Daniel Defoe · English Literature

In 'Moll Flanders', after Moll becomes a highly successful and notorious professional thief in London, what specific punishment brings her criminal career to a halt?

  1. She is sentenced to be burned at the stake in Smithfield.
  2. Caught stealing brocade, she is jailed in Newgate and transported to Virginia.
  3. She is forced to work in a state-run textile mill for the rest of her life without pay.
  4. She loses her eyesight due to a sudden illness contracted while hiding in a cellar.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: Caught stealing brocade, she is jailed in Newgate and transported to Virginia.

Moll is eventually caught in the act of theft and sent to Newgate, the very place of her birth, which causes her immense psychological terror. Facing a death sentence, she repents with the help of a minister, and her sentence is commuted to transportation to the penal colony of Virginia. In the New World, she successfully re-establishes herself as a legal, wealthy property owner.

Difficulty: Medium Question 8 of 12

Practice all 12 Daniel Defoe questions

Keep practicing

More Daniel Defoe questions