Assess the representation of women in eighteenth-century literature Essay

judge the representation of women in eighteenth-century literature - Essay ExampleWe might take issue with this, but it is well-situated to see why the novel has been such a keen topic for feminist criticism. In horse sense and Sensibility, Austen draws on her own experiences as a young woman to understand the spot of women deprived of sparing means. It is of course notable that Austen was herself a rarity at the time an independent female writer, and Sense and Sensibility, her maiden published novel, was originally published under the pseudonym, A Lady. Defoes Moll Flanders, like some(prenominal) of his other novels, is presented in the form of an autobiography. The character, in this case Moll, is looking back on her life and, as Pollak suggests, is attempting to make sense of it through the act of writing (p.139). There is some examination over the position of Defoe in presenting the immorality and deprivation of Molls past life. Through writing, is he attempting to discou rage such immorality by exposing it to the light of day and public criticism, or is he taking advantage of the devotion readers feel for the forbidden, the depressionlife, and the illicit. The latter is surely the case to some extent. There is thus far some question as to the sincerity of Molls conversion from immorality. Defoe writes that she is no longer so extraordinary a Penitent, as she was at first (p.5). ... a tool to make the story appear more genuine and bona fide for readers, it is possible that Defoe is leaving room for doubt as to his own opinions on women and the position they are disposed in the society of his novels. As Pollak writes, this ploy works subtly and perhaps surprisingly to unsettle the very truths about gender that his plots seem to affirm (p.141). At this juncture, it is worth recalling the terms in which Defoe, writing as the editor of Molls racy account, describes the severe difficulty faced in his task. He has had no little difficult to put it Mol ls account into a Dress fit to be seen, and to make it direct language fit to be read. When a Woman debauchd from her Youth, nay, even being the Off-spring of drunken reveler and Vice, comes to give an Account of all her vicious Practices...an Author mustiness be hard put to get through it up so clean (p.1). There is an air here of Moll being a go woman, and being tainted by all that she has engaged in. In this comment by the editor, there is an even a sense of his distaste at handling such material. However, as noted above, at many another(prenominal) points Defoe continues to be ambiguous about his own opinion of Moll and her failings. We are left with the fundamental question is she an immoral soul, or a woman forced by the circumstances of her gender to stoop to low acts in order to seek independence. Defoe adopts a similarly ambiguous position in his presentation of the convinced(p) roles for women in contemporary society. Moll recounts, in the course of her account, bei ng mocked as a child for accept that she could one day become a gentlewoman by working for an honest livelihood. In this instance, we must ask, as does Pollak, Is the older, more experienced Moll simply exposing her earlier childish ignorance