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The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

By Daniel Defoe

Summary of The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

The book tells the story of Moll Flanders, a woman who has lived a life marked by great turmoil and variety, including periods of immorality, crime, and hardship. Born out of wedlock, Moll was raised by a kind woman and began working as a servant, but soon sought a better life. Her story takes her through various relationships, marriages, and experiences, including prostitution, multiple marriages, and a stint as a transported felon. Despite facing numerous challenges and struggles, Moll ultimately achieves wealth and lives an honest life, dying a penitent. Through her personal account, Moll reflects on the societal norms and expectations that have shaped her life, often finding herself at odds with the limited options available to women during her time. The book presents a candid and introspective look at Moll's experiences, offering a remarkable and thought-provoking story of a woman's journey towards redemption and personal growth.

Chapter Summary of The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c.

The story introduces a woman who has led a life of great variety and turmoil, marked by periods of immorality, crime, and hardship, including prostitution, multiple marriages, and a stint as a transported felon. Despite these challenges, she ultimately achieves wealth, lives an honest life, and dies a penitent. Her remarkable life story is presented as a personal account, drawn from her own memorandums, offering a candid and introspective look at her experiences.

MOLL FLANDERS

The narrator, who refers to herself as Moll Flanders, recounts her life story, from her birth to her current circumstances. Born out of wedlock to a woman convicted of a petty theft, Moll was left in the care of a kind woman who raised her until she was old enough to work. She began working as a servant but soon became dissatisfied with her station and sought a better life. Moll's story takes her through various relationships, marriages, and experiences, including a tumultuous relationship with a brother who became infatuated with her. She eventually marries and has children but faces financial difficulties and personal struggles. Throughout her narrative, Moll reflects on the societal norms and expectations that have shaped her life, often finding herself at odds with the limited options available to women during her time.