Moll Flanders
What is the main contrast between romantic love in Romeo and Juliette with the material and economic vision of marriage presented in Moll Flanders?
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In actuality, both Romeo and Juliet have one thing in common, that being the fact the romantic love doesn't enter the marital arrangement. Juliet's engagement to Paris is arranged by her father. It does seem, however, that Lord Capulet allows Juliet a say in the arrangement, though in the end.... he takes it back. In this, we come to understand that arranges marriages provided socio-economical stability, as well as social stability.
In Moll Flanders, we have a similar situation but not without differences. Marriage contracts are more often than not dependant upon wealth. Men were primarily interested in women who brought wealth into the marriage. Moll is drawn to men with money.... the promise of money leads to her acceptance of being a mistress rather than a wife. She sought to marry a wealthy man, but she also notes that "money only made a woman agreeable".