Reading the analogical structure of Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders

The purpose of this thesis is to argue that Daniel Defoe exhibits a greater degree of control and design in Robinson Crusoe (1719) and Moll Flanders (1724) than sometimes has been acknowledged. Central to this greater degree of control and design is the use of analogy as an element of structure in both novels. An analogical reading of the structure of both Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders reveals a central idea established in the opening episode which is then reworked and reconfigured in subsequent episodes. Complementing the presence of this broad analogy are a series of verbal motifs that link individual characters, incidents, and episodes. These smaller analogies are evident in both works, but Moll Flanders exhibits a more pervasive and intricate use of these verbal motifs, suggesting a progression in Defoe's control over his fiction.