1001 Challenge: Moll Flanders

For this month, I chose Moll Flanders by Daniel DeFoe which is similar to last month's selection (Fanny Hill). The plot of this novel is best summarized by its extended title: "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, Etc. Who was born in Newgate, and during a life of continu'd Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own brother), Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest and died a Penitent. Written from her own Memorandums." More specifically, Moll's life started off tragically for when she was born she was immediately given to a nurse by whom she was raised. Moll's mother was convicted of a petty felony when she was pregnant and was sent to a Virginia plantation right after Moll was born. When Moll's nurse dies, Moll is sent to live with a prominent family where she learns how to be a "gentlewoman" along side the daughters of the family. She then falls in love with one of the sons in the family and becomes his mistress. When Moll is jilted by her lover, she is forced to marry his brother. This is her first marriage in a long line of tragic marriages and failed relationships.

Though this story had more substance than Fanny Hill, I was a bit disappointed because it was written 30 years after Fanny Hill yet there were few improvements made to the story. While Fanny Hill was more crude and sexually explicit, Moll Flanders was more character driven. Still, there are few difference between the two. Both women are naive and deceived by the world in such a way that causes them to act in immoral ways in order to survive. Though this is exciting at first and both women appear almost adventurous, it gets tedious. Still, both of these novels were revolutionary for their time and should be regarded as such. However, I think for my next selection I will steer clear of this literary period and try to find novels that do not revolve around prostitutes and wayward women.

-DLP