Daniel Defoe, the famous English writer, was made to stand in the pillory as punishment for offending the government and the church with his satire “The Shortest Way With Dissenters.” This date marks a significant moment in Defoe’s life and career.
The Crime and the Punishment
Daniel Defoe was known for his sharp wit and incisive political commentary. In “The Shortest Way With Dissenters,” he used satire to criticize the harsh treatment of religious dissenters by the government and the church. However, the authorities did not take kindly to his work. Defoe was charged with seditious libel, a serious crime at the time.
The punishment for his offense was to stand in the pillory, a form of public humiliation where the offender was locked in a wooden frame and subjected to ridicule and abuse from the public. Despite the harshness of the punishment, Defoe’s popularity protected him to some extent, as many of his supporters threw flowers instead of stones.
Aftereffects and Literary Impact
The experience of being pilloried had a profound effect on Defoe. It did not silence him; rather, it inspired some of his later works, including the famous novel “Moll Flanders.” Defoe continued to write and contribute to political and social discourse, cementing his place in literary history.
Sources
“Today in Labor History: Daniel Defoe Pilloried for Defending Dissent.” PeoplesWorld.org, 2015. https://peoplesworld.org/article/today-in-labor-history-daniel-defoe-pilloried-for-defending-dissent/
“Daniel Defoe Put in the Pillory.” History Today, 2015. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/daniel-defoe-put-pillory
“This Day in History: July 31st – Defoe and the Pillory.” Today I Found Out, 2015. https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/07/this-day-in-history-july-31st-defoe-and-the-pillory/
“31 July 1703: Daniel Defoe Pilloried for Seditious Libel.” MoneyWeek, 2015. https://moneyweek.com/331663/31-july-1703-daniel-defoe-pilloried-for-seditious-libel