Moll Flanders Authorship

Daniel Defoe is totally messing with our heads. He says right off the bat that this book will be different from the novels and romances that people are reading. But, Daniel, this <em>is </em>a novel. We readers know this, of course, so we're forced to question why he feels the need to assure us Moll's story is true, when we know, for a fact, it's not. Our heads are spinning already.

Okay, how much do you want to read the original raunchier, more graphic, and "debauched" version of Moll's story? In the fictional world Defoe has created, the fictional author version of himself has made Moll's story more acceptable for its audience. Unfortunately, we're betting that version doesn't exist, because the version we're reading is untrue, anyway. And notice the metaphor he uses here. In cleaning up the story, he has "put it into a dress fit to be seen." Hey, isn't that exactly what Moll does to herself in order to convince those around her that she's a gentlewoman?

This is a pretty confident way for an author to describe his work. Everything about it is "delightful," "useful," "agreeable," and so forth. Defoe, we're worried you might be overcompensating for something. But it does remind us of how Moll describes her own appearance. Both the author and Moll would probably claim they're not being conceited, though – just honest. You sure can get away with a lot if you promise you're telling the truth.

This is another trick the author uses to make readers feel like he's just the transcriber/editor and Moll Flanders is the real author. He criticizes part of the story (which he really wrote) and says that he's done some editing to show off the best parts in other places. This gives the impression that the story the reader is about to read is, in fact, true, because it had to be edited.

Moll writes, "I had a character," which is a fun little pun because she is, in fact, a character. Of course here she's referring to her moral character – the fiber that makes up her personality. It hints at the fact that she is playing the part of a virtuous young woman. And that part is being written for her by none other than Daniel Defoe.

Moll takes the easy way out as an author, here, when she says she can't even repeat the man's argument because it was so moving. Instead of trying to do so, she leaves it up to her readers to imagine the highlights and the finer points. Look for other moments in the novel where Moll shies away from telling the whole story. Do these moments have anything in common?

Just in case the immorality of this moment wasn't fully felt, Moll tells "readers" here to ponder their own thoughts regarding her example and see if it isn't a great reminder to be more moral, better people. So we guess that means we get to write our own thoughts into the story, too.

Moll excuses her lengthy retelling of her sins and bad behavior by emphasizing how "useful" and "caution[ary]" her story could be to the right reader. She says she just wants to provide people with information that can help them make better decisions in their lives than she made in hers. When you combine this with the author's words in the Preface, it seems they both believe that the role of a writer is to teach good behavior. But of course it also means that Moll gets to give us all the juicy details of her lurid behavior, for the sake of our souls, of course.

Here's another moment in which Moll reminds us of her role as the author. "Sure," she seems to be saying, "my husband's "story" might be awesome, but this is the Moll Flanders show, <em>not</em> the Lancashire husband hour." She's the author, so she gets to decide what goes into her book, and what is not worth her words.

Once again, Moll takes pains to provide a disclaimer for her book. Remember, Shmoopers, she is sharing her story to help you be a better person. So here, when she includes juicy gossip, it's for our own good. Or at least that's what she tells us. What do you think is really going on?