Mr b tells pamela you wont tell a downright fib for the world. 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. The comparison of pamela andrews and moll flanders essay. Both novels explore the idea of being reborn, whether in. 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. Samuel richardson, the first, in order of time, of the great english novelists, was born in 1689 and died at london in 1761. 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. Verses, sent to the bookseller, for the unknown author of the beautiful new piece calld pamela. Pamela, or virtue rewarded evolved from a collection of model letters into a bestselling novel. Sexuality and morality in samuel richardsons novel pamela, or virtue rewarded samuel richardson is a 18th century writer, famous for his three novels.
It tells the story of a beautiful 15yearold maidservant named pamela andrews, whose country landowner master, mr. Pamela, or virtue rewarded is an epistolary novel by samuel richardson. Or virtue rewarded study guide contains a biography of samuel. 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. 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.
Obstacles are overcome and we end with two characters sharing wedded bliss. The plot pamela, or virtue rewarded is an epistolary novel by samuel richardson, first published in 1740. Pamela andrews and moll flanders by miroslava novysedlakova two beautiful girls. The first thing you might notice about pamela is that she seems too good to be true. B is a wealthy gentleman and the son of pamelas late mistress. Jervis is the housekeeper at the bedfordshire estate who, according to pamela, was a. B, her ladys son, hires pamela to take care of his linens and is very kind to her. 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. By naming these novels after their characters, the authors signal that were in for a good dose of character development, interiority, and psychological realism. One of the main themes of pamela is the importance of virtue in contemporary society, especially for women. Samuel richardsons pamela 1740 is a famous example of an epistolary novel, or a novel. Sir philip sidney invented the name pamela for a pivotal character in his epic prose work.
Fifteenyearold pamela andrews, alone in the world, is pursued by her dead mistresss son. Pamela was lady bs waitingmaid until her death which. A novel set in the english countryside in the 1730s. Margaret doody introduces samuel richardsons work and its exploration of gender, class, sexual harassment and marriage.
Pamela, or, virtue rewarded book central rappahannock. 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, clarissa, or the history of a young lady and the history of sir charles grandison. B may have designs on her virtue and caution her to be on her guard. Pamela as a literary phenomenon in 18thcentury england. A description of key characters in pamela, or, virtue rewarded. Fifteenyearold pamela andrews is a servant at an estate in the county of bedfordshire. In letters exchanged with her parents, a teenaged servant girl recounts how her gentleman employer falls in. Pamela becomes a victim of sexual harassment of mr. For the most of his life richardson was an established printer and publisher. Nearly 8,000 ratings on goodreads give it an average of 2.
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. 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. 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. An analysis of pamela or virtue rewarded by samuel. Society in 18th and 19th century england life in 18th and 19th century england was to a large extent governed by. 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. In a series of familiar letters from a beautiful young damsel, to her. Or virtue rewarded summary character list glossary themes quotes and analysis prefatory material and letters i through x. 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 is, in addition to a deplorable indoctrination of women, a work that anticipates selfhelp books, and partly prefigures the psychological novel. What important contribution did tristram shandy make to the novel.
For other uses or acronyms, see pamela disambiguation. An introduction to pamela, or virtue rewarded the british library. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The form of pamela is really interesting, and everything richardson wrote sort of followed. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of pamela by samuel richardson. Epistolary novel, a novel told through the medium of letters written by one or more of the characters. In the words of one contemporary, it divided the world into two different parties, pamelists and antipamelists, even eclipsing the sensational factional politics of the day. 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. Jewkes assisted in her attempted rape, pamela finds it in her pure. B, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother, whose maid pamela had been since age 12. Plot summary, themes, character descriptions, study questions, and more. Bs chaplain in lincolnshire, which means hes working as a religious leader. The plot the plot pamela, or virtue rewarded is an.
These main characters are pamela andrews, a fifteenyearold servant, and her. Or virtue rewarded study guide contains a biography of samuel richardson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Or, virtue rewarded illustrates the virtues and trials of romance in the eighteenth century. It tells the story of a beautiful 15year old maidservant named pamela andrews, whose country landowner master, mr. Pamela, or virtue rewarded is an epistolary novel by samuel richardson, first published in 1740. Elizabeth andrews pamela s mother, who has no independent presence in the novel. Richardson named his herione pamela from one of the characters from philip sidney arcadia. Pamela, samuel richardsons tale of a beautiful teenage servantgirl protecting her virtue from the amorous advances of her master, created a furore on its publication in 1740. 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.
It tells the story of a beautiful but poor 15year old servantmaid named pamela andrews whose master, mr. Pamela credits both her parents with forming her character by educating her in virtue and giving her an example of honest, cheerful poverty. B, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother. The idea that a womans virginity is sacred has been a longstanding and powerful notion throughout history. Jewkes, he becomes pamelas ally after the squires reformation. 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. The first two volumes of 1740 have the full title pamela. Pamela or virtue rewarded literature essay samples. 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. 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. She enjoyedthe reward of her virtue, piety and charity5.
Pamela andrews must free herself and find another situation. Although the reward for virtue in pamela is marriage, richardson shows that pamela. B, a nobleman, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother whose maid she was since the age of 12. Sexuality and morality in samuel richardsons novel pamela. Pamela, or, virtue rewarded character descriptions for. In a series of familiar letters from a beautiful young damsel to her parents. Jewkes, the housekeeper of the lincolnshire estate, who pamela meets after. Maybe at first glance we would say that there is certainly nothing what these woman have in common, of course, except their outstanding beauty. B offers marriagean outcome that richardson presents as a reward for her virtue. With ann michelle, julian barnes, dudley foster, anna quayle.