Harlot’s Progress

• Molly Hackabout

• Molly is met by Mother Needham at Bell Inn in Cheapside. She works on behalf of Charteris.

• Molly becomes the mistress of a rich Jew whose attention she is trying to distract to allow her lover to escape out the window,

• Molly’s treachery does her in and now she lives with a prostitute in a dingy room in Covent Gardens.

• She is now attended by a coarse, ugly servant who is diseased, note the pocket watch, which is stolen and the bailiffs coming to arrest her.

• Confined to Bridewell Prison, Molly beats hemp, note her worn dress and the glare she gets from the warden.

• Note also that her servant is in jail with her.

• Molly is now in the verge of dying from disease. Note her small child is more concerned about the food cooking than his mother.

• The woman is acting as the only undertaker Molly can afford and she is going through Molly’s trunk to steal what she can.

• The doctors are “discussing” cures for syphilis while their patient dies.

• In the final scene the mourners around Molly’s coffin have gathered to view her end.

• The servant is using the casket as a table for her drink

• The parson’s behavior is questionable as he spills his brandy and reaches under the woman’s skirt seated next to him.

• Molly’s son is “dressed” as the official mourner.• Molly’s life is gone--she died at the age of 21