The novel "Moll Flanders" written by Daniel Defoe and first published in 1722 deals with the life of Moll Flanders and her criminal career. This term paper will show the meaning of femininity and criminality in the 18th century and the clash of the two of them in the first part. The second part will take a closer look at Moll Cutpurse´s gender. An interpretation and conclusion which will discuss if Moll Flanders is female, criminal or maybe a female criminal will be the last part.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. 1 Main statements of John Ritz on femininity and criminality
2. The clash of Femininity and criminality in Moll Flanders
II. Does Smith portray Moll Cutpurse as female or criminal? & What do Moll Cutpurse and Moll Flanders have in common?
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to explore the historical intersection and clash between the 18th-century concepts of femininity and criminality, specifically through an analysis of Daniel Defoe's "Moll Flanders" and the figure of Moll Cutpurse. The work examines how societal norms of the era strictly separated gender roles from criminal behavior, eventually questioning whether the protagonist Moll Flanders can be categorized as a female criminal.
- The historical definition of femininity and criminality in the 18th century.
- John Ritz's theoretical perspective on gender roles and criminal identity.
- Comparative analysis of Moll Flanders and Moll Cutpurse regarding masculine vs. feminine traits.
- The impact of cross-dressing and social non-conformity on the perception of female criminals.
- The development of the "female criminal" persona within the patriarchal structures of the time.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The clash of Femininity and criminality in Moll Flanders
When we take into account what John Rietz has given us on “the nature of women” or how their were perceived back then we can now compare the two notions of what it means to be feminine and criminal. A woman should be passive, but a criminal has to be aggressive. Women were attributed to be maternal and solicitous especially in their conduct with children, but a criminal has to be self serving and predatory. Women at that time were submissive, but a criminal was not. If a woman was a criminal she was outside of accepted categories and outside of the social order. Moll Flanders becomes an outsider when she started cross dressing. In other words she was wearing men’s cloth then instead of the accepted women’s clothing. The society could not put her in the category of man or woman. A further problem as John Rietz pointed out is that: “She cannot even be comfortably classified as a social outsider since her criminality is ambiguous.” Moll Flanders never hole heartily committed to the life of a criminal but always had passages were she was a more or less law-abiding citizens and never committed any “serious” or heinous crimes and therefore never crossed the threshold into real criminality like armed robbery or the occupancy of a highwayman.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the research context, outlining the societal expectations for women in the 18th century and identifying the rebellious nature of the protagonists Moll Flanders and Moll Cutpurse.
I. 1 Main statements of John Ritz on femininity and criminality: This section details John Ritz’s arguments regarding the perceived mutual exclusivity of being both a woman and a criminal, defining the traits associated with criminal behavior at the time.
2. The clash of Femininity and criminality in Moll Flanders: This chapter compares the concepts of femininity—such as passivity and maternal instinct—with the aggressive, predatory requirements of a criminal career, using Moll Flanders as a focal point.
II. Does Smith portray Moll Cutpurse as female or criminal? & What do Moll Cutpurse and Moll Flanders have in common?: This part explores the distinct differences between Moll Cutpurse’s overtly masculine, rebellious lifestyle and Moll Flanders's more nuanced approach to navigating social systems.
Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the findings, confirming that while 18th-century society struggled to categorize women who operated outside traditional bounds, Moll Flanders occupies a unique position as a "female criminal."
Keywords
Moll Flanders, Moll Cutpurse, femininity, criminality, 18th century, John Ritz, Alexander Smith, gender roles, social order, cross-dressing, patriarchal system, Daniel Defoe, female criminal, criminality, social outsider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the historical conflict between 18th-century concepts of femininity and criminality, analyzing how female characters in literature were perceived when they deviated from traditional submissive roles.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The central themes include the definitions of gender, the social construction of criminal identities, the patriarchal view of women, and the specific behaviors that defined "masculinity" versus "femininity" in the 1700s.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if and how the protagonists, particularly Moll Flanders, fit into the dichotomy of being "female" versus "criminal" according to the social standards of the era.
Which scientific sources or methods are utilized?
The paper relies on literary analysis, specifically referencing the Northon Critical Edition of "Moll Flanders" and critical essays by John Rietz and Alexander Smith.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body contrasts the behavioral expectations for women with the predatory, aggressive traits required for a criminal life, and compares the characters of Moll Flanders and Moll Cutpurse.
Which keywords define the character of this paper?
The paper is characterized by terms such as femininity, criminality, gender roles, social order, cross-dressing, and patriarchal system.
How does the author define the "criminal" in the context of the 18th century?
According to the author's reference to John Ritz, a criminal in that era was required to be independent, predatory, aggressive, and self-serving—traits considered incompatible with the "passive" and "submissive" nature assigned to women.
Why is Moll Cutpurse portrayed as more "criminal" than Moll Flanders?
Moll Cutpurse is depicted as having a more masculine spirit, engaging in overt cross-dressing, political activism, and violent crimes, which placed her further outside the social order than the more cautious and pragmatic Moll Flanders.
Does the paper argue that Moll Flanders is a true criminal?
The paper concludes that Moll Flanders acts as a "real female criminal" because she successfully balances the pursuit of her own criminal interests while simultaneously preserving her feminine identity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2013, The clash of femininity and criminality in Daniel Defoe's "Moll Flanders", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/370814
