Summary:
Provides brief history of writer Daniel Defoe's life, and examines the possibility that he didn't write "A True Apparition of Mrs Veal."
"Wherever God erects a house of prayer, The devil always builds a chapel there, And't will be found, upon examination, The latter has the largest congregation" (Defoe, The True-Born Englishman. Part I. Line1). Daniel Defoe was a man of many beliefs, from political to spiritual he was complex in his values. He was roughly a merchant, soldier, factory owner, bankrupt, spy, pamphleteer, convict, journalist, editor, politically disruptive writer, and novelist. However to this day, his life and works are an interesting and remarkable topic for the curious to delve into.
Defoe's upbringing can be described as none other than humble. He was born to a butcher named James Foe in Stoke Newington, London, England. His family was that of Dissenters. Dissenters could be described as Protestants that did not adhere to the doctrine of the Church of England. Because of his family's refusal to pledge an oath of allegiance to the Church, he could not attend Oxford. However, Defoe still managed to receive a good education at Newington Green. He enjoyed the life of a merchant for many years, however after going bankrupt in 1692 the realm of politics seemed to intrigue him. His political interests were not always to his benefit because of his direct way of expressing himself. He wrote many significant political journals,however it was his 1702 pamphlet, "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters," that truly brought his audience into an uproar. He was pilloried and jailed because of this pamphlet, and during his stay in jail he wrote many other political pieces. Even after his release he continued to write politically for his newspaper, "The Review," from 1704 until1713. During his lifetime he had been associated with 26 periodicals. During this time he also conducted intelligence for both the Tories as well as the Whigs. (Knowledgerush)
Not only was Daniel Defoe a great pamphleteer and journalist, after his political interest subsided he wrote many famous novels which are still read and enjoyed today. In 1719 he wrote, "Robinson Crusoe," a famous novel which tells of a man's shipwreck on a desert island and his consequent adventures. This novel had two less famous sequels to follow. Another famous novel of Defoe's was Moll Flanders, a charming first person narrative of the fall and redemption of a 17th century English woman. She appears to be an immoral adulteress, but she manages to keep the readers sympathy throughout the novel. (Knowledgerush) Defoe surprisingly continued to write all the way through his last days. There is not much known about his last few months, but it is suggested that his family was distressed and he felt the need to separate from them and take refuge in London. He died on April 26, 1731 of a lethargy at his lodgings in Ropemaker's alley, Moorfields. Despite the many unknown facts about his last years his many writings carry on his legacy. (Bartleby)
One of his more significant works titled, "A True Relation of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal," has turned out to be more controversial than just a, " . . .widely popular ghost story" (Rogers 1). The entire title of this short 'ghost' story being, "The True History of the Apparition of One Mrs. Veal the next day after her Death to a one Mrs. Bargrave, at Canterbury, the eighth of September 1705." Although the title may be quite self explanatory, this story is not only about Mrs. Veal's reappearance, but about her touching conversation with her friend Mrs. Bargrave, to whom she hasn't spoken in many years. Mrs. Veal asks Mrs. Bargrave to finish some business for her with her family. However Mrs. Veal's family doubts her appearance to her friend, consequently Mrs. Bargrave, being reliant as usual, convinces them with her ability to recall the texture of Mrs. Veal's dress. This story was published in one of Daniel Defoe's pamphlets in 1705. This story was once very popular however is now little read or known. It has been said that even in 1705 the story was not meant to be read for the purpose of amusement. The apparition recommends the perusal of Drelincourt's book of 'Consolations against the fears of Death,' which is, " . . .one of the heaviest pieces of literature religion has ever given to the world" (Rogers 152). Some literary critics say that Defoe wrote Mrs. Veal in order to advertise Drelincourt's book which would not sell, and, "the ghost story startled and took captive the silly people the author intended" (Roger 153). Many literary men today find it hard to believe that an author would compose a story to sell another mans book, however, Defoe was not a man who was very concerned with his reputation. He felt that Drelincourt's book was one that needed to be read.
Being very versatile in his beliefs quite a few of Defoe's writings were based on demonology and Deofe's more spiritual outlook on the world. Even his down to earth novels such as, "Robinson Crusoe," and "Moll Flanders," have mentioned his theoretical viewpoint. For example when Robinson sees a footprint in the sand he wonders if it belongs to the devil himself. When Moll describes her days of sin, one is tempted to attribute her voice to the devil's influence. (Titlebaum) However, in these books, Defoe's attitude toward the supernatural is minuscule compared to his self expression in Mrs. Veal. Many people doubt Defoe's credibility in writing Mrs. Veal because of his conflicting beliefs on the subject in his other journalism. Near the end of his life he wrote nearly 400 pages about the subject titled, "Essay on the History and Reality of Apparitions. Being An Account of what they are, and what they are not; whence they come, and whence they come not. As also How we may distinguish between the Apparitions of Good and Evil spirits, and how we ought to behave to them." Throughout this he explains his belief that they are not ghosts, they do not revisit, and they certainly do not concern themselves with the affairs of the living. George Starr is one literary critic that believes that Mrs. Veal was not written by Defoe. Not only because of his contrary writings, but because of the falsity of the Drelincourt scandal as well as the author's referral to another author who was for many reasons not friendly with Defoe. As afore mentioned, the purpose of Mrs. Veal was to sell Drelincourt's book, however Starr states that, ." . . by 1706 Drelincourt's book had long since appeared, it had sold steadily for three decades, and Mrs. Veal's recommendation did not make it an immediate best seller" (Starr 423). Starr also suggests that the authors reference to John Norris' "Damon and Pythias. Or Friendship in Perfection," is far from something that Daniel Defoe might write. Reason being that Defoe was a Dissenter, and many of Norris' writings were against Dissent. Defoe's aversion towards these writings would surely have outweighed any admiration he may have had for Norris. George Starr also explains that a belief in ghosts tended to persist among the Anglicans rather than the Dissenters. Further supporting Starr's point, Defoe firmly suggests in his, "Essay on the History and Reality of Apparitions. . ." that, ." . . the unembodied Souls of Men do not appear again, or concern themselves with the Affairs if Life; that the good would not if they could, and the bad could not if they would . . . There is no such thing as any Apparition at all" (Starr 422). He clearly aligns himself with the Dissenting tradition in denying the existence of ghosts. George Starr says that, in his literature, Defoe exercises his wit against ghost belief both playfully and seriously. In his essay an entire chapter is called, "Of the many strange Inconveniences and ill Consequences which would attend us in this world, if the souls of Men and Women, unembodyed and departed, were at liberty to visit the earth, from whence they had been dismiss'd, and to concern themselves about human affairs, either such as had been their own, or what were belonging to other people" (Starr 437). In this chapter he talks humorously about the fact that if there were such things the world would be uninhabitable and that there would be more apparitions than people. To Starr it is not clear who wrote, "A Relation if the Apparition of Mrs. Veal," but he is sure that it was not Defoe.
Whether Daniel Defoe wrote about Mrs. Veal to sell Drelincourt's book, to entertain his audience, or even if he didn't write it at all, Defoe is still a literary icon. In the Cambridge History of English and American Literature it is said that Defoe was capable of writing almost anything, and that few pens have ever filled with greater facility a larger number of sheets. Even with all of his faults, he was probably the most liberal and versatile writer of his age.
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