Sexuality and morality in samuel richardsons novel pamela. The idea that a womans virginity is sacred has been a longstanding and powerful notion throughout history. Pamela originated as a volume of model letters for unskilled letterwriters, but as richardson became more fascinated by the characters in his letters than the letters themselves, the germ of a novel began to emerge. Pamela or, virtue rewarded by samuel richardson 16891761 a study guide. The main character of the novel is pamela andrews, a pretty young girl of 15 years old, who serves as a maid servant in one of the rich houses. Pamela, or virtue rewarded is an epistolary novel by samuel richardson. It tells the story of a beautiful 15yearold maidservant named pamela andrews, whose country landowner master, mr. She enjoyedthe reward of her virtue, piety and charity5. Or virtue rewarded summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis prefatory material and letters i through x. Or virtue rewarded study guide contains a biography of samuel. Richardson named his herione pamela from one of the characters from philip sidney arcadia. The first thing you might notice about pamela is that she seems too good to be true.
Pamela credits both her parents with forming her character by educating her in virtue and giving her an example of honest, cheerful poverty. It tells the story of a beautiful 15year old maidservant named pamela andrews, whose country landowner master, mr. Sir philip sidney invented the name pamela for a pivotal character in his epic prose work. Pamela andrews, a virtuous servant girl of lady b, mistress of an.
One of the most spectacular successes of the flourishing literary marketplace of eighteenthcentury london, pamela also marked a defining moment in the emergence of the modern novel. The form of pamela is really interesting, and everything richardson wrote sort of followed. B is a wealthy gentleman and the son of pamelas late mistress. Pamela, or virtue rewarded evolved from a collection of model letters into a bestselling novel. Mr b tells pamela you wont tell a downright fib for the world.
Pamela was lady bs waitingmaid until her death which. B may have designs on her virtue and caution her to be on her guard. The first two volumes of 1740 have the full title pamela. Maybe at first glance we would say that there is certainly nothing what these woman have in common, of course, except their outstanding beauty. Obstacles are overcome and we end with two characters sharing wedded bliss. An introduction to pamela, or virtue rewarded the british library. The comparison of pamela andrews and moll flanders essay. Bs chaplain in lincolnshire, which means hes working as a religious leader. B, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother. Elizabeth andrews pamela s mother, who has no independent presence in the novel. Letter xxxii, the beginning of pamelas journal, through the 6th day of her. Margaret doody introduces samuel richardsons work and its exploration of gender, class, sexual harassment and marriage.
Sexuality and morality in samuel richardsons novel pamela, or virtue rewarded samuel richardson is a 18th century writer, famous for his three novels. Both novels explore the idea of being reborn, whether in. Pamela as a literary phenomenon in 18thcentury england. By naming these novels after their characters, the authors signal that were in for a good dose of character development, interiority, and psychological realism. Fifteenyearold pamela andrews, alone in the world, is pursued by her dead mistresss son. Pamela or virtue rewarded is, in addition to a deplorable indoctrination of women, a work that anticipates selfhelp books, and partly prefigures the psychological novel. Samuel richardson may have based his first novel on the story of a reallife affair between hannah sturges, the sixteenyearold daughter of a coachman, and sir arthur hesilrige, baronet of northampton, whom she married in 1725. Pamela, or virtue rewarded is an epistolary novel by samuel richardson, first published in 1740. Pamela, or virtue rewarded appeared in two volumes in november 1740 and soon turned into what we nowadays call a bestseller, the first example of that phenomenon in the history of english fiction. Verses, sent to the bookseller, for the unknown author of the beautiful new piece calld pamela. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of pamela by samuel richardson.
The plot pamela, or virtue rewarded is an epistolary novel by samuel richardson, first published in 1740. Published in november 1740, the novel became an instant success, so much that the third edition was published three months later in february 1741, a third. Pamela pamela or virtue rewarded is a collection of letter that had a great success during augustan age both for the theme of the story and the form of the novel. The plot the plot pamela, or virtue rewarded is an. Pamela, or, virtue rewarded book central rappahannock.
One of the main themes of pamela is the importance of virtue in contemporary society, especially for women. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Society in 18th and 19th century england life in 18th and 19th century england was to a large extent governed by. Pamela becomes a victim of sexual harassment of mr. Pamela andrews and moll flanders by miroslava novysedlakova two beautiful girls. Being one of the first if not the first novel told entirely through fictional letters made it very new and exciting narrative concept at the time. A novel set in the english countryside in the 1730s. Pamela, or, virtue rewarded character descriptions for. In a series of familiar letters from a beautiful young damsel to her parents. Throughout history the reader perceives pamelas universe exclusively through his letters, without any direct access to other characters, so that the only thing that allows us. Jewkes, the housekeeper of the lincolnshire estate, who pamela meets after. Or virtue rewarded study guide contains a biography of samuel richardson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
For the most of his life richardson was an established printer and publisher. An analysis of pamela or virtue rewarded by samuel. Jewkes, he becomes pamelas ally after the squires reformation. A bestseller of its time, pamela was widely read but was also criticized for its perceived licentiousness and disregard for class barriers. Pamela, or virtue rewarded, clarissa, or the history of a young lady and the history of sir charles grandison. B, her ladys son, hires pamela to take care of his linens and is very kind to her.
B, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother, whose maid pamela had been since age 12. Although the reward for virtue in pamela is marriage, richardson shows that pamela. He certainly based the form of the novel on his own aptitude for letterwriting. Jewkes assisted in her attempted rape, pamela finds it in her pure. For other uses or acronyms, see pamela disambiguation. With ann michelle, julian barnes, dudley foster, anna quayle. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of pamela, or, virtue rewarded.
Loosely bases on samuel richardsons novel pamela or virtue rewarded, this is the story of pamela who goes to work in the kitchen of lord devenish who is determined to rape her. I cannot be patient, i cannot be passive, when my virtue is in danger fifteenyearold pamela andrews, alone and unprotected, is relentlessly pursued by her dead. B claims her obstinacy makes this rash step necessary. Definitely it is referable to the full title of the novel itself, pamela, or virtue rewarded, as pamela is rewarded with a husband and a stable income for maintaining her purity. These main characters are pamela andrews, a fifteenyearold servant, and her. Nearly 8,000 ratings on goodreads give it an average of 2. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. It tells the story of a beautiful but poor 15year old servantmaid named pamela andrews whose master, mr. B, a nobleman, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother whose maid she was since the age of 12. In letters exchanged with her parents, a teenaged servant girl recounts how her gentleman employer falls in. Pamela andrews must free herself and find another situation.
Samuel richardsons pamela 1740 is a famous example of an epistolary novel, or a novel. It tells in the first person the story of the virtuous ladys maid pamela and the modest and agonized delicacy, yet determination, with which she refuses and. Pamela, or virtue rewarded by samuel richardson books on. Project gutenbergs pamela, or virtue rewarded, by samuel richardson this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
What important contribution did tristram shandy make to the novel. Fifteenyearold pamela andrews is a servant at an estate in the county of bedfordshire. A description of key characters in pamela, or, virtue rewarded. When mr b is about to rape pamela, mrs jewkes eagerly urges him on. Samuel richardsons pamela is a captivating story of one young womans rebellion against the social order, edited by peter sabor with an introduction by margaret a. Plot summary, themes, character descriptions, study questions, and more. Or, virtue rewarded illustrates the virtues and trials of romance in the eighteenth century. Samuel richardson, the first, in order of time, of the great english novelists, was born in 1689 and died at london in 1761.
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