Five Reasons to Read Daniel Defoe's "Moll Flanders."
Feb 10, 2021
auto_awesome
Explore the controversial protagonist of Moll Flanders in 17th century London, unraveling her immoral yet captivating life choices. Dive into the societal aspects of commercialism and capitalism, understanding the novel as both an artistic achievement and moral institution.
Explore 17th century London through Moll Flanders' vivid depiction.
Understand the critiques of materialism and commercial values reflected in the novel.
Deep dives
Exploration of Mall Flanders' Character and Controversy
Mall Flanders, the novel's protagonist, faces criticism due to the character's controversial actions. Marrying her brother and engaging in unorthodox relationships lead to polarized opinions among readers. While some dislike Mall Flanders' decisions, the narrative challenges readers to not hastily condemn the character solely based on differing choices. Delving into her life spanning various roles like thief and felon offers a complex portrayal.
Historical Insights into 17th Century London
Mall Flanders provides a vivid depiction of 17th century London life, showcasing the city's diverse aspects. Readers are transported to a historical setting reflecting societal norms and challenges. The novel offers a lens into London's less idealistic segments characterized by debauchery and challenging conditions, enriching the understanding of the era's complexities.
Exploring Vulgar Materialism and Commercial Values
Mall Flanders' exploration delves into themes of materialism and anti-commercial values prevalent in the 17th century. The protagonist's actions reflect a mercenary approach to life, focusing on transactional relationships and financial gains. Through Mall Flanders, readers witness the challenges of navigating societal expectations and personal goals within a materialistic framework.
Analyzing Mall Flanders as an Early Novel and Moral Guide
Daniel Defoe's portrayal of Mall Flanders marks an early exploration of the novel as an artistic achievement and moral institution. The novel's significance lies in its transition from journalistic accounts to fictional narrative, showcasing a unique literary progression. Mall Flanders serves not only as a character study but also as a guide for navigating moral dilemmas and societal expectations in literary form.
in this episode I give five reasons you should consider reading Moll Flanders, an early 18th century novel written by Daniel Defoe, who is the author of Robinson Crusoe.
The five reasons are:
1) You get to visit 17th century London -I mention a painting, which is featured as the artwork for this episode. It is "The Egg Dance by Jan Steen."
2) Meet an "immoral" woman who, nevertheless, leads an interesting life. -Here I discuss why so many people have hated Moll Flanders.
3) Understand what philosophers hate about commercialism and capitalism.
4) Learn about the novel as an artistic achievement
5) Understand the novel as a moral institution.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode