Readers' Knowledge vs. Moll's

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Adapted from the B&N Classics edition questions:

Do readers know more about Moll from her words than she knows about herself? Do they see aspects of her unconscious or her personality that she is incapable of understanding herself?

[GrandmaJean]

In the beginning I saw Moll as naive and took that at face value in that she had no real roll models and no mother to guide/inform her about the world. Moll even admits her lack of knowledge in not knowing.  But, as she grows older and matures one wonders where she gained her insight about men when she herself lacked experience.  Example when she helps her friend snare a husband and when she tricked a man into marrying herself.  I almost felt that her crying bing was made up so she could stay where she was and not have to go out and work.  She knows what she's doing and so far it's working for her.  She did bomb as a mistress but it worked for a while.  The part about allowing him to lay in her bed was naive but then it could have been a part of her plan.  She has to know herself otherwise how can she be so cunning?  Devious?  When she makes a mistake she admits it and says she should have known better.

[GrandmaJean]

How funny roll should have been role.

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Does this attribute make Moll more of a sympathetic character for you?

~ConnieK

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GrandmaJean wrote, in part:

When she makes a mistake she admits it and says she should have known better.

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[ConnieAnnKirk]

Just so you know--you can edit your posts--there should be a link at the top right of the message box called "Options."  When you click on it, it drops down a menu, and one of those will be to edit your message.

~ConnieK

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GrandmaJean wrote:

How funny roll should have been role.

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Message Edited by ConnieK on 02-21-2008 06:52 PM

[GrandmaJean]

Yes I know about the edit but didn't proof before sending. 

 I'm sure I could say I'm sympathetic to Moll but my admiration in  how she handles things in her "Planning methods" is stronger than sympathy for her.  She a gutsy woman.