or on the concept of agency

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	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Female Autonomy and the Making of Self in Moll Flanders or on the subject of agency Layla Todd Feb 24   READ IN APP   Now that we have explored the concept of the ‘evil woman’ as the focal character in Moll Flanders, a possible lens through which to enhance our reading of the narrative events Moll Flanders initiates and carries out is through the question of agency. To what extent are the characters in control of their decisions? Brief Definition of Agency English professor Lynda Zwinger refers to agency as the extent to which the narrator has the power to affect his/her own life and breaks agency down further into four main pathways Self-mastery: the protagonist masters, enlarges, or betters the self Status/victory: the protagonist attains a heightened status or prestige amongst their peers) Achievement/responsibility: the protagonist has significant achievement in some task, job, or goal) Empowerment: the protagonist is made better through an interaction with something larger and greater than the self Moll Flanders: Heroine or Villainess? Layla Todd · Feb 7 A primary theme in Moll Flanders is the bold presentation of the ‘evil woman’ as the focal character through whom the narrative is filtered. However, this impression is largely created by the preface which tells us to perceive Moll as a potentially immoral woman. Read full story A brief recap of events so far: Moll advises the banker handling her money to divorce his whoring wife but refuses to marry him until he is divorced despite his proposal; she wants to try for a richer man yet keeps his offer on the table as backup Whilst staying in the country, Moll marries James, a Lancashire country man at the advice of her friend believing him to have wealth only to discover her new husband was depending on Moll’s purported wealth; the two face ruin in love together James leaves Moll to try raising money as a farmer; Moll moves to London pregnant by him and takes up board with a governess/pawn broker who handles women in unfortunate circumstances Moll sends her baby son into foster care and promptly marries the banker when he writes announcing his divorce 5 years later the banker dies and to avoid starving, Moll takes to thieving. By selling her stolen goods through the governess/pawnbroker, she makes a wealthy living for herself and becomes the most successful and wanted thief of her time A Note on POV Moll is the primary voice through which events are filtered and appears to exercise narrative agency by the act of telling her story. However, as the extent to which her narrative has been edited, if at all, is unknown, it is difficult to judge the level of agency she exerts. Moll’s Cycles of Agency Furthermore, Moll repeatedly cycles through the pathways of agency with the notable exception of the final stage of empowerment. Moll’s story is best characterized as a collection of mini stories, each with their own beginning, middle, and end. In each escapade she achieves self-mastery, often temporary status, and achievement yet she is never fully made better through and interaction with something greater than herself. Her self-mastery is characterized by her ability to spin vague stories about her circumstances that imply she is a woman of wealth to ensnare men she believes will take care of her, thus bettering her circumstances. This leads to victory where she secures a marriage or small financial gain, and achievement where she lives comfortably for a few years before her husband or lover dies or abandons her. However, after every small financial gain through marriage or mistressing, Moll’s circumstances revert to the desperate, compelling her to again return to the beginning stage of seeking money. Thus, she avoids empowerment or bettering herself. Further Narrative Technique Moll is careful to call into doubt her own agency and convictions. When she takes up thieving, Moll writes that, “I am very sure I had no manner of design in my head when I went out; I neither knew nor considered where to go, or on what business; but as the devil carried me out and laid his bait for me, so he brought me, to be sure, to the place, for I knew not whither I was going or what I did.” She shifts the responsibility from herself to the temptations of the devil and, though she tells that she prays for forgiveness against her sins, she admits freely that the devil and her circumstances commit her to repeated theft. The villain then is perhaps best characterized as the society within which Moll finds herself, a temporal social scene that demands women prostrate themselves before men in order to secure a form of livelihood. Letters By Layla is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid You're currently a free subscriber to Letters By Layla. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. Upgrade to paid   Like Comment Restack   © 2026 Layla Todd 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe