Born into poverty in early 18th Century London, Moll Flanders (Robin Wright) learns early the lessons of hardship and despair, and the cruelty of class. But despite her seeming ignobility, it is Moll who demonstrates a nobility of spirit that belies the unforgiving caste system of the so-called Age of Enlightenment.

From the reputable home of the charitable Mrs. Mazzawatti (Brenda Fricker) to the house of ill-repute of the less benevolent Mrs. Allworthy (Stockard Channing), Moll steadfastly holds tight to her dreams of finding happiness. When love finally finds her, it is not in the bedchambers of powerful men, but in the gentle brushstrokes of a struggling artist (John Lynch). Still Moll is no match for the ignorance of the day, and Finally it seems as though life itself has conspired against her. Her unwavering hope and strength of heart are ultimately rewarded, however, when a twist of fate and the trust of an old friend (Morgan Freeman) present her with the opportunity to turn the tables on her past.