A brief review of Moll Flanders' themes

3. INTRODUCTION
(COMMONLY KNOWN SIMPLY AS
) IS A NOVEL WRITTEN BY DANIEL DEFOE IN
1722.
MOLL IS BORN IN PRISON. SHE GROWS WITH DIFFERENT
PEOPLE AND IN ALL KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCES. AS A
WOMAN HER OPTIONS ARE LIMITED AND MOLL EMBARKS
ON A ROLLICKING CAREER OF INCEST, BIGAMY AND CRIME.
FIVE TIMES MARRIED, A WHORE AND A THIEF, HER
BUSINESS IS SURVIVAL.

5. Greed:
Moll’s acts of
prostitution;
Thievery
Vanity:
Moll’s beauty
Repentance:
Often seems
forced

6. Moll's first act of prostitution is thrust upon her unknowingly. In the
beginning of the story, she is living with a gentle woman and her family. One of
the brothers takes interest in Moll and seduces her into becoming his lover.
Even though Moll is now married, she agrees to sell her body for profit.
Moll's acts of prostitution show that she will carry out illegal practices in order to
get money.

7. While Moll is living with the old governess she has some luck swindling a
man at a gaming-house who seems
Moll wins him some money and secretly keeps a part for herself each time.
At the end of the story, Moll gives her son a stolen watch.

8. Growing up, Moll was constantly being told how pretty she was.
She warns that if a young woman thinks she is beautiful, she will never
doubt any man that tells her he loves her.
Moll thinks that being wealthy and beautiful will help her find a suitor.

9. Moll reflects on her first meeting with Robin.
Moll finds herself extremely attractive. She believes Robin can love her
without being married to her.

10. Moll shows the desire to repent on many occasions, but it often seems
forced. Moll's first repentance appears when Robin proposes marriage.
Later on, when Moll is imprisoned, she describes her life.