The Roaring Girl Essay Questions

What is the most off-putting element of Moll's character, according to Sir Alexander and his companions? Why are they so disturbed by this part of her?

Moll Cutpurse, whose character is based on the historical Mary Frith, is presented in The Roaring Girl as a thieving and promiscuous conwoman before the truth – that she is a chaste, morally righteous woman – is revealed later in the play. However, the one aspect of her character that seems to perturb Sir Alexander most is the fact that she dresses like a man. Rather than wearing dresses or gowns, Moll wears breeches (pants) and carries a sword. For Sir Alexander and his companions, this makes Moll decidedly unreadable, her androgyny causing them confusion and therefore inspiring both fear and disgust. The play ultimately suggests that Sir Alexander's folly lies in his judgements of Moll based on appearance and reputation alone.

After his interactions with Moll and Mistress Gallipot, what conclusions does Laxton draw about women?

When Moll meets Laxton at Gray's Inn Fields for what Laxton assumes will be a romantic rendezvous, she challenges him to a fight instead. After wounding Laxton, he runs away, humiliated after having been defeated in combat by a woman. Soon after, Mistress Gallipot devises a plan to deceive her husband and pay Laxton 30 pounds, which works successfully in Laxton's favor. After both of these encounters, Laxton muses over the inherently deceitful nature of women – Mistress Gallipot for fooling her husband, and Moll for "fooling" Laxton into thinking she was a prostitute (even though this was never Moll's intention). Laxton represents the markedly misogynistic perspective that women are naturally deceptive and cannot be trusted.

To what extent is Moll the hero of the play?

It goes without question that Moll is the central protagonist of the play, as nearly every plot to humiliate or shame her is derailed by her own clever machinations. Her presence in the play makes a number of patriarchal characters look foolish and arrogant, ultimately showcasing how reputation and gossip are not accurate markers of one's moral code. However, contemporary readers should be careful not to equate Moll's status as the protagonist with an explicitly feminist message. Indeed, the play makes it clear that Moll is a "one of a kind" character, an exception to the rules of society that becomes entertaining to watch. The play does not seem to specifically endorse Moll's cross-dressing, subversive lifestyle for women but instead encourages audiences to think more about the relationship between reputation and reality.

What reasons does Moll give for avoiding marriage? Do these reasons change over the course of the play?

At the beginning of the play, when questioned when she will marry, Moll is diplomatic in her answer. She says that she knows that wives should be obedient to their husbands, and that type of obedience is not in her nature. This remark will prove to be a massive understatement as Moll proceeds to dismantle nearly every plot set by Sir Alexander and others who wish to humiliate her or her friends. At the end of the play, Moll is more explicit about her thoughts on marriage, saying that marriage is a type of "beheading" for women – when they lose their virginity (also called "maidenhead"), they lose their sense of autonomy and power.

Why is the play called The Roaring Girl?

The phrase "the roaring girl" clearly refers to Moll, who stands out among the other characters in the play for her unique appearance, societal know-how, wit, and social mobility. The term "roaring," however, was not used in quite the same way as it is today. Rather than simply describing a loud or guttural sound, "roaring" during the early modern period also referred to someone who behaved in a lively, riotous manner. It was also more frequently used to describe boys or young men, which makes its association with Moll all the more significant as it underscores her uniqueness, her androgynous appearance, and her destruction of social norms.