An Interpretation Of Moll’s Ethical Choices In Moll Flanders From The Perspective Of Ethical Literary Criticism

This thesis uses the method of ethical literary criticism to interpret the heroine Moll’s ethical choices in Moll Flanders, a well-known novel of the 18 th century English novelist Daniel Defoe. The questions this thesis has studied are as follows: What leads to Moll’s moral imbalance? How moral imbalances are embodied in Moll’s ethical choices and lead to her tragic fate? First of all, this thesis studies the external factors in the shaping of Moll’s ethical consciousness. The external factors which greatly influence the forming of Moll’s ethical consciousness mainly include the alienated social values, the survival dilemma of the vulnerable group, the survival dilemma of women, and the lack of family affection. This thesis also starts from Moll herself and analyzes the internal causes which influence her ethical consciousness. These internal factors include the deviation of self cognition, the inflation of desire and the weakness of character. Moreover, this thesis also explores the embodiments of Moll’s moral imbalance from the sexual relationship, the interpersonal relationship and the faith. Under the influence of mammonism, sexual relationships are at the foundation of monetary exchange. Interpersonal relationships are on the basis of utilitarian purposes. And the faith becomes absent, morality collapses.Through analysis, we get to know that, Moll’s moral imbalance is the result of the mutual functions and influences between internal and external factors. Due to moral imbalance, Moll’s sexual relationships, interpersonal relationships and faith all inevitably get negative influences. The innovation of this thesis lies in the relatively objective explanation on Moll’s moral imbalance. It reveals that the external and internal factors both must have great negative influences on the forming of Moll’s ethical consciousness. This thesis also provides a new perspective for the future studies of ethical consciousness. Furthermore, the exploration on the embodiments of Moll’s moral imbalance also has certain realistic significances.