Bodily Currency: Money, Marriage and Beauty in Moll Flanders, Pride & Prejudice, & Jane Eyre Although the leading ladies of Moll Flanders, Pride & Prejudice, & Jane Eyre may seem very different at first, they do have one thing in common; these are women who understand the power of their beauty, whether it be physical or not. Having this understanding, and using it wisely, enables all three women to obtain the worldly goods, and marital partner(s) they desire. Starting with Moll, and moving in a chronological order via Elizabeth to Jane, this paper seeks to examine the ways in which these women use their assets to control their lives, and the men they spend them with. From an early age, Moll Flanders is a vain, manipulative girl, who is aware
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Specifically, because Moll uses her Governess, and confidante, to convince Jemy that she has far more money than she actually does, and then reveals her true worth to him later on, but states that if he has been told differently, it cannot be her fault, for she was not the one who told him so (Defoe, 140). It is also revealed, that Jemy has—likewise—conned Moll into thinking he is worth much more than he is (Defoe, 141), but she discovers that she loves him, …show more content…
Rochester, much as it pains her, when she learns that he is secretly married to the disturbed Bertha (Bronté, 327). This decision leads Jane to a brief stint of homelessness, and ultimately into the household of St. John and his sisters. Here, she learns that her uncle has passed away, leaving her a fortune of twenty thousand pounds which she splits between herself, St. John, and his two sister (Bronté, 396). Now, finally able to provide financially for herself, regardless of employment, Jane finds herself about to marry St. John and travel to India (Bronté, 432). Before she consents to this proposal, however, Jane hears Mr. Rochester’s voice, calling her name, and answers “Wait for me! Oh I will come!” (Bronté, 432). Returning to her true love, Jane finds him not at Thornfield Hall, but rather blind, and one-handed— his condition being a result of attempting to save Bertha from throwing herself off the roof of the burning Thornfield (Bronté, 440). Despite Rochester’s handicap, however, Jane chooses to spend the rest of her life with him, and since Mr. Rochester’s love for her was never grounded in her appearance (which he can no longer see), but rather her beautiful sense of honesty and morals, he happily accepts her (Bronté, 464-465). The two later have a child, and Mr. Rochester regains his sight. Thus, Jane has used her admirable personality traits, and
Specifically, because Moll uses her Governess, and confidante, to convince Jemy that she has far more money than she actually does, and then reveals her true worth to him later on, but states that if he has been told differently, it cannot be her fault, for she was not the one who told him so (Defoe, 140). It is also revealed, that Jemy has—likewise—conned Moll into thinking he is worth much more than he is (Defoe, 141), but she discovers that she loves him, …show more content…
Rochester, much as it pains her, when she learns that he is secretly married to the disturbed Bertha (Bronté, 327). This decision leads Jane to a brief stint of homelessness, and ultimately into the household of St. John and his sisters. Here, she learns that her uncle has passed away, leaving her a fortune of twenty thousand pounds which she splits between herself, St. John, and his two sister (Bronté, 396). Now, finally able to provide financially for herself, regardless of employment, Jane finds herself about to marry St. John and travel to India (Bronté, 432). Before she consents to this proposal, however, Jane hears Mr. Rochester’s voice, calling her name, and answers “Wait for me! Oh I will come!” (Bronté, 432). Returning to her true love, Jane finds him not at Thornfield Hall, but rather blind, and one-handed— his condition being a result of attempting to save Bertha from throwing herself off the roof of the burning Thornfield (Bronté, 440). Despite Rochester’s handicap, however, Jane chooses to spend the rest of her life with him, and since Mr. Rochester’s love for her was never grounded in her appearance (which he can no longer see), but rather her beautiful sense of honesty and morals, he happily accepts her (Bronté, 464-465). The two later have a child, and Mr. Rochester regains his sight. Thus, Jane has used her admirable personality traits, and