ABSTRACT

Moll is a well-known female image in Defoe’ s works, and it is also the focus of many critics. She has a humble birth and suffers many mishaps in her life. However, she longs to be a gentlewoman and meanwhile dares to pursue economic independence and struggle against unfair social reality. This paper attempts to analyze how Moll, driven by self-consciousness, keeps trying and taking risks to change her original social position and eventually achieves economic independence from the perspective of feminism. 

Key words：Moll Flanders; feminism; self-consciousness

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 A Brief Introduction to Daniel Defoe and Moll Flanders-1

1.2 Literature Review-2

1.3 The Significance of This Thesis -3

Chapter Two  MAINTENANCE OF SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS-5

2.1 Dream of Becoming a Gentlewoman-5

2.2 Awareness of Marriage's Nature-6

2.3 Self-adjustment in Difficult Situations-7

Chapter There  RESISTANCE AGAINST UNFAIR MARRIAGE SYSTEM -9

3.1 Moll's Naive Love-9

3.2 Moll's Tricks on Men-10

3.3 Moll's Ideal Love-11

Chapter Four  QUEST FOR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE-13

4.1 A Liar in the Marital Market-13

4.2 A Thief in the Criminal World-14

4.3 A Rich Woman in Virginia-15

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-17

WORKS CITED-19