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Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded.

Samuel Richardson

"Pamela" by Richardson tells the story of a young servant, Pamela, who resists the advances of her master, Mr. B, who tries to seduce her. Despite his temptations, Pamela remains virtuous. In the end, due to her integrity, Mr. B falls in love with her and marries her, rewarding her virtue.

samuel richardson

"Virtue is the fairest of all my daughters."

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Background and Early Life of Samuel Richardson

• Born in 1689 in England.
• Worked as a printer in London.
• Began writing novels later in life.
• Famous for *Pamela* and the epistolary style.
• Explored themes of virtue and morality.
• Key figure in shaping the modern novel.

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Samuel Richardson’s Literary Contributions

• Pioneer of the epistolary novel format.
• Explored themes of morality, power, and gender dynamics.
• "Pamela" (1740): Story of virtue and class, sparked societal debates.
• - "Clarissa" (1748): His masterpiece, known for psychological depth.
• - "Sir Charles Grandison" (1753): Idealized gentleman and evolving views on virtue.
• - Influenced European literature and writers like Jane Austen.
• - Legacy as a pioneer of psychological and moral realism.

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Overview and Plot of Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded

• Samuel Richardson's first novel, published in 1740.
• Written in epistolary style through Pamela Andrews' letters and journals.
• Focuses on a 15-year-old maid resisting her employer’s advances.
• Themes of virtue, power, class, and gender.
• Mr. B reforms and marries Pamela, rewarding her integrity.
• Groundbreaking for highlighting a lower-class woman's inner life.

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Themes, Reception, and Legacy of Pamela

• Themes: virtue, power, and class.
• Marriage to Mr. B seen as moral or manipulative.
• Inspired "Shamela" parody by Henry Fielding.
• Innovated with epistolary format and character psychology.
• Key work in 18th-century literary debates.

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selected passage from pamela

"O what a sad Change is here! I, who was so lively, so full of Health and Loveliness (as all my Friends thought me), now a poor, desponding, dispirited Creature! — What an Alteration in a few Days! But, come, come, my Pamela, no Despondency! Thank God, you have a clear Conscience, and would not do a base thing for the World."

• Shows Pamela’s resilience and moral strength.
• Contrast between vitality and despair emphasizes her trials.
• Reflective language creates empathy.
• Highlights virtue overcoming adversity.

4AL

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