Moll Flanders · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe.
Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.
Chapter 1
Author's Preface
The preface defends the novel as a moral work, explaining that the story has been edited to remove lewdness and emphasize repentance. It outlines the author's intent to provide instruction through the tale of a wicked life repented of, and highlights key episodes that serve as warnings and lessons for the reader.
Chapter 2
Moll Flanders
Moll reflects on the trial and transportation of a woman wrongly accused of theft due to her own actions, and describes her subsequent return to thievery in men's clothes before abandoning the disguise. She recounts a near-fatal accident during a fire, then shifts to a discussion of marriage markets and women's limited agency, advising a young lady on how to handle a suitor's insult. Finally, she laments her lack of guidance and considers moving north after a neighbor's tempting description of cheap living.
Chapter 3
Endnotes
The chapter consists solely of an endnote referencing the bell at St. Sepulchre's, which tolls on execution day.