Woman portrait in pamela and clarissa by richardson, moll flanders by daniel defoe in augustan age

VINH UNIVERSITY
FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

----------------------PHạM THị THANH HƯƠNG

WOMEN POTRAITS IN "PAMELA" AND "CLARISSA"
BY RICHARDSON, "MOLL FLANDERS" BY DANIEL
DEFOE IN AUGUSTAN AGE.
(H×nh tợng ngời phụ nữ trong Pamela và
Clarissa của Richardson, Moll Flanders”
cña Daniel Defoe thêi kú Augustan)
GRADUATON THESIS
FIELD: LITERATURE
Supervisor : Tran Ngoc Tuong
Student:

Pham Thi Thanh Huong

VINH, MAY 2007
VINH UNIVERSITY
FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
-----------------------


VINH UNIVERSITY
FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
-----------------------

WOMEN POTRAITS IN "PAMELA" AND "CLARISSA"
BY RICHARDSON, "MOLL FLANDERS" BY DANIEL
DEFOE IN AUGUSTAN AGE.

(Hình tợng ngời phụ nữ trong Pamela và
Clarissa của Richardson, Moll flanders
của Daniel Defoe thêi kú Augustan)
GRADUATON THESIS
FIELD: LITERATURE

Supervisor : Tran Ngoc Tuong
Student:

VINH, MAY 2007

Pham Thi Thanh Huong


Acknowledgement
During working on this thesis, I have met a lot of difficulties, but
thanks to all help and encouragement from my teacher, my relatives and
my friends, I have finally finished it
First of all, I would like to show my deep gratitude and faithful
thanks to my supervisor, the teacher Tran Ngoc Tuong (MA) who helped
me and supported me enthusiastically during my writing.
Secondly, I would like to express special thanks to the directorial
Board of the foreign language Department that award me the opportunity
to do this thesis.
Finally, I am very grateful to my parents, my friends for their great
advices, help and encouragement during the process of studying this
thesis.
Vinh, May 2007

Table of content
Page

Part: introduction........................................................................…..
I. The Rationale of the Study......................................................................…...
II. Aims of the Study...............................................................................……...
III. The Objectives of the Study.................................................................……
IV. The Scope of the Study........................................................………………
V. The Methods of Study.....................................................…………………
Part II: content ................................................................................…
Chapter I: Background of Augustan Age......................................…
1.1 The Age of Enlightenment ....................................….........................…….
1.2. The Important Events in the Augustan Age ....................................……...
1.2.1 New Scientific and Philosophical Discoveries................................…
1.2.2 Industrial and Agricultural Revolution...........................................
1.2.3 The Growth of the British Empire in the 18 Century Empire…....
1.2.3.1 The First Empire.........................................................................……
1.2.3.2. The Second Empire.....................................................................…….
1.2.4. Conflicts in Society.......................................................................
1.2.4.1 Political Conflict.......................................................................……….
1.2.4.2 Religious Conflict.......................................................................……..
1.2.4.3 Social Class Layers.......................................................................……
Chapter II: Woman portrait in “Pamela” “Clarissa” by Richardson and

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“Moll Flanders” by Daniel Defoe in Augustan Age....................………….
2.1Woman Portrait in the English Literature Periods before Enlightenment Age…..
2.2 Woman Portrait in “Pamela” and “Clarissa” by Richardson, and in” Moll

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Flanders” by Daniel Defoe..........................................................................…..
2.2.1 The Appearances.......................................................................................
2.2.2 Their Position in Society................................................................……...
2.2.3 Their Way of Life ....................................................................................
2.2.4. The Misfortunate Fate and the Matter of those Fates..............................
2.2.4.1 The Misfortunate Fate............................................................................
2.2.4.2 The Matter of those Fates......................................................................
2.2.4.2.1 The Victim of materialism..................................................................
2.2.4.2.2. The Victim of social class layers.......................................................

2.2.4.2.3 The Victim of Strong Men for Sexual Desire.....................................
2.2.5 Pamela and Clarissa – the Importance of Virtue......................................
2.2. 6 Moll Flanders – the Importance of Experience........................................

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Chapter III: Epistolary form in “Pamela“ and “Clarissa“ by
Richardson
3.1 Sources of Epistolary Form.................................................………………
3.2 The Purpose of Using Epistolary Form in “Pamela” and “Clarissa”.......…
3.2.1 Epistolary Form in “Pamela”.......................................................……….
3.2.2 Epistolary Form in “Clarissa.........................................................………
3.3 Richardson’s Epistolary sensibility......................................................……
Part III: conclusion......................................................................… ...
References

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PART I: INTRODUCTION
I. The Rationale of the Study
Woman portrait is usually endless inspiration for poets and writers. That
portrait has deeply entered the literature world as a center image for a long time and
contributes to make treasure house of art literature more and more plentiful and
copious. Many works are written to praise, respect their beauty and noble virtue with
admiration, heartfelt profound, sympathy before their life and fates. Some dominant
topics mark well-known writers, their career and leave distinctive signs.
When studying in secondary school, the author had chance to get in touch with
women subjects in Vietnam literature and this really attracted her. Now, she is a
student of the Foreign Languages Department and has opportunity to study more
about women subjects in Western, especially English literature. It is a great motive


her to love more literature. She finds a part of herself from characters in that works.
The more she reads, the more she has a deep understanding for their hurts and
saturate in author’s language of a literary style. It helps her discover many things
and burns her desire to lead her to the decision to work on this thesis.
Another interesting fact is that woman portrait is a truthful picture of social
life. It reflects the people’s life in each period of history. This portrait is more
dominant in the first half of the eighteenth century with the growing of British
Empire, the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment movement when start sharp

conflicts, class layers in society. The author recognizes that it is so interesting to her
to study about it.
All of above things are the reasons why the author chooses “Woman portrait in
“Pamela”, “Clarissa” by Richardson and “Moll Flanders” by Daniel Defoe in
Augustan age” for her graduation study.

II. Aims of the Study
-To help readers understand more about beauty, virtue of England women and
reflect their life, fate in the first half of the eighteenth century.
-To identify deeply the picture of English society in that age and have future
viewpoints about the value of life and more humanization opinion about people in
society.

III. The Objectives of the Study
- Back ground of Augustan age
- The Woman portrait in Augustan age
- Woman portrait in “Pamela”,” Clarissa” by Richardson and “Moll Flanders”
by Danie Defoe

IV. The Scope of the Study


In the frame of this thesis, it is beyond our ability to cover all genres and all
works of Augustan age. Thus, we concentrate on the woman portrait in three typical
novels: “Pamela”, “Clarissa” and “Moll Flanders”.

V. The method of the Study
- Collective method
- Analysis, contrastive and Synthetic method

Part II: Content
Chapter I: Background of Augustan Age
1.1 The Age of Enlightenment
The age of enlightenment referred to eighteenth century in European and
American philosophy or the longer period including the age of Reason. It could
more narrowly refer to the historical intellectual movement. England was considered
the cradle of Enlightenment that occurred in Germany, France, Britain and Spain.
The enlightenment was often closely linked with the Scientific Revolution, for
both movements emphasized reason, science or rationality. Inspired by the
revolution of knowledge commenced by Galileo and Newton and in a climate of
increasing disaffection with repressive authority, enlightenment thinkers sought to


apply systematic thinking to all forms of human activity, carrying it in to the ethical
and governmental spheres in exploration of the individual, society and the state. Its
leaders believed they would lead the world in to progress from a long period of
doubtful tradition, irrationality, superstition, and tyranny that they imputed to the
Dark Ages, though not from religious belief. The movement helped to create the
intellectual framework for the American and French Revolutions, the Latin
American independence movement and the Polish Constitution of May 3; and led to
the rise of classical liberalism, democracy, and capitalism.
The Enlightenment was matched with the high baroque and classical eras in
music, and the neo-classical period in the arts. It received modern attention as being
one of the central models for many movements in the modern period. It influenced
the Jewish Haslcah, which in Western Europe and particularly in Germany resulted
in the elevation and eventual replacement of Yiddish by Hebrew, as well as the
Jewish reform movement.
In this period, the enlighteners praised human with their excellent abilities.
Human always tried to overcome difficulties, trials to change their fate and achieve a
better life. This differed from the Dark Age that human’s ability was negated by the

Church’s preaching and the authority is imposing that God already planned their fate
and that they could do nothing to change it. On the contrary, Enlighteners believed
that education could human’s ability and they knew to act correctly. Knowledge was
the biggest wealth of human to discover and conquer the world, universe. We saw in
this period, the development of scientific technology made people’s life more
convenient and happier. That was a source of good education process, which
considered being the best way to civilize human society.
The elevated humanism of Enlightenment also affirmed the equality between
man and woman, the friendship and brotherhood among people regardless of their
race, religion and nationality. Simultaneously, they rejected the forces that duped
and trampled on human such as supernatural and miraculous elements, harsh feudal
ideas, discrimination and colonialism’s oppression.


Enlightenment experienced a long period that was not always plain and flat but
up and down in different phases from its date of birth to the end. Some persons
divided the movement into three phrases, but others observed it in two main phases.
We here approve the second idea.
The first phrase was counted from the movement’s beginning in the late 17 th to
the middle of 18th century. This was the blooming Shase when Enlightenment
developed to it highest point in its duration. England in the first half of 18 th century
had just overcome a number of chaos including Civil War, Restoration and rebels,
which made a horrible memory in people’s mind. At that time, Enlightenment
occurred with many progressive ideas immediately met the hope and long of almost
people. Thus, the ideas received the great approval and marked its blooming
development.
The leading principles of Enlightenment centered round the following ideas:
1.

Reason is a principle tool for all humans to think and to act correctly

2.

Man is good by nature. In addition, man’s good nature can be brought

to perfection through education.
3.

All men and women are born equal in respect of their rationality and

should thus be given the right to equality before law.
4.

Belief, religions customs are to be questioned and accepted on the basic

of reason only, not on the basic of authority, sacred texts or tradition.
5.

Supernatural and miraculous elements are discarded as the whole

universe in conceived as a rational system accessible to human reason.
6.

Man to man is brother to brother, regardless of nationality or country of

residence.
Applying these philosophies to reality, the Enlightener-writers concentrated on
humanistic studies of Man, his nature and the origin of his good and evil doings. To
them, vice was due to ignorance that could be done away with by force of reason. As a
result, they thought it their duty to enlighten the people and insisted upon a systematic

education for all. The Enlightenment movement was in fact a revolutionary movement.


As it spread the idea of equality and brotherhood, it had nothing to share with the
urging feudal ideology, a system of thought based on hierarchical and patriarchal
relations among men.
Enlightenment, any way, had a great influence on the Augustan literature. Its
ideas became the main topics and the spirit of this period literary works that we will
study some typical ones in later parts. Because of this, the Augustan is also called
the Enlightenment period in English literature history.

1.2 The Important Events in the Augustan Age
1.2.1 New Scientific and Philosophical Discoveries
Philosophy and science are usually the aspects whose new theories and
discoveries lead to the change of society and open a new era in history of
humankind.
The revolution of science is thought to begin when Copernicus gave the idea
that the earth rotated on its axis beneath the unmoving sun. In the eighteenth
century, new discoveries of scientists among whom, the most dominant one was
Isaac Newton, proved that nature had its own law’s which was different from what
religion church had taught before. Newton’s “principia” (1687) and “Optic’s” (1704)
suggested that:” There were indeed intelligible laws in nature which could be
demonstrated by physics and mathematics, and, moreover, that the universe
exhibited a magnificent symmetry and a mechanical certainty.” This provided a
framework of a system that seemed capable of explaining everything in the universe
and it was also the basic principle of Enlighteners.
In the field of philosophy, thinkers, especially Rousseau and Voltaire in
France, praised the equality, democracy and ability of man. In England, John Lock,
Francis, Bacon, Anthony Ashley Cooper gave the birth for Empiricism. They
explained the way the mind acquired “all materials of Reason and Knowledge are

from Experience”. They also provided an intellectual basis for easily digested
theories of politics, religion and aesthetic and for precepts pertaining to social
happiness.


In short, the philosophers and scientists used nature and universe law and
human being center to observe and explain everything. They celebrated Reason,
ability of man to use his scientific knowledge to discover natural phenomenon which
had been associated to supernatural power before, simultaneously opposed to
intolerance, restrain, spiritual authority and disoriented religious belief.
These ideas were gradually acquired and changed the way of thinking of
people. They believed that their ability, not supernatural authority or the God could
drive their fate. The main character Robinson Crusoe in the name- coincided novel
by Daniel Defoe is a typical image of a hero who fights bravely to overcome harsh
destiny. They believed in education and learning which could help them to
understand and control nature, believe in human’s ability to drive their fate and
improve society. In addition, it was not only necessary to man but also woman. We
can find in “Robinson Crusoe”, “Gulliver’s Travels”, “and Pamela” and especially,
in the essay “The Education of Women” by Daniel Defoe the spirit of praising
learning and education that were thought could improve society and bring to people
a brighter future.
1.2.2 Industrial and Agricultural Revolution
Britain is the first place on the world where the Industrial Revolution took
place. This important event made a great influence on changing the whole country’s
face. Power was seen as the first field touched by the Revolution with James Watt’s
invention of steam engine. Since then, the application of new inventions and
discoveries into many aspects created a major change in producing method.
Machines released people from hard work in factories and made a jump in industrial
development, especially in coalmine, textile or transportation industries. The
industrialization with its enormous strength made Britain become the workshop of

the world.
Under the effect of the industrial revolution, Britain gained position in top of
the richest countries. At the same time, it was the foremost condition to carry out an


Agricultural revolution. Throughout the country, the “open field” system was redivided. Labouredly productivity was raised and more food was produced.
It was said that Britain had a new face under the two revolutions’ influence.
Until the middle of the eighteen century, Britain was still an agricultural country
with most of the population lived in villages or small towns and earned their living
working on land. Nearly seventy percents of the population inhabited in big towns
and cities in the end of the century. A large number of factories were built, a lot of
towns and large cities developed rapidly, such as Birmingham, London, and Leeds,
so on.
However, this means that the land for farming was restricted. The farmers lost
their land, became unemployed. Some of them went to cities to get a job as workers.
Most of them had a poor life. This situation led to another important issue of society
that was class division and growth of working and bourgeois. The poor farmers and
workers were liable to a distress. It was one of the roots of social evils.
In addition, pragmatics and capitalism’s idea of praising money devalued
human beings’ morality and virtue. Marriage even became an economic exchange.
The picture of the complicated society in this time was reflected truthfully in
the literature works. “The New Atlantis” by Mary de la Manley and “The Moll
Flanders” by Daniel Defoe described a society with political crisis, homosexuality,
rape, social evils, etc. Some other works, such as “Gulliver Travel” and “A modest
proposal” by Jonathan Swift showed devaluation of human being in front of the
attraction of money and other authorities. Even in “Robinson Crusoe” which many
positive ideas of Enlightenment was expressed materialism and capitalism ideas
could be found.
1.2.3 The Growth of the British Empire in the 18 Century
England began its colonial expansion a century later than Spain, Portugal, and

France. In the 16th century whereas Britain was just a small kingdom without
overseas possessions, Spain and Portugal had sent expeditions on discoveries across
the Atlantic and opened the route to India. They claimed a monopoly of trade with


new lands. After defeating Spain was invincible Armada in 1588, England was
ready to enter the race for overseas trade and possessions. The British Empire was
built partly through discoveries and settlement.
1.2.3.1 The First Empire
The British Empire at first had two poises: America in the West and India in the
East.
Nevertheless, the stream of immigrants was directed mainly towards America
and was increased by religious persecution. In 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers landed on
the shores of New England (in the Northeastern part of the United States including
the territories of Main, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut). Between 1620 and 1640, about 25.000 pilgrims went to live in New
England. In addition, English civilization was steadily spreading.
Britain regarded the colonies as a source of raw materials and markets. The
search for markets was the cause for the Seven Years War (1756-1763) through
which England took over the control of India and Canada front France.
Shortly after the Seven Years War, the American colonies began to rebaptism
against the police of Great Britain. The Independence War of the America colonies
began in 1775 and lasted for 8 years. On July 4, 1776, 13 Britain colonies in North
America proclaimed their independence from Great Britain. The most valuable part
of the then British Empire was lost, and thus making the end of the First Empire
1.2.3.2 The Second Empire
In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution spread in England and turned the
country into the unrivaled workshop of the world. English manufactures needed
markets for their goods, and food and raw materials for their factories. British
shipping grew enormously, within 25 years after the loss of the American colonies;

the second British Empire was strongly developing in size and in strength. In the 19 th
and early 20th centuries, territories in Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Asia
and the Pacific were colonized and became dependent on the British Empire. It was
a common saying that the sun never set on the British Empire.


Consequently, many literary works in this period paid attention on the themes
of equality, brotherhood among human beings, projection of colonialism and
slavery, unfairness and discrimination. Alpha Ben in her “Oronoco” raised the voice
against trade of slavers and power of colonialism, and in “Robinson Crusoe”,
although it was not so clear as others, the author shows his attitude cleverly to the
problem of capitalism and colonialism which will be considered in more details in
the later part.
1.2.4 Conflicts in Society
After the monarchy Restoration in the seventeenth century, British were afraid
of any violent event like that to make their life chaotic. However, this was the time
of some deeply contradictions and unsettling in society.
1.2.4.1 Political Conflict
In 1660, when the son of Charles I was restored the throne to be the King
Charles II, England became a Monarchy Constituent nation. Queen Anne, King
George II sat the crown in sequence in the eighteenth century. The monarch ruled
the country, but in fact, most of real power was held by parliament. Conflict
happened between the monarch and parliament for some reasons. In realty, the
King’s power was lessened and he was forced not to decide important national
problems without parliament permission. Another reason that partly caused the
political conflict was religion, which would be started clearer in the next part.
Political conflict also happened between parliament’s parties: the Whig and
the Tory. There was a little difference between them in this period. Tories mostly
included great landowners whose privilege was gradually declined with the growing
of bourgeois and capitalism while those whole property was mercantile and financial

were likely to form the Wings.
The problem of politic drew considerable attention of writers. In “Gulliver
Travel”, Jonathan Swift indirectly claimed the heads of the country, the unsuitable
policies, the court and the parties’ quarrel. Other works in which political issue was


touched were “The New Atlantic” by Mary de la Manley, in works of Edmund
Burke like: Speech on America Taxation”, “Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol”, etc.
1.2.4.2 Religious Conflict
This direct conflict caused social division, even more serious than the political
one. The opposition was between the Church of England, which was preceded by the
monarch and both Protestants, and Roman Catholics. The Protestants who did not
belong to the Church of England or did not accept the Monarch as the head of the
Church were called Dissenters or Nonconformists. There were resent laws such as
Corporation Act and the Test Act that banned them and Roman Catholics from
becoming MPs or having a government job. In a royal family, nobody that did not
belong to the Church of England could get the throne.
Religion had such an important effect on society that many authors considered
it as a plentiful ground for their writing. John Banyan wrote “The pilgrim’s
progress”; Jonathan Swift: “A tale of Tub”; Daniel Defoe: “The shortest way with
dissenters”, so on. They exploited the theme of belief, faith in religion but also
criticized the forces that took its advantage for bad aims.
1.2.4.3 The Social Class Layers
The perception of class division was going to intense. There were seven
groups in society:
-The great who live excessively hereditary nobility
-The rich who lived very plentifully, great and owners dominating the country
life
-The middle sort who lived well: professions, church bishops, lawyers, doctors,
and teachers.

-The working trades who worked hard but felt no want, no need or demand
-The country people, farmers, etc who fared indifferently
-The poor that fared hard
-The miserable that really pinched and suffered.


The social class conflict led to the Glorious Revolution, which took place
between the old aristocracy and the new bourgeoisie.

Chapter II: Woman portrait in “Pamela“,
“Clarissa“ by Richardson and “Moll Flanders“ by
Daniel Defoe in Augustan age
Until present time, society and men had a rather equal view to women and their
role in family as well as in society. However, to gain this result, women have to
make great effort to prove themselves. This is not an easy progress but a long term
and difficult one.
Until the age of Enlightenment, the opinion about Women was evaluated to
mark an obvious advance in compare with the previous periods. Enlighteners said
that: Women and men were equal by their nature and law.
To have a correct reorganization of the Enlightenment’s progressive Ideas
about Women, we will study some typical literary works on this theme, such as
“Pamela” and “Clarissa”, “Moll Flanders” by Daniel Defoe, but firstly the women’s
image in the periods before Enlightenment age.


2.1 Woman Portrait in the English Literature Periods before
Enlightenment Age
In literature, women’s position in family and society was getting more
important and this was reflected in different periods in literature.
In old English literature, women portrait was very dim, even rarely appeared in

works which was mostly unwritten. It is easy to understand this. Ancient society was
not a developed one in which man was the ruler. Only man was worthy to mention
in people’s mind. Women appeared with very little role beside men, even when they
played an important role in society. “Beowulf” was the most famous work in this
age. It was the story about the hero Beowulf with his extolled deeds to Defeat a fire
breathing Dragon, monster Grendel and his mother. The three women in this epic
were Grendel’s mother, and two Queens, but their part was only to brighten
Beowulf’s action. We hardly saw a woman with her normal life in literature if she
did not own a special position such as Queen, or princess, or a member of a royal
family.
In medieval time or the Dark Age, under the draconian feudal institution,
women had no voice in society. In family, they totally depended on their husbands.
They did not get any opportunities to have jobs because they thought social works
were not for women. Their works were to take care of children, sew, embroider or
cook. In this period, drama started to grow and attracted audience, but there were no
actor on the theatre. Actors played all characters. The noble Women in the Romance
trend of literature remained in the reader’ mind was the image of a beautiful girl or
woman standing and waving after the shadow of her knight in the end of a path. On
the other hand, women’s life through George Chaucer’s famous work: “Canterbury
Tale” was not peaceful. They had their own circumstances, which they had used to
associate to fate, but in fact caused by the feudal institution. In short, despite social
class, they belonged to, the suffering and gloomy covering the women’s life was the
common situation of feudalism, from the East to the West.


The prejudice to women and belittlement of their ability was still dominated
during the Dark Age and remained for a very long time. Afterward, with the
development of society, these disoriented thoughts were gradually improved. In the
Renaissance, one of the brilliant periods in English literature history that usually
mentioned with the reputation of William Shakespeare, women’s value was more

considerably acknowledged than in the previous periods in literature. Women dared
to fight for their love, for equality, even for power. Shakespeare’s great humanism
did not allow him to ignore women who were the subject to be protected.
The period following the Renaissance was the Restoration, which was named
after the historical event when son of Charles I restored his reign and became
Charles II and his court from France had an important significance to the
development of English literature. That was the entering of the French style that
contained Moliere’s impact on the London theatres, comedy of manner, and the
Gallicism (A vogue that English like to use French idioms or phrases). Most literary
works in this period reflected the luxurious life of aristocrats. In society and a very
small number of them reflected the dim life of county people, especially county
women. They were the victims of an unequal regime, of men’s patriarchal behavior
and sexual desire. We can find all of these features in Dryden’s “Marriage a la
mode”, William Wycherley’s “The country wife”, John Van burghs “The prvok’d
wife”, etc. Especially, there was the appearing of “She-tragedy” which focused on
the suffering of innocent and virtuous women.
In fact, the blooming phase of Enlightenment was just after the Restoration.
This explained why there were some similarities between them in the point of view
of women. However, compared with the previous ones, the physical life, especially
spiritual life of women was never described and explored more truthfully and deeply
than in this period.
Samuel Richardson and Labeled his reputation on literature ground with the
work “Pamela” (or “Virtue Rewarded”) and later with “Clarissa” (or “History of a
young lady”); Daniel Defoe wrote about women’s fate with “Moll Flanders” which


marked his literature career. All of them were successful works beside a large
number of works on the same topic about women of other authors.

2.2 Woman Portrait in “Pamela” and “Clarissa” by Richardson,

and in” Moll Flanders” by Daniel Defoe
Women and children are usually the objects who need to be more protected,
more cared and receive more affection than anyone else. Of all age, we found in
literature images of poor women with intricate situations that were the exposition of
authors’ deep humanism. Writers in the first period of 18 th century not only gave
women a sympathy but also raised their voice to reset to the anti-women power
which were arranged marriage, the nets of man and society and even higher, found
in women moral, worthy virtue, experience to be extolled and appreciated ability
which were deserved.
Richardson’s women portrait were described with full traditional virtue,
wonderful morals of Pamela and fighting spirit for love and against the wicked
forces, which considered love, marriage and women as a kind of goods of Clarissa.
While Daniel Defoe’s women portrait were described with terrible experience of
Moll. The readers share her life in order to learn what life should be. This reflects
the age’s concern with experience and how to live. Such concern contrasts with the
interest in the Renaissance in exploration of new worlds and ideas.
Richardson wrote Pamela (or “Virtue Rewarded”) in 1740. This created a new
epoch in history of English novel and became “the Joy of Chambermaids of all
nations” as Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s saying.” Larissa” or “History of a young
lady” (1747-1749) was the constituency of his success after “Pamela”. Both novels
were written in the form of letters (epistolary genre), that were contemporary
fashion. Clarissa and Pamela had different life and fates, but what Richardson
wanted to convey through them was the same. That was his humane viewpoint to
women in which women did not only need the affection and protection of men but
they also had right to act following their want and right to fight for their happiness.


Daniel Defoe wrote Moll Flanders in 1722. This portrait was completely
different from Pamela and Clarissa, and was considered as a picaresque. The story
was believed by some to be a tale of capitalism due to the numerous allusions to

money, contracts and other currency – related items. Everything, including people,
had a monetary value. This gave the reader a feeling of Moll’s calculating
personality. Moll Flanders often caused the reader to question if doing something
amoral out of necessity was amoral at all. The novel explored both contemporary
18th century conservation and liberal ideologies. Defoe himself is a noted puritan.
His views were ambiguous, in that he believes and writes for hard work, devotion,
and the work of providence as grace. There is some debate, however, as to whether
Defoe intended Moll as an entirely sympathetic character. The novel, devoting many
pages to crime and sin and very few to repentance or even remorse, leaded the
reader to question Moll’s desire for forgiveness. She was therefore an ambivalent
character. Some have even speculated that Defoe intended the book partially as a
titillating moneymaker. These arguments often all aided to Defoe’s preface in which
he mentioned “Lewd ideas” and “Immodest teams” that could lead the audience to
read the work for scandalous entertainment instead of moral value. The novel
combined Defoe’s interests in conversion narratives with his experience and interest
in crime. Moll Flanders was a popular novel, and Defoe’s reputation was aided by it.
He had earlier written about Criminals for various Journals and Moll Flanders
increased his cachet as a writer of criminal lives.
In this part, women portrait is only presented in three characters: Pamela,
Clarissa and Moll Flanders. From that characters, the authors reflect truthfully
general women portrait in Augustan age, reappears their characteristics and inner
life
2.2.1 The Appearances of Three women
The important point in works is that these heroines are beautiful women. This
has a great influence on the plot of stories and attracts reader’s attention. Although


the authors do not describe their appearance clearly and exactly, we can be easy to
realize their beauty by situation and details in stories.
Pamela was a young maid with the modest and agonized delicacy. Mr. B was

carried away by her beauty and even conceived a passion for her. Pamela recognized
her beauty and knew that could make her inconvenient when many young men
attended to her. Therefore, Pamela always tried to protect herself.
Clarissa was a virtuous young woman of “Great beauty and merit” and
discretion whose family had became very wealthy. Her family was proud of their
daughter’s beauty and asked high requirements to men who wanted to get marriage
with her. She was also main purpose of two young gentlemen: Mr. Somlmes and Mr.
Lovelace.
Moll Flanders was a beautiful girl. She always felt self-confident for her
appearance. She based on her beauty to make a match and resorted with gentlemen
and had been a prostitute to earn money.
The three characters in three works are beautiful women but they have
different life and fates. Their beauty is said in the first page as signals of unfortunate,
difficulty life in the future. In real life, a beautiful woman often see contingency
because of many traps ahead. Many authors write novels about women topics with
unfortunate life from beauty. The beauty could make us more perfect but it could
also cause us a decadent life. Pamela, Clarissa and Moll are evidences for that.
2.2.2Their Position in Society
The

character’s

position

in

society

contributes

to

create

different

characteristics, own opinions and behaviors. It is also a major cause leading to
individual fates of three women
Pamela was a servant in Mr. B’s household. The story began when her mistress
died because of illness and, on her dying, recommended Pamela to her son. As the
mistress favorite, Pamela was taught to write, cash account that she thought over
qualified to her position of a servant and of cause, needle. Thank to those skills, after
Mrs. B’s death, Pamela was kept on working for the family. Pamela whole-heartedly


and truthfully treated to others and received good will from them. Soon her master
gave her a suit of clothes of his late mother and later, other items such as cambric
aprons, a silk grown, stays and stockings that makes Pamela embarrasses and started
to feel some anxiety about his design upon her. Since then, a vague fear continued to
obsess Pamela about Mr. B that soon becomes true. His sexual desire and bad will
designed on Pamela were gradually revealed and faced to the defiance of her.
Realizing that Pamela would never yield, he kidnapped the young woman who
believed she was returning to her parent’s home. In Lincolnshire, Pamela was
effectively imprisoned and carefully watched by a grotesque woman. Mr. B then
disguised himself as a servant and found the ways to gain access to the young
woman’s bed. With the help of William, Mr. B’s parson who was also fall in love
with her, Pamela intended to escape but their plan was soon discovered and failed.
In the bottom of vain, Pamela contemplated suicide but determined it her duty to
face up to the trials before and resign herself to divine will. Finally, Mr. B’s mind
was changed by her will and wonderful moral change. The desire to know the young

woman’s soul is stronger than his physical desire for her. The story ended happily
when Pamela got married to Mr. B, a good man, a good husband and actually
became a Nobel woman.
Unlike Pamela, Clarissa Harlow, the tragic heroine of Clarissa was a beautiful
and virtuous young lady whose family had become very wealthy only in recent years
and was now eager to become part of the aristocracy by acquiring estates and titles
through advantageous pairings. Clarissa’s relatives attempted to force her to marry a
rich but heartless man against her would and, more importantly, against her own
sense of virtue. Desperate to remain free, she was tricked by a young gentleman of
her acquaintance, Lovelace, into escaping with him. However, she refused to marry
him, longing – unusually for a girl in her time – to live by herself in peace.
Lovelace, in the mean time, had been trying to arrange a take marriage all along, and
considered it a sport to add Clarissa to his long list of congest. However, as he was
more and more impressed by Clarissa, he found it difficult to keep convincing him


that truly virtuous women do not exist. The continuous pressure he found himself
under combined with his growing passion for Clarissa, forced him to extremes and
eventually he raped her. Clarissa managed to escape from him, but remained
dangerously ill. When she died, however it was in the full consciousness of her own
virtue, and trusting in a better life after death.
Moll was born by a crime mother. She was raised until adolescence by a good
foster mother, was attached to a household as a servant. She was love by both of the
sons, married one son and had children to care of in-laws, a person who was related
by marriage and began honing the skill of passing herself off as a fortuned window
to attract a man who would marry her and provide her with security. The first time
she did this, her husband went bankrupt and left her on her own with his blessing to
do the best she could assume he was dead. The second time, she made a match that
leaded her to Virginia with a good man who introduced her to his mother, which
mean her husband was her brother. She feedback to England and went to live in the

Mint to hide from debtors. Again, she returned to her deceiving skills and made a
match with a man from Lancashire who turned out to be gentlemen without means
who had been her. These two truly fall in love, but part anyway because they had not
a penny to live on if they stay in together. Moll resorted to another man who took
great care to dress in the latest fashion, and who paid much attention to a lady. He
married her then died in financial ruin after five years. Truly desperate now, she
began a career of artful thievery, which, by employing her wits, beauty, charm and
felinity, brings her the financial security she always sought. She was caught and sent
to new gate prison. Here, a man of the cloth who leaded her to repentance and
Enlightenment counseled her. At the same time, she reunited with her soul – mate,
her “Lancashire husband”, who was also jailed. The two are sent to Mary land to
avoid hanging, and happily together. Once in the colonies, she learned her mother
has left her a plantation and her own son was alive, as was her brother. She carefully
introduced herself to her son who welcomed her warmly. At last, her life of
conniving and desperation seemed to be over. Her witted now employed toward


business and good sense, she established a successful farm with her Lancashire
husband, and the two retire in prosperity.
2.2.3 Their way of life
In this period, writers praise all fair manners by the honest heart. Their way of
life plays an important role to make a perfect women portrait. It is considered the
beauty of their souls.
Firstly, that beauty is indicated by their pious to parents and the good behavior
to everyone. The fine characteristic is seen clearly in Pamela. Despite living far from
family, she always got in touch with her parents by letters to share her love and
sorrows to them. Pamela looked after their requirements and emotions, spent little
money supporting to them and wished them a sufficient life. That is a respect
responsibility of a daughter to her parents. She is a dutiful daughter, obeying her
father in listening to his advices. That manner deeply reveals from the beginning to

the end of the story. Furthermore, she whole-heartedly and truthfully treated to
others and received good will from them. By a work of a servant, Pamela worked
hard. The details she looked for and took care of Mr. B’s mother until she died as
evident of the thoughtful girl. In the first letter sent to her parents, she said: “I have
great trouble, and some comfort, acquaints you with. The trouble is, that my good
lady died of the illness I mentioned to you, left us all much grieved for the loss of
her; for she was a dear good lady, and kind to all us her servants. Much I feared that
as I was taken by her ladyship to wait upon her person, I should be quite destitute
again, and forced to return to you and my poor mother, who have enough to do
maintain yourselves…” Indeed, she had a sensitive heart that knew to stir and pain a
sorrow before the other’s unhappiness.
Secondly, they are innocent, faithful women. Both Pamela and Clarissa are
girls like that. We can find the development of character Pamela and Clarissa from
the beginning to the end of the Stories. They began the story as an obedient girl who
lived a sheltered life. They were two young maid girls with light pure souls and


honest thinking. Therefore, they were in an embarrassing situation. They suddenly
felt confused, occurred the light of the inner feeling. Pamela was embarrassed before
Mrs. B’s death, confused by Mr. B’s behavior to her after that. Clarissa was really
filled with terror when her family attempted to force her to get marriage to a
repulsive up start, Somlmes.
Thirdly, they are educated women. In the aspect of social behavior, education
was the basic for human to act correctly. Pamela was meritorious reward for her
virtue, which was perfected during the time and by education. She received a good
education to become a good woman although she was a servant. Her behavior and
treatment to everyone was truthful and correct. She knew what was right and what
was wrong. She refused Mr. B’s present because she realized his design upon her. A
good education guided Pamela to be dutiful to her parents, tolerant to other,
generous to the poor. Pamela finally became a Nobel woman and had a happy life

with a man who was built on the well education basic. Clarissa was a daughter in
upper-class family. Because of an education girl, she identified the marriage with a
man who had never loved. She realized the inequality for herself when she was not
allowed to decide her future and found the way to escape with dream to find the real
happiness.
The fourth point is that, they are the fearless, stubborn and valiant women.
Reader can recognize the good characteristic in Clarissa character. Her fighting
against the family’s arrangement of marriage showed her good nature. Escaping
with Lovelace was not a correct solution but at least, she showed her family and the
whole society that she did not surrender or accept other’s arrangement to her life.
Her action was an expression of considerable bravery and marked the arousing of
women in the fighting for their essential right and equality between man and
woman. It was an evident for strong girl who dared to fight against groundless
things. She endured the martyrdom and died like a pious person.
The finally even if they have a sin, fault past, they still try to reform. Moll
Flanders was a dominant character for this content. Her past of her was the story of