journal prompt: in your opinion, what is the relationship between poverty and crime? is it so...
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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?
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