Question

Most of Daniel Defoe's novels include major characters who do not belong to the upper class and suffer a life of hardship. What may have helped the writer to realistically portray such settings for his novel?
his close friendship with middle- and lower-class people

his own upbringing in a lower middle-class family

his own hardships during his frequent visits to prison

his visits to poorer sections of the city to preach religion

Answer 1

His own hardships during his frequent visits to prison

This seems most accurate. He didn't really have a lower-class upbringing (to my knowledge) and he didn't entirely befriend lower-class individuals. He did spend quite a bit of time in prison where he wrote anonymous writings.