The Younger Brother/Robin Character Analysis

Robin is the lady’s son, the older brother’s brother, and Moll’s first husband. Robin falls in love with Moll when she comes to live with his family, and even though he knows his family will resent him marrying a woman from the lower class, he vows to do so anyway. Moll, however, is in love with the older brother, and it is unclear if Robin ever discovers this. Robin professes his love and proposes to Moll multiple times, but she always resists him. The lady believes that Moll refuses to marry Robin out of respect for the lady and her husband, so the lady encourages her to marry Robin. Moll, of course, is still in love with the older brother; however, he has no intention of marrying her, and if she doesn’t marry one of lady’s sons, Moll will soon be out on the street. Moll and Robin marry, and the older brother gets Robin so drunk at the wedding that he passes out before he and Moll can consummate their marriage. The next morning, Moll lies and says that they did have sex, successfully hiding the fact that the older brother took her virginity long ago. After five years of marriage and two children, Robin dies, leaving Moll alone. Because of her relationship with Robin, Moll learns that marriage during the 17th century is a “politick Scheme for forming Interests, and carrying on Business,” and that love has nothing, or very little, to do with it.