Chris DeMuth February 15, 2001 Moll Flanders' Conniving Language Moll is indicted for felony and burglary for the alleged stealing of two pieces of silk valued at £46. She pleads not guilty at the arraignment, yet Moll's comments regarding the situation lend themselves to speculation as to the validity of her argument. Moll addresses the reader and justifies, "I pleaded that I stole nothing, they had lost nothing" (215). Moll's language is interesting because she chooses the word "pleaded" …showed first 75 words of 507 total…

…showed last 75 words of 507 total…could not be concluded" because the case is somewhat of a conspiracy as there are no material witnesses. Her declaration, however, is also counteractive as it lessens the validity of her argument because it seems that she is begging to be set free of her wrongdoing. The fact that she says that her guilt can "not be concluded" puts her integrity on the line because it makes her appear like she is petitioning for forgiveness.