Daniel Defoe created a legendary female image in Moll Flanders. The fate of the heroine Moll Flanders is extremely extraordinary and full of frustrations. In her legendary life

there are two kinds of movements “deviation” and “return” which echo with the Taoist thought of “reversion is the action of Tao”. Moll's bumpy fate — five failed marriages and stealing career cause her “deviation” from her original aspiration as a gentlewoman; being born in Newgate Prison and finally being reborn there

then “return” to farming land and support herself by her own hands as a real gentlewoman

which geographically and psychologically forms a circular motion. Interpreting “deviation” and “return” in Moll Flanders’ fate from the Taoist perspective can help readers better understand Defoe’s deep concern about human life and human society.