Eight Famous Novels and the Theme of Social Rebellion

Pamela,Moll Flanders,The American,A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court,Lady Chatterley's Lover,The Color Purple,Orlando, and The Sound and the Fury are novels that address the theme of social rebellion. Each of the novels-that is, the long, complex, prose narratives dealing with characters within the frame of a sequence of events, present characters that challenge the social ideologies of specific historical periods. In the novels, the theme of rebellion is revealed through settings, characters, and plot lines. The theme of rebellion links these eight famous novels; consequently, the importance of the novel as a vehicle for social protest is revealed.

In Pamela, Samuel Richardson illustrates the theme of social rebellion. The story is set in eighteenth century England. Most of the characters in the story reflect contemporary eighteenth century beliefs regarding social structure. In contrast, the central character, Pamela is a revolutionary figure. Pamela defies eighteenth century conceptions of working-class women; she rebels against both social order and patriarchal power. In the novel, Pamela speaks out through letters and journal entries against the mistreatment she receives from her master, Mr. B; he sexual propositions, kidnaps, and attempts to rape her. Pamela's rebellious nature is reflected through her refusal of Mr. B's advances such as when she rejects Mr. B's proposal for her to become his mistress saying:

I know, sir, by woeful experience, that I am in your power: I know all the resistance I can make will be poor and weak, and perhaps stand me in little stead: I dread your will to ruin me is as great as your power: yet, sir, will I dare to tell you, that I will make no freewill offering of my virtue (229).

Pamela's repeated refusals to accept Mr. B on his terms challenges eighteenth century conceptions of social order and gender power. In eighteenth century England, Pamela's rejection of Mr. B's proposal would have been considered revolutionary; therefore, it reveals the novel's theme of social rebellion.

Pamela's repulsion and rejection of Mr. B's proposals cause him to reevaluate his use of power. Mr. B falls in love with Pamela because she rebels against his unscrupulous proposals. Consequently, he acknowledges his unjust treatment of her, and attempts to repent for his actions. Essentially, Pamela achieves social reform (the transformation of Mr. B) through social rebellion (her refusal to submit). Likewise, Pamela's transcendence of social class through her marriage to Mr. B results from her social rebellion. In Pamela, Richard uses the setting, characters, and plot to reveal the theme of social rebellion; specifically, he addresses the class and gender bias that existed in eighteenth century England. Therefore, Richardson uses the novel form as vehicle for social protest.

In Moll Flanders, Daniel Defoe addresses the theme of social rebellion through, the main character, Moll Flanders. The novel falls into the genre of the Picaresque novel-that is, an episodic, often satirical novel about a low class individual (picaro or picara), who attempts to transcend social class through cunning; therefore, it naturally addresses the theme of social rebellion. Moll Flanders embodies the characteristics of a picara. First, she is an individual of low social standing (the orphaned child of a prostitute); furthermore, she was born in Newgate Prison. Second, she rebels against social structure through her crafty endeavors to transcend social class.

In Moll Flanders, the settings and plot combine to reveal the theme of social rebellion. The story takes place in the late seventeenth century and addresses several socially significant historical themes; for instance, the novel addresses poverty, prostitution, and crime in seventeenth century London. In addition, the novel addresses the deportation of criminals to the Chesapeake Bay colonies. Defoe structures the events of Moll Flanders life against significant historical landscapes; specifically, the settings bring to light a historical period of intense social rebellion in England and its American colonies.

From childhood, Moll Flanders rejects the accepted social structure. She becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming a Gentlewoman; however, she is naïve about the laws governing social structure. Her naiveté is revealed when she is seduced by her mistress's eldest son. The eldest son convinces her that if she submits to his sexual advances he will provide for her financially, and marry her after he comes into his estate. However, he does not marry; in an ironic turn of events, he convinces her to accept his younger brother's proposal of marriage.

The event shatters Moll Flanders idealized perception of social structure and her opportunities for class transcendence. Afterwards, she combines trickery and immorality in her plots to transcend social class. Over the course of her life, she marries five times, spends twelve year as a prostitute, and spends twelve years as a thief. The story climaxes with Moll Flanders repentance of her wickedness while in Newgate prison; therefore, the novel can be seen as a form of social protest against the immortality and criminality that pervaded the age. Eventually, Moll Flanders achieves wealth and social status; she inherits a small plantation from her mother. Throughout the novel, the theme of social rebellion is revealed through Moll Flanders attempts to attain wealth and transcend social class, as well as, the historical settings.

In The American, Henry James addresses social rebellion through his central character, Christopher Newman's romantic courtship of a French aristocrat, Claire de Bellegarde. The novel addresses the social barriers that existed between members of the aristocracy and those of the Noveu rich, as well as, those that existed between American and European culture. The novel's protagonist, Christopher Newman's challenges social class structure through his attempts to secure Claire de Bellegarde's hand; similarly, he attempts to transcend the cultural barriers between Europe and America society.

Through the settings, plot lines, and characters, Henry James brings to light the social and cultural ideological conflicts between nineteenth century Europe and America. In the novel, Henry James uses the relationship between Claire de Bellegarde and Christopher Newman to illustrate the irreconcilable differences between the aristocratic and capitalistic ideals. Christopher Newman's attempts to rebel against the social ideologies of the French aristocracy illustrate the novels theme of social rebellion. However, Christopher Newman's rebellion is unsuccessful; Claire rejects his proposal and enters a nunnery. Essentially, Christopher Newman rebellion against European social structure leads him to reevaluate his idealistic perception of European society and culture. In The American, Henry James uses the theme of rebellion to protest against the tendency of Americans to romanticize European social institution.

In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain reveals the theme of social rebellion through his use of settings, characters, and plot lines. In the novel, the main character, Hank Morgan time travels from nineteenth century American to the Gilded Age. Hank Morgan ends up in the fabled city of Camelot, hanging out with mythological figures such as Merlin, King Arthur, and Lancelot. Mark Twain combines the social ideologies of the two historical periods to bring to light the injustices inherent in both class system and capitalists ideologies. For instance, he illustrates the shortcomings of official and popular culture through his satirical presentation of Hank Morgan's attempts to incorporate nineteenth century social institutions and facilitate social rebellion in Camelot.

Mark Twain essentially uses the settings, characters, and plot lines to protest against the self-serving nature of Capitalist ideologies. In the novel, Hank Morgan embodies the ideologies of capitalism. When he finds himself in Camelot, he uses trickery to secure a high social position. Subsequently, he develops and executes numerous institutions and educational programs to institute economic growth and further secure his power position. Ultimately, Hank Morgan's capitalistic plot to undermine the institutions of society and the Church leads to a revolution. In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain uses the satirical presentation of Hank Morgan in combination with setting and plot elements to present the theme of social rebellion, in order to, protest against the injustices of capitalism.

In Lady Chatterley's Lover, D.H. Lawrence addresses the theme of social rebellion is revealed through the setting, characters, and plot lines. The novel is takes place during Europe Industrial Age. Lady Chatterley's husband, Clifford symbolizes the sterile, mechanical, and cold nature of the Industrial Age. Numerous characteristics connect him to the Industrial Age; for example, he is crippled, impotent and an entrepreneur in the mining business. Lady Chatterley, Connie rebels against her husband. Therefore, she can be seen as a revolutionary figure; she rejects the ideals of the Industrial Age, Victorian morality, and social structure.

Connie's social rebellion manifests itself through her affair with her husband's gamekeeper, Mellors. In contrast to Clifford, Mellors is connected with the natural world and intense sexuality. D.H. Lawrence's addresses the theme of social rebellion through Connie's rejection of Clifford. Connie rediscovers human tenderness though her relationship with Mellor; therefore, her social rebellion leads to her spiritual awakening. In essence, D.H. Lawrence uses the novel as a vehicle for social protest; he protests against the coldness, and social indifference that marked human relationships during the Industrial Age.

In The Color Purple, Alice Walker addresses significant cultural ideologies that affected woman of color during the early nineteenth century. Consequently, The Color Purple belongs to the genre of the Multicultural novel-that is, a novel about a cultural minority group that illustrates specific cultural values. The novel addresses social inequalities and the mistreatment of African American women by their male counterparts through the plot lines, characters, and settings. In addition, the novel has a historical setting (rural Georgia during the early nineteenth century) and centers on the life of an African American female, Celie.

Over the course of her life, Celie is repeatedly taken advantage of and abused by her male counterparts; her father rapes her, takes her children away, and marries her off. Likewise, her husband physically and emotionally abuses her. Celie's eventually social rebellion results from her intimate relationship with Shug (her husband's lover and a self-sufficient, outspoken female). Following Shug's example, Celie rebels against her husband and the cultural and social ideologies that restrict her. Essentially, Alice Walker uses The Color Purple to protest against the social and cultural mistreatment of African American women in the south and illustrate the importance of feminine loyalty as a vehicle for social change.

In Orlando, Virginia Woolf brings to light the theme of social rebellion through the exploits of the central character, Orlando. The stories plot revolves around the lives of Orlando, an immortal, and her rejection of social constrains. Throughout the novel, Orlando rejects social inequalities and restrictions. The novel first presents Orlando as a servant boy to Queen Elizabeth. In the first of many social rebellions, Orlando betrays the Queen; he is caught kissing a girl. Likewise, he rebels against social structure when he disregards his engagement to the Lady O'Brian and attempts to gain the hand of the Russian Princess, Sasha. In the novel, Orlando begins the story as a boy and is transformed into a woman at the end of the Elizabethan Age.

Woolf uses Orlando's sexual transformation to bring to light the social ideologies governing gender relationships. As a woman, Orlando addresses feminist concerns such as gender bias, Victorian expectations, and sexual orientation. In Orlando, Virginia Woolf addresses the changing views concerning social structure and sexuality through Orlando's dual-sexuality (she lives as both a man and a woman) and her rebellions against accepted the social and gender values of specific historical periods. Essentially, Virginia Woolf's uses the novel as a form of protest against gender bias; she creates a character that rebels against gender norms and strict gender classifications (the tendency to attribute certain traits with woman and others with men) and social class restrictions.

In The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner addresses social rebellion through the novels settings, characters, and plot lines. In the novel, the theme of rebellion is most clearly seen through the examination of the female characters, Caddy and Quentin. Both of the women rebel against patriarchal power; therefore, they rebel against social structure. Caddy is presented as a free spirited woman; she stands up to her brothers, engages in premarital sex, and eventually, becomes self-sufficient. Likewise, Quentin rejects patriarchal power, and social structure. For example, Quentin rebels against social beliefs regarding class though her sexual promiscuity; she has relations with men from lower classes. In addition, Quentin rebels against patriarchal power; she steals from the family's patriarchal power figure, Jason and runs away. William Faulkner illustrates the theme of social rebellion through the female characters rejection of and rebellion against patriarchal power and sexual mores.

The theme of social rebellion is presented through settings, characters, and plot lines in the novels: Pamela,Moll Flanders,The American,A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court,Lady Chatterley's Lover,The Color Purple,Orlando, and The Sound and the Fury. Although the novels address different forms of social rebellion and different historical concern, each novel presents revolutionary characters that attempt to undermine social structure and ideologies. In fact, each of these novels addresses the theme of social rebellion as a means to protest against social inequality. Consequently, the reappearance of the theme of social rebellion in numerous famous novels illustrates the genre's significance as a vehicle for addressing social concerns and advocating social change. Works Cited

Defoe, Daniel . Moll Flanders. London: Penguin Books, 1989.

Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury. New York: Vintage International, 1990.

James, Henry. The American. London: Penguin Books, 1981.

Lawrence, D.H. Lady Chatterley's Lover. London: Penguin Books, 1994.

Richardson, Samuel. Pamela; or, Virture Rewarded. London: Penguin Books, 2003.

Twain, Mark. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. New York: Bantam Classics, 1983.

Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2003.

Woolf, Virginia. Orlando. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 1956.