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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelThis thesis: "A Study of the Idea of Gentlewoman as Seen
through the Main Character in Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders", is
an analysis of the author's use of the idea of a gentlewoman in
his Moll Flanders. It is intended to show that Moll's life
reveal the idea of a gentlewoman and to prove that the idea of a
gentlewoman that Moll wants to reach ironically reflects the
different idea of a gentlewoman, since a gentlewoman may mean
either an aristocratic woman or a prostitute woman. In relevant
to this, the thesis writer pictures how Moll tries hard to
achieve her own concept of the idea of a gentlewoman, that is
having high class woman and having a luxurious life. She uses
any ways such as persuading or tempting man, and stealing.
Ironically, in her attitude and thinking, Moll does not portray
the quality of the denotative meaning of the word gentlewoman
that is an aristocratic woman. On the other hand, she portrays
the quality of the connotative meaning of the word gentlewoman,
that is prostitute, because instead of having the quality of an
aristocratic woman, she becomes a prostitute. Through the three
different meanings of the idea of a gentlewoman, this thesis
proves that although Moll achieves her concept of the idea of a
gentlewoman, that is becoming a high class woman and having a
luxurious life, she still can be said that she does not achieve
the denotative meaning of the word gentlewoman. On the other
hand, she achieves the connotative meaning of the word gentlewo-man.