Natural law, throughout the seventeenth century, served as a touchstone for human beings as social and political animals, evolving into an ignitable mixture of moral and political doctrine and demanding the individual’s rights of self-preservation and self-defence. The Catholic thinker Jean Gerson used the term ‘state of nature’ in the fifteenth century, followed by Hugo Grotius in the first half of the seventeenth century, though according to Richard Tuck, Thomas Hobbes was the first to coin it.
Hobbes defined “the state of meer Nature” as a condition of constant competition, where every man fights the other and each individual is entitled to everything by nature. This environment is exclusively governed by the laws of nature, which are rather inherent principles designed to ensure self-preservation. In this world without written laws, there is no justice, and everyone lives in fear and mistrust of the others.
Born into the very same environment, in London’s notorious Newgate Prison, as the illegitimate daughter of a thief, Moll Flanders seeks for a way to escape social misery all her life. Throughout the narration, she faces significant challenges but, despite numerous setbacks, continuously manages to defy her fate. This paper will shed light on the characters’ “state of meer Nature” on a social level with particular focus on the protagonist: their world is dominated by predators, the characters constantly struggle for self-preservation, and, in this fight for appropriation of property to secure survival, are situated in an equilibrium of threats.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan
- The State of Nature in Moll Flanders
- A Predator-Dominated World
- The Struggle for Self-Preservation
- The Equilibrium of Threats
- Conclusion
- Works cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to shed light on the concept of the "state of nature" as described by Thomas Hobbes in relation to the protagonist of Daniel Defoe's The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders. The paper explores how Moll Flanders' life and actions are shaped by this Hobbesian framework.
- The "state of nature" as a condition of constant competition and struggle for survival
- The role of self-preservation and individual rights in a world without established laws
- The impact of social and economic forces on Moll Flanders' actions and choices
- The influence of Hobbes' philosophy on understanding the motivations and choices of characters in literature
- The potential for individual agency within a framework of social and economic constraints
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction introduces the concept of natural law in the 17th century, highlighting its significance for understanding social and political structures. It connects this concept to the "state of nature" as defined by Thomas Hobbes, emphasizing the importance of self-preservation and the absence of justice in this context. The Introduction then introduces Moll Flanders as a character who seeks to escape social misery and defy her fate, outlining her challenging life experiences and constant need to adapt to shifting circumstances. The introduction concludes with a brief overview of the paper's focus on the characters' "state of nature" on a social level.
Chapter 2 delves into Thomas Hobbes' philosophical treatise Leviathan, discussing his theory of the "state of nature" as a condition of constant warfare between individuals driven by a perpetual desire for power. Hobbes argues that the fundamental equality of men, coupled with limited resources, leads to a dangerous competition for survival. He explores the inherent tension between individual rights and the need for social order, ultimately suggesting that reason and the establishment of a sovereign power are essential for overcoming the dangers of a "state of nature".
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the interplay between Thomas Hobbes' theory of the "state of nature" and the portrayal of social realities in Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders. The core themes include natural law, self-preservation, social hierarchy, individual agency, and the struggle for survival in a world devoid of established laws and institutions. Key concepts from Hobbesian philosophy, such as the desire for power, the constant threat of conflict, and the importance of reason, are explored in relation to the character's actions and choices. The analysis delves into the complexities of human nature within a framework of social and economic constraints, highlighting the potential for both cooperation and conflict in the pursuit of individual well-being.
- Citar trabajo
- Mona Baumann (Autor), 2018, Thomas Hobbes' "State of Nature" in Daniel Defoe's "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &C.". Shedding a New Light on the Protagonist's 'Immoral' Actions, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/446205
