Psychological and Presentational Realism in Moll Flanders by Daniel Def

Psychological and Presentational Realism in Moll Flanders by Daniel DefoeThe Eighteenth-century literature is popular for its peculiar port of writing that gives the readers an insiders view in the novel. By combining the two aspects such as Psychological and Presentational Realism, authors have created works of pure masterpiece such as Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. Defoe illustrates Moll, the protagonists psyche by writing the narrative in the first person to imply it as an autobiography. This allows psychological realness to work at its finest since the readers can feel a personal relationship to the character. The two important instances that occur with this type of realism be when Moll realizes that she is married to her own brother and her meeting with Humphrey, her son. In addition, Defoe excessively uses Presentational Realism to describe Molls initial career as thief with her first episode at the apothecarys shop and later stealing a gold necklace from a child. The manne r in which the move is described gives the readers a sense of feeling of being there and at the same time experiencing her escape from the scene. Amongst Molls several relationships, she is married to a plantation owner, who owns property and has mother and a sister in America. The couple decides to move to Virginia to be with the family (Defoe 77). Molls describes that she lives in marital bliss and also enjoys the company of her mother-in-law. She exclaims I thought of myself the happiest creature alive until her world is shattered as she portrays herself being most uncomfortable in the world (78). As she is listen to the story of her mother-in-law being a transported felon to Virginia from Newgate prison in London and sudden... ...hough she may not have kept in touch with her son. She is overjoyed by meeting him, which gives the reader a sense of hope that the story will end on a positive note. On the other hand, presentational realism is shown through Molls darker side when she turns into a thief to support herself and live lavishly. Her description of her deeds and exact account of what she acquires amazes the readers. The reader can attach to her by being a thief and at the same time passing moral judgments upon her. Some may congratulate her on being slick down enough to steal from an apothecary shop while others may criticize her for robbing a little innocent child. Regardless of various opinions, Defoes narrative elbow room involves the reader in the story, which makes it interesting to read.Works CitedDefoe, Daniel. Moll Flanders. New York Signet Classic Penguin Books USA Inc, 1996.