Abstract This paper examines DanielDefoe's ambivalent attitude towards the supernatural as seen in his novels "Moll Flanders" and "Journal of the Plague Year". The paper asserts that ambivalence is reflected in his realistic characters, who express contradictions in their feelings towards supernatural experiences. The paper points out that Defoe incorporates events that include the supernatural world into both novels, raising questions about his reasons for including such spiritual accounts in novels otherwise prided on their realism. The paper maintains that, most likely, the scenes involving supernatural phenomenon represent the divine world in which Defoe was living. The paper concludes that Defoe's attitude towards the supernatural remains unclear, for although he cannot deny its significance, he does lightly mock it by creating characters that remain themselves in doubt.
From the Paper "The supernatural plays an important role in Journal of the Plague Year because it sets the tone for most of the novel. Right from the start it is made to be a true account of events and these celestial interferences are prominent factors in portraying the attitude of H.F. In the early parts of the novel, H.F. struggles with the decision of whether he should stay in London or leave to escape the plague that was upon the city. He attributes his decision to stay mostly as "the direction of the Divine power" and "an intimation from heaven." His motivation comes mostly from a superstition common to people of his time and, as he goes on to explain, he felt his staying in London was the will of God and that ultimately God would protect his health and well-being. After explaining all this to his reader, H.F. makes the decision to remain in London, weathering and recording the plague's progress. The contradictions in H.F.'s views arise when, in the beginning of his story, he describes the black magic beginning to be found throughout the town. He calls the belief in astrologers, fortune tellers, and the like as "horrid delusions" and is disgusted by the fact that so many people are allowing themselves to fall into these money making traps."
Abstract This paper examines how Charles Darwin's "Journey of the Beagle" and DanielDefoe's 18th century novel, "Robinson Crusoe", both provide 18th and mid 19th century encapsulations of the observable, natural world from the point of view of a naturalist and an unwitting traveler and survivor. It looks at how the deployment of narrative, drama, and personal experience in the accounts of both Defoe and Darwin exhibit similar literary elements, such as the use of dramatic narrative, dialogue, and the cataloging of picaresque or memorable details. It also discusses how Darwin sees himself in a different guise, the guise of a scientific observer, as well as an individual experiencing life in a strange place, while Defoe's fictional explorer, Robinson Crusoe, only sees himself as the latter.
From the Paper "Darwin, however, does not debate the classification of animals in relation to humanity; rather he classifies the animals simply as animals"thus showing not only a less moral, but also a less andocentric view of the world than Defoe's literary progeny. Crusoe's narrative may have inspired wonder in his readers, but there is no corresponding wonder in the strangeness and lack of civilization"rather Crusoe is delighted to find the early trappings moral civilization in wild places and wonders at his potential ability to recreate that civilization so far away from it. Once again, Crusoe's narrative and contrast between civilized and uncivilized, between the good practice of home and the wild unchristian island, is cast in a moral, rather than an exploratory tone from the beginning."
Abstract DanielDefoe has been called the father of the English novel. His book, "Robinson Crusoe", became a template for adventure tales and the source for many adaptations. Defoe blends a myriad of factors together to appeal to and captivate his reader. This essay examines these factors in detail, using as a reference a movie adaption to the book, "Cast Away", directed by Robert Zemeckis.
From the Paper "In 1719 the world was entering into the age of modern science and the value of religion came into question. Defoe's character Crusoe gains important perspective on this topical issue while sequestered on his island. He goes from being a fool-hardy young man with no respect for religion to a "scholar in the Scripture knowledge" (8). Similarly Cast Away set in the late twentieth century tackles the issue of time and freedom from responsibility, something which the main character Chuck and the majority of western civilization have little of."
Abstract This paper analyzes various themes found in DanielDefoe's "Robinson Crusoe", including the concept of order and disorder as it appears in the work. Following a plot summary and brief biography of Defoe, the paper focuses on the opposition between these two concepts, pointing out the alleged ordered and disordered elements in the novel. The reviewer then considers the conflict between order and disorder in the varied spheres of the the work. Quotes from the novel are used to support the reviewer's hypotheses. The paper concludes by pointing out the influence of "Robinson Crusoe" on modern literature.
From the Paper "From the very beginning of the novel, the reader is encountered with sharp contrasts, foreshadowing the unfolding of the plot. Indeed, Robinson Crusoe seems to deal in extremes. It presents a world where one state counters its very opposite. We will see that the primary idea of order strictly opposing disorder is portrayed time and again throughout Robinson Crusoe. Indeed, the book seems to set its main themes in polarities. Our study will concentrate on the three focal instances of order and disorder, that is, those partaking of nature and its forces, of spirituality and morality and of society and politics."
Abstract This paper is a review of DanielDefoe's novels "Robinson Crusoe" and "Moll Flanders". The paper specifically discusses to what extent these novels represent a microcosm of the world of Defoe. The paper follows a tendency toward the poststructuralist method of deconstruction, which seeks to unlock a reflection of the text by exposing its counter side, and therefore showing what the work of Defoe, can tell us about the past.
From the Paper "Before an attempt can be made to construct any critical theory regarding Defoe's vision of society and civilisation, it is necessary to put into context the corridors of thought which may lead to its interpretation. The idea that a response to a work is the same as its meaning demands the question: Can a work can have as many meanings as we have responses?"
Abstract This paper discusses the novel, "Moll Flanders," and the issues raised about morality in the life of the title character. The paper begins with a summary of the novel with quotes from the text, giving the reader a background for the later analysis. Common themes of religion, poverty, crime, marriage, and overall ambiguity are analyzed, with attention given to the time period in which the novel was written and the literary style.
From the Paper "In Daniel Defoe's novel Moll Flanders, it is difficult for readers to determine the true moral and value system that the ambiguous Moll adheres to. Some readers may see her as a product of the society in which she was born and raised; other readers may see her as a free agent acting of her own volition. Defoe's brilliant writing style and technique ensures that readers have a favourable impression of Moll at the end of the novel, developing a character who has endured improbable hardships throughout the course of her life."
Abstract Both Alexander Pope and DanielDefoe approached women differently but with equal passion in their literature. One might say of Pope too that on the whole his poetry suggests he has discovered a woman's world--the world of female portraiture and feminized mock-epic and feminine "Gothic" sensibility--but not women. As early as the 1697 Essay upon Projects, Defoe had criticized conventional restrictions on women, calling there for the foundation of "An Academy for Women."
Abstract This paper is an eight page review of DanielDefoe's Robinson Crusoe. Specifically, the paper looks at the relationship between economic prosperity/survival and divine providence in Defoe's masterwork. As will be evident when reviewing the text, these two themes are, far and away, the most prominent in the narrative and they reflect the social and cultural factors taking place in the world in which they were written.
From the Paper "Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe is one of the great works of modern western literature. This paper explores Crusoe's master work by looking at two broad themes that, at first glance, might seem unrelated; to wit, the following paper looks at the theme of economic survival and/or prosperity in Crusoe's work; from there, the paper examines the importance of religion and the function of providence in Defoe's text. Quite simply, this paper argues that Defoe's work is suffused with the notion that material prosperity is very much a product of providence and that, he or she who finds favour in heaven will find riches on earth."
Abstract This paper presents an in-depth discussion about the novel "Robinson Crusoe". The writer of this paper uses several outside sources as well as the book to illustrate the myth and fictional characteristics of the novel itself. The writer also underscores the use of these qualities by pointing out examples from the story.
From the Paper ?Authors throughout history have used their talents to convey ideas and stories to use. Often times the stories are originally based on something that happened in real life, however the author takes the initial premise, and adds myth and fiction to the mix to create an intriguing tale. The author often uses fictional help or mythical anecdotes for the purpose of making the story more interesting and more themes focused. Authors of fiction have often stated that fiction has to be even more believable than true life.?
Abstract This essay explores Defoe's preoccupation with the theme of family relationships which is a recurring motif in much of his work. Contains a particular concentration on his two novels 'Moll Flanders' and 'Roxana'.
The moral of 'Moll Flanders' is that abandoning children has hidden long term consequences, some of which are not only harrowing but life threatening, and that these consequences have an effect not only on the individual, but on society as a whole. The moral of 'Roxana' is If the "unsufferable" behaviour of servants is not curbed then the natural order of society will become undermined by the corrupting influence of those "less morally endowed".
From the Paper "In Moll Flanders and Roxana, by Daniel Defoe, the theme of family relationships, relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and masters and servants, is a recurring motif. This theme is not only a feature of these two novels, it was also a preoccupation of the author?s, and is a subject of some his earlier works, in particular his treatise, The Family Instructor (1715), which was published in three parts. It is difficult, if not impossible, to separate Defoe from his themes. But for Defoe the family was of primary importance, as David Blewett asserts in Defoe's Art of Fiction: Moll as Whore and Thief:"
Abstract C.S. Lewis, in "English Literature in the Sixteenth Century", dismissed Daniel's "Delia" on the grounds that: "It offers no ideas, no psychology, and of course no story: it is simply a masterpiece of phrasing and melody" (Lewis 491). Samuel Daniel's sonnet sequence, "Delia" (1592), is undeniably remarkable for its phrasing and melody. However, one can take issue with Lewis' depiction of Daniel's achievement. This essay will argue that, contrary to Lewis' statement, Daniel's "Delia" reveals a complex level of interlocking patterns of thematic ideas and imagery. One cannot assert broad generalizations about a poet's entire work, much less the poetic production of an entire era, from the textual analysis of a single work. Includes annotated bibliography.
Abstract E.L. Doctorow has always been a writer who juxtaposes fictional events with historical ones. "The Book of Daniel" is no exception. While the character of Daniel is fictional, the events depicted--a thinly disguised version of the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial, the communist scare fanned by Senator McCarthy, the Viet Nam War--are all rooted in history. Daniel's journey then is both historical and personal, ricocheting between the past and the present as he attempts to find meaning in the events of his own life and those of his culture. "The Book of Daniel" is like its Biblical counterpart, part lamentation and part exhortation. History is a catalogue of a "time of trouble" in which some figures of the past will awake to 'everlasting contempt' while others turn to righteousness. Daniel struggles with both, an inherited past and an uncertain future. In the end, however, he finds his way.
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of Samuel Daniel's "Delia" through its structure and the creation of the modern sonnet. The author explores Daniel's influences including Sir Philip Sidney and Shakespeare, and his use of the Petrarchan writing mechanisms. Further this paper examines the significance of the sonnet to the English Renaissance and European poetry.
From the paper:
"Samuel Daniel's Delia presents to the modern reader a nearly perfect mechanism through which to contemplate the structure of the sonnet in English as it first came to be incorporated into the common practice of this language. His use of Petrarchan forms and metrical traditions demonstrates that the sonnet when it first entered into wide use in the Renaissance was indeed a direct carry-over from the Italian, a mimicking by English writers of the Italianate structure of neoclassicism, a harkening back to Rome and so to Athens."
Abstract This paper discusses the Prophet Daniel's vision of 70 Weeks through interpretations, theories, views, and fulfillments, including the references to Christ and the tribulations that were experienced. With all of the critical prophecies credited to him, the paper provides insights into who Daniel was and why he felt he needed to share his wisdom. The concern for historians regarding Daniel's work revolves around the fact that there are numerous problems confirming or even explaining some of the prophetical meanings of his passages.
From the Paper "The name Daniel in Hebrew means God is my Judge. Daniel was one of the most important of the prophets from the Old Testament. But his prophecies also carried over into the New Testament since much of the prophecy done by Daniel correspond with the apostle John and his work in the Book of Revelation. Daniel's acclaim and importance to the ancient Christian movement can be demonstrated by the fact that Jesus specifically referred to events from the Book of Daniel that were expected to happen prior to His return. Modern day religious scholars believe that Daniel was born a noble and maybe even an actual member of the royal family of Judah. ?Daniel thereafter held a very high position in the government for about 70 years, the actual ruler of what is modern-day Iraq, right until his famous "handwriting on the wall" interpretation on the night before the fall of the Babylonian kingdom to Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:1-29).? (KeyWay, 2004)"
Abstract The paper examines the book of Daniel, and explains how the Lord's power is exhibited as He gives awesome insight into the future, protects His followers in fatal situations, and illustrates the end of time. The paper discusses the basic storyline and describes the various miracles and events witnessed and lived through by Daniel and his friends. The paper concludes that the book of Daniel offers insight to questions of omnipotence and the final judgment. The author adds that in his /her opinion, it is easier to believe in a higher being than existing on earth questioning life and its purpose.
From the Paper "The definition for all-powerful is possessing unlimited authority or power. Other words used to define all-powerful include: omnipotent, invincible, supreme, and almighty. The Lord of the Jewish and Christian faith uses these words in reference to their God. The Hebrew Bible contains writings of a prophet during the Babylonian exile. "The God of Daniel is the omnipotent Lord who controls history, setting up and removing earthly rulers and empires, but also rescuing his people from the power of those kings and teaching them the limits of their sovereignty. (Davies 565)" In the book of Daniel, the Lord's power is exhibited as he gives awesome insight into the future (via visions/interpretations), protects his followers in fatal situations, and illustrates the end of time."
