Samuel Richardon's Pamela

 Samuel Richardson’s Pamela or Virtue Rewarded 

•       This Blog is part of paper 102 : Literature of the Neo-classical Period.  

      Samuel Richardon's Pamela:

1. What do you understand by the term Realism? Discuss the realistic elements present in the narrative of Richardson's Pamela-Virtue Rewarded.

Answer: 

    What do you understand by the term Realism?

The term " realism " onece referred to a systematic mode of thought with distinctive principles clearly opposed to every form of subjectivism ane idealism. At present this is no longer the case. Contemporary philosophical usage has allowed this word to fade into a murky cloud of ambiguity in which nothing very clear or distinct can be discerned. This tendency is not peculiar to any one school of contemporary thought, but if common to all school, even those which have adopted the term in some form to describe their own positions. This paper embodies a few brief suggestions concerning the proper meaning of this term. It is hoped that an effort to clarify and sharpen the meaning of this now obscure epithet may be welcomed not only by friends buy by enemies as well, since it is futile to attempt to oppose a mass of equivocation. In the interest of clarify in philosophical debate let us them ask ourselves what we mean by the common term " Realism " at the present time. 

• Discuss the realistic elements present in the narrative of Richardson's Pamela-Virtue Rewarded.

Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded is an epistolary novel first published in 1740 by the English writer Samuel Richardson. Considered one of the first true English novels, it serves as Richardson's version of conduct literature about marriage.

Pamela tells the story of a fifteen-year-old maidservant named Pamela Andrews, whose employer, Mr. B, a wealthy landowner, makes unwanted and inappropriate advances towards her after the death of his mother. Pamela strives to reconcile her strong religious training with her desire for the approval of her employer in a series of letters and, later in the novel, journal entries all addressed to her impoverished parents. After various unsuccessful attempts at seduction, a series of sexual assaults and an extended period of kidnapping, the rakish Mr. B eventually reforms and makes Pamela a sincere proposal of marriage. In the novel's second part, Pamela marries Mr. B and tries to acclimatise to her new position in upper-class society.

The full title, Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded, makes plain Richardson's moral purpose. A best-seller of its time, Pamela was widely read but was also criticised for its perceived licentiousness and disregard for class barriers. Furthermore, Pamela was an early commentary on domestic violence and brought into question the dynamic line between male aggression and a contemporary view of love. Moreover, Pamela, despite the controversies, shed light on social issues that transcended the novel for the time such as gender roles, early false-imprisonment, and class barriers present in the eighteenth century. The action of the novel is told through letters and journal entries from Pamela to her parents. 

In the novel, Pamela, Or Virtue Rewared, the heroine is pressured by her master to give in to his sexual advances. She does not and through as series of letters we see the story unfold. The realism comes into play with the use of the language in the letters. These letters offer a realistic portrayal of a woman's emotional upheaval, uses everyday laungage and shows the reader how very prone to mistakes and self deception Pamela really is. In fact it is realistic in the fact that it has that combination of truth and doubt that exist in the real world.

2. Comment on the use of letters as a medium of narrating the plot of the novel. Do you like reading an epistolary novel, or do you find yourself wishing you had a third person narrator to have clarity and objectivity in the narration?

Answer:

Epistolary novels, which use letters or other forms of communication (like emails or diary entries) to tell a story, offer a unique way of narrating a plot. This method can bring several advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantages:

1. Intimacy and Directness: Letters provide a personal and intimate glimpse into the characters' thoughts, emotions, and motivations. This first-person perspective can make the reader feel closely connected to the characters, understanding them from their own points of view.

2. Multiple Perspectives: The format allows for multiple viewpoints if the letters are written by different characters, offering a multi-faceted take on the story's events. This can lead to a richer and more nuanced narrative.

3. Suspense and Discovery: Because information is revealed through the correspondence, there is often an element of suspense. The reader uncovers the plot as the characters themselves do, creating a sense of mystery and anticipation.

4. Authenticity: The language and style of letters can feel authentic, reflecting the time and personalities of the characters. This lends a historical or realistic flavor to the story.

• Disadvantages:

1. Limited Perspective: The narrative is confined to what the characters know or choose to share, which can lead to a narrow or biased viewpoint. Readers may not get a full picture of events or the motivations of other characters.

2. Lack of Objectivity: An epistolary novel can lack objectivity, as everything is filtered through the characters' subjective experiences. This can make it difficult to discern the truth or grasp the bigger picture of the plot.

3. Fragmented Storytelling: The story may feel fragmented, with gaps in the narrative that the reader has to fill in. This can be disorienting or frustrating for some readers who prefer a more cohesive and continuous storyline.

• Personal Preference:

I enjoy the immersive and intimate nature of epistolary novels, but it often depends on the story and how well the format is executed. The unique style can be refreshing and allows for a deep dive into the characters' minds. However, there are times when I miss the clarity and balance a third-person narrator provides, especially if the plot becomes convoluted or relies too heavily on unreliable narrators. A third-person perspective often gives a more rounded view, highlighting things the characters might miss or distort.

Ultimately, whether the epistolary format is a preference can depend on the kind of story being told and how much you enjoy piecing together the narrative from a potentially biased or limited perspective.

3 .Discuss the character portrayal of the servants of the B household apart from Pamela. [Include Mrs. Jervis, Mrs. Jewkes, and John]

Answer:

• Mrs. Jervis

   Character Analysis

Mrs. Jervis is Pamela’s main ally in her new job as a servant for Mr. B. She is an older woman who provides advice to the young and naïve Pamela, acting like a surrogate parent figure. While Pamela and Pamela’s mother and father all have the utmost faith in Mrs. Jervis, she sometimes gives bad advice. Particularly when Pamela is new, Mrs. Jervis underestimates how aggressively Mr. B is willing to act toward Pamela. Nevertheless, when Mrs. Jervis realizes how far Mr. B is willing to go to satisfy his lust, she does whatever she can to protect Pamela, eventually getting dismissed for her efforts. At the end, however, after Pamela marries Mr. B, Pamela rehires Mrs. Jervis and rewards her handsomely for her efforts. Mrs. Jervis’s story echoes Pamela’s, then, as it shows how virtuous behavior eventually pays off.

• Mrs. Jewkes

Character Analysis

Mrs. Jewkes is a servant at Mr. B’s Lincolnshire estate who helps keep Pamela trapped there. At first, she seems like an evil version of the similarly-named Mrs. Jervis. Unlike Mrs. Jervis, Mrs. Jewkes doesn’t care about Pamela’s virtue and is willing to do whatever her master tells her to do, even if that involves locking Pamela in a room or holding Pamela down while her master assaults her. Pamela notes that Mrs. Jewkes isn’t attractive and makes frequent comments about Mrs. Jewkes’s weight, invoking the stereotype that “ugly” people are evil. But by the end of the novel, Mrs. Jewkes proves to have surprising depth. Almost as soon as Mr. B decides he wants to marry Pamela for real, Mrs. Jewkes begins treating Pamela with respect. When Pamela becomes mistress of the house, she not only decides not to fire Mrs. Jewkes, but she also rewards Mrs. Jewkes with more money.

• John

Character Analysis

John is a footman who carries most of Pamela’s letters back to her mother and father in the first part of the book. Although Pamela feels a lot of gratitude toward John for helping her stay connected to her parents, John is actually helping Mr. B spy on her by reading and even failing to deliver some of her letters. John is an example of a good man who gets corrupted due to his master’s influence, and so after Pamela helps reform Mr. B, John also gets redemption.

Conclusion: 

In Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, the portrayal of the servants in the B household reflects a spectrum of loyalty, morality, and social dynamics. Mrs. Jervis embodies kindness and maternal care, serving as a moral counterpoint to Mr. B's initial schemes and a supportive figure for Pamela. In contrast, Mrs. Jewkes represents the darker side of servitude, with her complicity in Mr. B’s plans and her oppressive demeanor, emphasizing the hierarchical power structures of the household. John, though a minor character, demonstrates integrity and a willingness to assist Pamela, highlighting the potential for decency among the household staff. Together, these characters enrich the narrative by contrasting various aspects of human behavior and social roles within the household, ultimately underlining Pamela's virtuous struggle.

Thank you 

Refrences:

"Fortuneteller Character Analysis in Pamela | LitCharts." LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/lit/pamela/characters/fortuneteller.