Moll Flanders · Character

The Gentleman at Bath

A married man of wealth and leisure who takes Moll as his mistress at the spa town, offering comfort and affection without the inconvenience of matrimony.

supporting

Also known as this gentleman, my gentleman, the gentleman, the gentleman who , as I said , singled me out for his companion the winter before ; and he came down again with another gentleman in his company and two servants , and lodged in the same house

First appearance: moll flanders

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

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He singles Moll out at Bath and installs her in lodgings, providing the material ease she craves while his wife remains conveniently distant. Their arrangement is tender but fundamentally unequal — he can abandon her at any moment, and his eventual illness and religious scruples force him to do exactly that. He represents the precarious luxury of the kept woman's life, a recurring temptation in Moll's world.

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Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how The Gentleman at Bath sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Professional
Romantic

Character groups

Moll's associates and lovers
Protagonist

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Relationships

The Bank Clerk
friendship · positive
They are close friends and confidants, with the Bank Clerk often seeking advice from the… How this plays out →
The Governess
professional · ambivalent
Moll Flanders
romantic · ambivalent
The Captain
professional · neutral
Mrs. Betty
romantic · ambivalent
The Elder Brother
social · neutral
Robin
social · neutral
The Bank Clerk
friendship · positive
They are close friends and confidants, with the Bank Clerk often seeking advice from the… How this plays out →
The Governess
professional · ambivalent
Moll Flanders
romantic · ambivalent
The Bank Clerk
friendship · positive
They are close friends and confidants, with the Bank Clerk often seeking advice from the… How this plays out →
Robin
social · neutral

The Bank Clerk
They are close friends and confidants, with the Bank Clerk often seeking advice from the Gentleman at Bath regarding Moll.
The Governess
The Governess acts as a facilitator and intermediary for the Gentleman at Bath's romantic arrangements with Moll.
Moll Flanders
Moll has a long-term, passionate but ultimately doomed affair with the Gentleman at Bath, who is married.
The Captain
The Captain occasionally interacts with the Gentleman at Bath through shared social or business circles.
Mrs. Betty
Mrs. Betty (Moll) has a clandestine romantic relationship with the Gentleman at Bath during her time in Bath.
The Elder Brother
The Elder Brother and the Gentleman at Bath are distant acquaintances, likely from similar social strata.
Robin
Robin and the Gentleman at Bath have no significant relationship, only tangential social connection.
The Bank Clerk
They are close friends and confidants, with the Bank Clerk often seeking advice from the Gentleman at Bath regarding Moll.
The Governess
The Governess acts as a facilitator and intermediary for the Gentleman at Bath's romantic arrangements with Moll.
Moll Flanders
Moll has a long-term, passionate but ultimately doomed affair with the Gentleman at Bath, who is married.
The Bank Clerk
They are close friends and confidants, with the Bank Clerk often seeking advice from the Gentleman at Bath regarding Moll.
Robin
Robin and the Gentleman at Bath have no significant relationship, only tangential social connection.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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