Oh, I am so excited to begin this discussion!!
Terry Eagleton says the "novel is a sign of the modern human subject. It, too, is 'orginal,' in the sense that modern men and women are supposed to be the authors of their own existence. Who you are is no longer determined by kinship, tradition or social status; instead it is something you determine for yourself" (7). How does Moll Flanders (the character) fit this description of the modern woman? Does her character resist this definition or embrace it?
Those of you new to my discussions will find that I tend to ask a string of questions (this time is nothing) but they are all just different ways of asking the same thing.
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19 comments:
The modern woman is a person who has fought her way to respectability. She has had to overcome certain obstacles in life, making decisions that would ultimately allow her the freedom to decide her own fate. Moll Flanders, since birth, has had to deal with struggles and obstacles of her own, but was alert to opportunities that came her way, allowing her to survive. Even though some of her difficulites were of her own making, based on decisions that she made, her character embraced the description that Eagleton stated. Moll Flanders did what she needed to do in order to survive and in the end her ambitions gave her the drive to constantly seek the means to rise up the social ladder.
During a time when women were expected to be subservient, quiet, and content with their station in life, Moll Flanders decided she would become a “Gentlewoman” by working for what she wanted. Realizing that money only made a woman agreeable, Moll Flanders passed herself off as a woman of fortune. After going through many trials and tribulations, and finding herself in desperate situations more than once, she continues her assertions thus contributing to an adventurous life. Moll Flanders assertiveness, scheming and plotting, manipulations, sexual adventures, and ruthlessness, ultimately led her to the life she desired. Her aggressions and lack of personal virtue represented a determined woman with a strong desire to change her station in life, with little regard to the societal rules of the era.
In response to Shelley’s comment...
You are absolutely right about a woman having to fight for respectability. Just as in our current society, women still often need to prove themselves capable in order to be considered marginally equal with their male counterparts. And Like Moll Flanders, many women make mistakes along the road to success and sacrifice much in order to gain respectability and the lifestyle they desire. Fortunately, women are innately strong, and are survivors!
The modern woman, although still subject to unequal treatment, has come a long way since the 18th and 19th centuries. And credit goes towards the innovative and ahead-of-her-time thinking that Moll Flanders exhibits. From the start, she wasn’t given a chance. She began with a great disadvantage at birth. But her initiative and originality helped her overcome the limited access that women had in society. What is probably the most humbling aspect of her situation is that she functioned without a firm foundation of support. She didn’t grow up with family; she had to fend for herself.
Regarding the fact that she was a whore, a manipulator, and a thief, it seems that Moll was forced into that situation. Considering her circumstances, how many of us wouldn’t have done similar things to ensure progression and survival? The competition to secure a place in society mirrors much of modern day behavior to secure power and property. The question I then ask myself is: Is this a novel ahead of its time, or is this merely a notion that has been around since our existence? Moll’s individualism is not something that is uncommon—in those times and in ours. She’s an enticing heroine that embraces the idea of the modern woman.
Considering Eagleton's definition, Moll Flanders is a perfect portrayal of the modern woman. She was born to a whore/thief, traveled with gypsies, and eventually placed in the home of a woman in order to learn different services. Moll does not want to be placed in that class; she wants to be a gentlewoman. Eventually, she comes to live with a family, as a servant, yet learns many "lady-like" traits. While she knows that she is in a certain social class, Moll uses her own personal wit and creativity to create a life for herself that she would not have normally been able to have. This is done multiple times throughout her life. Therefore, the character of Moll Flanders embraces the definition of the modern woman. She becomes the author of her own existence.
Moll Flanders embraces Eagleton's definition of the modern woman wholeheartedly, whether she knows it or not. Moll Flanders' being is not determined by kinship, especially seeing that she did not know any of her relations until much later. She only knew what happened to her mother. Although she is not exactly under better circumstances than her mother, she still chooses everything that she does to further herself. She does not steal for the reasons her mother did. She is too busy manipulating others to get what she wants, but that is only so that others cannot use her first. She has learned her lesson the hard way. Her social status in some way does deal with who Moll Flanders is as a woman, but she fights it so that she will eventually break out of this mold. Her determination helps her define who she is as an individual rather than letting society make her into something she does not want to be.
If being a “modern woman” is determinate on one not letting their born social status determine their lot in life, then, as far as I’ve read, Moll Flanders has not completed the requirements. This is not to say that she has not tried, or that an elevated social position was not afforded to her (She could have stayed in the Mansion of her first husband, with her two children, and lived comfortably for the rest of her life, but then we wouldn’t have much of a story, would we?), but that, for all her efforts, she has ended up in same spot as her mother before her. She is now considered a whore by many (including herself), she is a thief, she has abandon not one child, but scores of children; she is desperate and poor, just like her mother, and has degraded to a social parasite. It would almost seems as if Defoe is reaffirming the social norm of the time, rather than rallying against it seeing as how Moll is turning out; as if Defoe is saying, “try as you might, you will live as you were born.” However, what of Moll’s mother? She is mentioned as a whore and a thief at the beginning of the novel, and though Moll and her mother meet and seem to somewhat reconcile, she is never spoken very highly of by Moll, but she has changed her lot in life. She has gone from a whore and a thief condemned to die, to a plantation owner (which brings up more moral issues, but I digress) who is set up for life, and for the lives of her children, the ones who stayed in Virginia anyway. The story, I’m sure, will change at the end, but from the present position, I see Moll as reinforcing the stereotype, and her mother as the “modern woman.”
Moll Flanders has done quite a bit to not let what she was born to define her. That much defines what Eagleton wrote. That in novels character have agency. Moll Flanders does fit this basic definition. She uses what she has (sex, looks, and drive) to get along. Still using those things by listening to others and following rules that they have given her, seem to take away from her credit. A modern woman, one would say, is one who does things her way and seems perfectly content; happy with all pieces that make up her life. Sometimes in the book it feels like she is ashamed at some of her outcomes, shocked that her conniving and trickery did not end well. This is not something that I find should be attached to ‘woman’ or anyone else. Modern or not.
In response to Chuck...
All I can say is, Wow! Very articulate and well thought out.
In a society that has traditionally attempted to place women in a submissive role, a "modern woman" is one who will not be confined to the home. The "modern woman" posseses confidence in her ability to contribute to the progression of society just as much as any man. She will not recieve lifes harships graciously, but will instead step out into the world and overcome all gender imposed obstacles. Moll Flanders often epitomizes this train of thought. Born into an up hill battle she triumphed over numerous obstacles in pursuit of the life she desired. Although she faced many troubles and issues, some which were self imposed, she used these shortcomings as her source of inspiration to move forward instead of being dominated by the problems with which she was faced. Defoe clearly portrayed Moll Flanders as a representation of the modern woman.
Lacey,
I agree with your statement, "A modern woman, one would say, is one who does things her way and seems perfectly content; happy with all pieces that make up her life." Moll does seem to regret her actions and behavior during parts of her life. But was it because she ended up no worse for the wear financially or for actually behaving like are harlot? Unfortunately, the station in life that she was born into became who she was, just like her mother, the apple not falling far from the tree!!!
Hmmm, how does Moll Flanders fit this description of the modern woman? The question is something to ponder because of the incongruity of the definition at hand. In the narrower sense, Moll is not the modern woman. Modern women are not whores who abandoned their children just to gratify their own self-indulgences. In the broader sense, one who determines their own existence, Moll definitely embraces her own existence.
Actually, I don’t believe she intentionally sat out to become the modern women. It was something coerced by her society and mere laziness. Well, I guess I really can’t call not wanting to go to service lazy. Perhaps it was strictly out of fear. At any rate, her refusal to go to service marks a pivotal point in which she does prescribe a life for herself. Moll becomes her own author even though it was done haphazardly.
However, for the purpose of this blog and Eagleton’s modern novel, Moll being a modern women isn’t determinative of one setting apart from their born social status. It is about having and making choices, which is what Moll definitely did freely. Women of the pre-modern era did not have choices. Their course of life was picked for them.
So, it is true that Moll’s debauchery is a treachery to the entire female species. For I hold a woman to a higher standard of self-respect for herself. But you have to admit, the irony of her womanly modernity makes for a good novel.
In response to Chuck,
yeah someone already responded to yours, but I thought I would elaborate.
I find it funny that your post is right below mine and we had two opposing responses. Your response makes mine seem less thought out and less valid. I agree with your response, and I must admit it makes more sense than mine.
However, I always try to see a different side to every story, which is why I posted what I did.
I notice different people have different views on this point, so I feel better knowing I'm not the only one who thinks Moll Flanders fits Eagleton's definition of the modern woman.
What a relief...
In response to Chuck,
While reading your comment about Moll Flanders and her position of "social parasite," it made me realize that while Eagleton describes a modern woman as "the author of her own existence" and does her person is "no longer determined by kinship, tradition or social status...;" Moll Flanders really is no such thing. She appears like she is fighting her way out of the social class she was born into. But in reality, she is only lowering herself. On the outside, at least at certain times of her life, it appears that she is wealthy woman, happily married, living the good life, etc. However, the actions required by her to reach that position (being a whore, lying, manipulating, etc.) only prove that she didn't truly reach the status of a "modern woman." She wasn't really the author of her own existence; she became exactly what she was fighting to get out of.
In response to jm15 and where you posted: “she used these shortcomings as her source of inspiration to move forward…”
I don’t think I’m following the same ‘inspiration’ that you do with Moll. Marriage after marriage and child after child, Moll seems to be “a woman of fortune though [she] was a woman without fortune.” You claimed that these issues, some of which were self-imposed, inspired her on her quest to be more like the modern woman. However, I feel that her inspirations are trigged with voracious and greedy motivation. Why does she not give a damn about the kids in the earlier part of the novel? She replaces all emotions with financial evaluations—another fact proving her self-indulgence. I wouldn’t say she is contributing to the progression of society. She’s contributing to the progression of herself is more like it. That’s how she’s becoming the author of her own existence.
In response to Erin,
I agree with you that based on Eagleton’s definition, Moll does portray to be the modern woman. Though, I do not believe she is a perfect example of one. I find it humorous that she “learns lady-like traits,” yet she acts indifferent to them. I guess my question to you is: do you believe Moll’s behavior exemplifies “lady-like” traits? Or were they teaching girls to be whores, children abandoners, husband hoppers, and thieves back then?
Just looking at the humorous side of things. Smile :)
The first decision Moll Flanders makes about her life was not going to service. Moll was willing to work to retain her freedom and independence which is partly what makes her a modern woman or at least a modern thinker.
Women were not supposed to be independent thinkers and they certainly didn't determine their own destinies. In Moll's case, determining her future had always been in her hands because she didn't really have guidance or direct supervision from anyone. After her husband died, none of the women were interested in keeping her around to guide her because she was too attractive to them.
Moll does what she thinks is best to make a life for herself, often knowing more than she is given credit for about the situation she enters.
lady T,
I definately agree with your comment. I don't believe that she ever had the intent to be a 'modern woman', she fell into it just based on the fact that she did make her own choices at times. Something that was not average and common. However, I suppose that could a be considered a fete for the time.
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