What is the main message of Moll Flanders?

The main message of Moll Flanders is the struggle for survival and the consequences of making immoral choices.

Who is the author of Moll Flanders?

The author of Moll Flanders is Daniel Defoe.

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Moll Flanders Book Summary - Moll Flanders Book explained in key points

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Moll Flanders summary

Name: Moll Flanders
Rating: 4.1 (115 reviews)
Author: Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe

The Pursuit of Fortune by Any Means

4.1 (115 ratings)

11 mins

Brief summary

Moll Flanders is a classic novel by Daniel Defoe that tells the story of a clever and resourceful woman who rises from poverty to wealth, using her wit and charm to survive in 18th century society.

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Fiction Historical Fiction British Literature Classic Novel Success Culture Self-Help Memoirs Literature

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Moll Flanders
Summary of 4 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 4

What’s in it for me? Embark on a journey through Moll Flanders’s dynamic life of ambition and repentance.

Moll Flanders unveils the harrowing yet captivating tale of Moll, a woman who faces the ruthlessness of 17th-century English society head-on. Born in a prison and left to fend for herself from an early age, Moll's life is a testament to the power of resilience in the face of adversity. Through her quest for economic stability and social status, Defoe paints a vivid picture of the era's societal norms and the limited avenues available for women to secure their futures. As Moll navigates through her marriages, engages in criminal activities, and ultimately seeks redemption, her story offers insights into the complexities of morality, identity, and survival.

A Battle Against Fate: Moll's Early Years

The story kicks off with Moll's birth in Newgate Prison, where her mother is incarcerated, who was convicted of a felony after being found guilty of stealing three pieces of a fine kind of fabric from a draper. At the time, this was considered a crime punishable by law in 17th century England. Her sentence was death, but she pleaded her 'belly' – a practice where a female convict could receive a lesser sentence if she was found to be pregnant. She was then not executed and was instead sent to Newgate Prison, where she gave birth to Moll.

From the start the story immediately plunges her into a life of hardship. Orphaned, setting the stage for her lifelong struggle with poverty. Her early years are a constant struggle against the societal odds stacked against her. Yet, even as a child, Moll's fierce determination and cunning hint at the extraordinary life she is to lead.

In the Web of Matrimony: Moll's Quest for Stability

Moll Flanders, a pseudonym she uses nor to reveal her real name, is raised from the age of three until adolescence by a kindly foster mother. Thereafter she gets attached to a household as a servant where she is loved by both sons, the elder of whom convinces her to "act like they were married" in bed. Unwilling to marry her, he persuades her to marry his younger brother Robin. After five years of marriage, she then is widowed, leaves her children in the care of in-laws, and begins honing the skill of passing herself off as a wealthy widow to attract a man who will marry her and provide her with security.

As she grows, Moll quickly recognizes that marriage may be her only ticket to security. Her journey through various marriages – each a strategic move on the social chessboard – reveals her pragmatic approach to life. Yet, these relationships, fraught with deception and betrayal, underline the precarious position of women in society and their dependence on marriage for security and status.She then meets The Draper, a tradesman with the manners of a gentleman. His financial indiscretions sink them into poverty, and he eventually escapes to France as a fugitive from the law, leaving her with a child, who she later buried, and with his blessing to do the best she can to forget him. Some time later, she makes a match that leads her to Virginia Colony with a kind plantation owner who introduces her to his mother. She becomes suspicious when her husband talks about Newgate prison, the place of her birth, and how his mother was transported there from England. While sharing their life stories, they both realize they are half-siblings. They dissolve the marriage and three years later, she travels back to England, leaving her surviving child behind.

The Art of Disguise and Survival

Facing widowhood and desertion, Moll develops an extraordinary ability to reinvent herself. This talent for disguise allows her to navigate through various socio-economic realms, embodying different identities ranging from a doting wife to a cunning thief. This period marks Moll's descent into criminality to sustain her livelihood.

Back in England, she returns to her con skills and develops a relationship with a man in Bath whose wife is elsewhere confined due to insanity. Their relationship, at first platonic, eventually develops into Moll becoming something of a "kept woman". Six years and three children later, The Gentleman, as he is called in the story, suffers a severe illness which prompts him to repent of keeping a mistress. He breaks off the arrangement and decides to commit to his wife. However, he assures Moll that their only surviving son will be well cared for. She leaves to find a new husband and, yet, ends up leaving another child behind.

Redemption and Reflection: The Final Act

After being caught by two maids while trying to steal someone’s house, she is captured and imprisoned in Newgate, the prison where she happens to have been borned. This full-circle moment forces her to confront her life's moral ambiguities. Her reflection and repentance in the face of execution paint a complex picture of a woman shaped by her circumstances, driven by necessity, yet capable of introspection and change. This moment of reckoning is pivotal, offering Moll, and readers, a deeper understanding of her actions and the societal constructs that governed her life.

In Newgate, she also reunites with Jemy, her "Lancashire husband", the only man she’s had deep affection for and who is also jailed for robbery. Moll is found guilty, yet she convinces a minister of her repentance, and together with her Lancashire husband is transported to the Colonies to avoid hanging.

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What is Moll Flanders about?

Moll Flanders is an exploration of a woman's relentless quest for survival and prosperity in 17th-century England, weaving through her numerous marriages and criminal endeavors.

Moll Flanders Review

Moll Flanders (1722) by Daniel Defoe is a captivating tale of a woman's adventurous life, filled with fascinating characters and unexpected twists. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:

With its vivid portrayals of 18th century society and the challenges faced by women of that time, it offers a unique glimpse into a different era.
Moll Flanders is an unconventional protagonist who defies societal norms, making her journey both compelling and thought-provoking.
The book explores themes of survival, resilience, and redemption, keeping readers engaged and eager to discover how Moll's story unfolds.

Who should read Moll Flanders?

Classic novel aficionados
Social history enthusiasts
Students of feminist literature

About the Author

Daniel Defoe was an English trader, writer, journalist, and spy. He is best known for his novels Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders, which are monumental contributions to the development of the English novel and reflect his diverse interests and profound insights into human nature.

Categories with Moll Flanders

Creativity Society & Culture Biography & Memoir Personal Development

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