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
