Moll’s realization in Colchester reflects her evolving identity. Moll is nowhere near the same person she was then, and anyone she knew is dead or gone. Lewd or promiscuous books were considered inappropriate and taboo in the 17th and 18th centuries, which is why Moll, and therefore Defoe, implies that her story is an example of how
not to behave and a reminder to readers to arm themselves against the evil of the world. But of course, Moll isn’t qualified to “preach” the moral of her own story, because she herself is immoral.