on religious intolerance

Spent 3 years in Newgate Prison

Defoe the Novelist First authentic novelist

1719: Published first and most famous novel, Robinson Crusoe

1722: Published Moll Flanders and A Journal of the Plague Year

Novels appealed to the middle class Explored psychological motivations of unified

and believable characters

Economic Context Transformation of the social, economic, and

political structure 1690s-1730s: Bank of England founded, rise of

the stock market, growth of trading companies

Economic pamphlets defended pursuit of economic self-interest as a right and responsibility

Novels explored irrational aspects of the pursuit of private gain

Religious Context Puritan beliefs

Divine Providence: The foreknowing and protective care of God (or nature, etc.); divine direction, control, or guidance. (Taken from the OED)

“Human life, especially for Puritans (such as Defoe’s family), was a testing of the soul, a pilgrim’s progress that would end either in despair and damnation (as is the fate of the protagonist of Defoe’s final novel, Roxana) or in conversion from sin and the expectation of eternal happiness” (Blewett 11).

The FORTUNES and MISFORTUNES Of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c.

Who was Born in NEWGATE, and during a Life of continu’d Variety for Threefcore Years, befides her Childhood, was Twelve year a Whore, five times a

Wife (whereof once to her own Brother) Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Tranfported Felon in

Virginia, at laft grew Rich, liv’d Honeft, and died a Penitent.

Examine the words Defoe chooses to describe Moll Flanders. Consider their

connotations – in both today’s society and in the society of the 18th century. What

does this title page reveal about the protagonist? How might original readers

have responded to it?