Moll Flanders · Character

The Elder Brother

The charming eldest son of Moll's foster household, who woos her with money and promises, then abandons her when marriage to a penniless girl becomes inconvenient.

supporting

Also known as the elder brother, The elder brother

First appearance: moll flanders

As a supporting figure in Moll Flanders, The Elder Brother is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

See The Elder Brother in moll flanders Book page

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He is the first man to teach Moll that love and economics are inseparable, pressing gold into her hand while insisting she refuse his brother. His seduction is patient and calculated, exploiting her vanity and her precarious position as a dependent in his family's house. His betrayal — refusing to marry her after taking her virtue — sets the pattern of exploitation and self-preservation that shapes Moll's entire subsequent life.

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The fuller portrait of The Elder Brother sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See The Elder Brother in moll flanders

Character Web

5 connections

A slice of how The Elder Brother sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Social
Family

Character groups

Moll's associates and lovers
Protagonist
Authority figures and criminals

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Relationships

Mrs. Betty
romantic · negative
Robin
family · negative
Moll Flanders
romantic · negative
The Gentleman at Bath
social · neutral
The Bank Clerk
social · neutral
Moll Flanders
romantic · negative
Mrs. Betty
romantic · negative
Mrs. Betty
romantic · negative
The Gentleman at Bath
social · neutral
The Bank Clerk
social · neutral

Mrs. Betty
Mrs. Betty (Moll's alias) is seduced by the Elder Brother, who promises marriage but abandons her.
Robin
Robin is the younger brother of the Elder Brother, and their relationship is strained by the Elder Brother's manipulation.
Moll Flanders
Moll is seduced by the Elder Brother in her youth, an affair that sets her on a path of deception and survival.
The Gentleman at Bath
The Elder Brother and the Gentleman at Bath are distant acquaintances, likely from similar social strata.
The Bank Clerk
The Bank Clerk and the Elder Brother have minimal direct interaction, but are linked through Moll's history.
Moll Flanders
Moll is seduced by the Elder Brother in her youth, an affair that sets her on a path of deception and survival.
Mrs. Betty
Mrs. Betty (Moll's alias) is seduced by the Elder Brother, who promises marriage but abandons her.
Mrs. Betty
Mrs. Betty (Moll's alias) is seduced by the Elder Brother, who promises marriage but abandons her.
The Gentleman at Bath
The Elder Brother and the Gentleman at Bath are distant acquaintances, likely from similar social strata.
The Bank Clerk
The Bank Clerk and the Elder Brother have minimal direct interaction, but are linked through Moll's history.

Relationship notes

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See The Elder Brother in moll flanders