Character: Moll Flanders

Set in London, the era before the Industrial Revolution, this fictional story underlines the plight of the lowly working classes.

Daniel Defoe’s “Moll Flanders”, although a work of fiction, shows factual accounts of its chronicles, making it unique and historical. It was one of the earliest know novels of its time. A depiction of life in the early 18^th Century and first published in1722 it also underlines the plight of the lowly working classes.

Moll Flanders was born in Newgate Prison. Her mother, due to severe poverty and servitude of a convicted father, abandoned her at the age of six months. Moll was given over to gypsies. It happened that her father was ‘transported’ to Virginia, Australia, to be transported was revered. It meant working lengthy hours on tobacco plantations and having to contend with high levels of humidity. Those hardy enough to settle were rewarded with opportunities and the freedom to buy land. However, their health may well have depended on the outcome. Thus, the novel is an observation, not only of subjugation but criminality and widespread during the early 18^th century.

The Narration:

First person, Moll Flanders, narrates her life, from being a runaway child of 6-years-old, through times of both depravation and opulence.

The Plot:

Given over to gypsies, Moll runs away. Throughout her young life she comes to know, learn and accept the hunger pains of a pitiful existence. As a young woman Moll Flanders is thought a “handsome woman” by those who pursue her. She develops vanity through a succession of relationships while living under no illusion what lain in store. This coincides with riches to come, of fortunate times when she embraces the very devil in order to succeed her hearts desires. She rapidly gains notoriety; nurtured by men willing to please her (more it must be said for their own pleasures). However, Moll has her own motives for being sexually provocative. She is careful to bed only men who possess the ability to keep her to a lifestyle she craves. During the latter part of her whoring ways she indulges herself with a drunken magistrate, robbing him into the bargain.

Moll Flanders, the protagonist:

Beginning with the elder of two adoptive brothers, Moll stands on the verge of each lecherous voyage, pausing to ask the reader: “Well…what would you do?” So progressively developing her character. The process continues with many misfortunes. Regardless of bearing children to a successive number of husbands, Moll hardly stops to consider her reckless journey. Her mellowness does come through though, but only when there is advantage to be gained from it.

Structure: Moll’s five husbands:  

1. The younger of two stepbrothers

Moll is forced into marrying the younger brother by the elder one, for fear of losing his inheritance. Believing she has been used, she takes heart and learns from the experience. Her husband is weak in health; he dies young and she is able to profit from his wealth, yet she leaves her two children with relatives.

2. The Draper

He is not an attractive man and recklessly extravagant but Moll proceeds to spend her entire inheritance. She is afforded the finest of cloths. During her marriage to him Moll says, “I had the pleasure of seeing a great deal of my own money, spent upon myself.” Their extravagance leads them to ruin. He runs off to France when the bailiffs appear, hammering on his door.

3. Her own brother.

Moll is introduced to the owner of a ship, taking ‘transports’ to Virginia. They marry. She is taken along to live on his family’s estate in Virginia when she discovers a terrible truth, not only does she meets her mother but that she has married her own brother and had two children by him. She returns to London leaving her children behind.

4. The Highwayman

Lancashire, England, unknown to Moll, Jemmy is supreme trickster, she presents herself, ready to fleece him, but they are both playing the same ‘wheel of fortune’ and on their wedding night he takes her pleasure, only to be duped by his sister into revealing his secret. He has no money of his own. Jemmie thinks nothing of blundering coaches on the road, “Blowing men’s brains out if necessary”. She leaves him, declaring: “I’d lost the love of my life, but the world goes on” and returns to London with very little money.

5. The London Banker

Moll meets the bank clerk just before she is about to go to Lancashire and feels that she needs someone to hold her money in London while she is away. He almost immediately expresses romantic interest in her, showing Moll that his wife is really a whore. Noting that he is rich but unstable, she puts off his advances for some time until he is able to divorce his wife. They eventually marry, have children, and live happily until the bank clerk dies from grief over losing most of the family’s money.

Conclusion:

Moll spends her time thieving and dreaming about being with Jemmy again. She falls pray to an incorrigible landlady and takes up with a partner in crime. A young lady who has learned her own trade on the streets: pick-pocketing. Moll experiences her first lesbian affair. The friend is caught thieving and eventually hung. Moll is also caught, tried and sent to Newgate Prison to meet her fate, but where she also meets her beloved Jemmy again.