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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Conclusion
Explanation and Analysis:
As a highly dramatic novel full of twists and turns, the mood of Moll Flanders changes throughout. The mood changes in the novel are somewhat cyclical—Moll suffers (and audiences feel that pain with her), Moll thinks she has found a way out of her suffering (and readers feel hopeful along with her), and Moll ends up suffering once more (and readers experience that disappointment as well).
The moments of optimism in the novel generally center on Moll finding a man who she believes will finally offer her the financial stability that she craves, only to find that he cannot give her what she needs (whether because he lied about his wealth, dies, is secretly her half-brother, or stops paying her for sex). This happens six different times in the novel—with all five of her husbands and the Gentleman, her primary benefactor when she is a sex worker.
That said, Moll’s story—like many 18th century novels—ends with a happily ever after. So, while the mood is primarily bleak and agonizing for much of the story, it ends with Moll finding financial stability and a loving partnership with James, her fourth husband who she partners with again once she is in Virginia. The following passage captures the joyful mood at the conclusion of the novel:
Thus all these little Difficulties were made easy, and we liv’d together with the greatest Kindness and Comfort imaginable […] And now notwithstanding all the Fatigues, and all the Miseries we have both gone thro’, we are both in good Heart and Health […] we resolve to spend the Remainder of our Years in sincere Penitence, for the wicked Lives we have lived.
As Moll describes, all her “Difficulties were made easy” and she lived with her husband “with the greatest Kindness and Comfort imaginable,” both of them “in good Heart and Health.” The easeful mood here is only complicated by the final acknowledgement that, while Moll and James are comfortable and happy, they have not forgotten “the wicked Lives” they previously led and feel “sincere Penitence” for them.
Related Themes:
