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''Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded'' is an epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, first published in 1740. It deals with the young maid Pamela Andrews who receives courtship from a man named Mr. B. who is the son of her former Lady. In the course of the novel Mr. B. kidnaps her and tries to break her resistance against him. In the end he reads her diary entries, regrets his behaviour and marries her. | ''Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded'' is an epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, first published in 1740. It deals with the young maid Pamela Andrews who receives courtship from a man named Mr. B. who is the son of her former Lady. In the course of the novel Mr. B. kidnaps her and tries to break her resistance against him. In the end he reads her diary entries, regrets his behaviour and marries her. | ||
When published, the novel quickly became a bestseller and was translated into French (1741), German (1743), Danish (1743), Swedish (1783) and Spanish (1794). The novel can therefore not only be regarded as an important work of eighteenth-century British (and European) culture, it serves as evidence for the rise of the novel as a popular literary genre. Because of this Richardson is often seen in line with Daniel Defoe and Henry Fielding and therefore regarded as one of the creators of the early modern novel. The cultural relevance of ''Pamela'' cannot be underestimated as it helped to introduce a shift in the public preferences of literary genres, which were rooted in the general cultural change. This change occurred partly because the city (of London) began to rise as a cultural centre which tried to distinguish itself from the court more sharply. | When published, the novel quickly became a bestseller and was translated into French (1741), German (1743), Danish (1743), Swedish (1783) and Spanish (1794). The novel can therefore not only be regarded as an important work of eighteenth-century British (and European) culture, it serves as evidence for the rise of the novel as a popular literary genre. Because of this Richardson is often seen in line with Daniel Defoe and Henry Fielding and therefore regarded as one of the creators of the early modern novel. The cultural relevance of ''Pamela'' cannot be underestimated as it helped to introduce a shift in the public preferences of literary genres, which were rooted in the general cultural change. This change occurred partly because the city (of London) began to rise as a cultural centre which tried to distinguish itself from the court more sharply. | ||
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The novel mirrors this distinction. Mr. B. represents the aristocracy which still does not accept the new liberties of the urban bourgeoisie. Pamela belongs to this middle class, willingly defies this aristocrat and self-confidently defends her virtue. Also "virtue" is put in the centre of the bourgeois value system. In this context the notion changed from a male-oriented value referring to social and military success to a female-oriented value which shifted from purity and chastity towards sexualisation. This implication, which becomes obvious in Pamela's seduction scenes led to a renewed view on femininity. The bourgeois sexual moral laid its focus on prudery and a de-sexualized picture of the woman, whereas Pamela had an underlying erotic potential, introducing this "new" type of woman. | The novel mirrors this distinction. Mr. B. represents the aristocracy which still does not accept the new liberties of the urban bourgeoisie. Pamela belongs to this middle class, willingly defies this aristocrat and self-confidently defends her virtue. Also "virtue" is put in the centre of the bourgeois value system. In this context the notion changed from a male-oriented value referring to social and military success to a female-oriented value which shifted from purity and chastity towards sexualisation. This implication, which becomes obvious in Pamela's seduction scenes led to a renewed view on femininity. The bourgeois sexual moral laid its focus on prudery and a de-sexualized picture of the woman, whereas Pamela had an underlying erotic potential, introducing this "new" type of woman. | ||
Henry Fielding's parodies ''Shamela'' (1741) and [[Joseph Andrews]] (1742) play with this erotic potential and the faultlines of the novel. | Henry Fielding's parodies ''Shamela'' (1741) and [[Joseph Andrews]] (1742) play with this erotic potential and the faultlines of the novel. | ||
Latest revision as of 14:37, 4 November 2011
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded is an epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, first published in 1740. It deals with the young maid Pamela Andrews who receives courtship from a man named Mr. B. who is the son of her former Lady. In the course of the novel Mr. B. kidnaps her and tries to break her resistance against him. In the end he reads her diary entries, regrets his behaviour and marries her.
When published, the novel quickly became a bestseller and was translated into French (1741), German (1743), Danish (1743), Swedish (1783) and Spanish (1794). The novel can therefore not only be regarded as an important work of eighteenth-century British (and European) culture, it serves as evidence for the rise of the novel as a popular literary genre. Because of this Richardson is often seen in line with Daniel Defoe and Henry Fielding and therefore regarded as one of the creators of the early modern novel. The cultural relevance of Pamela cannot be underestimated as it helped to introduce a shift in the public preferences of literary genres, which were rooted in the general cultural change. This change occurred partly because the city (of London) began to rise as a cultural centre which tried to distinguish itself from the court more sharply.
The novel mirrors this distinction. Mr. B. represents the aristocracy which still does not accept the new liberties of the urban bourgeoisie. Pamela belongs to this middle class, willingly defies this aristocrat and self-confidently defends her virtue. Also "virtue" is put in the centre of the bourgeois value system. In this context the notion changed from a male-oriented value referring to social and military success to a female-oriented value which shifted from purity and chastity towards sexualisation. This implication, which becomes obvious in Pamela's seduction scenes led to a renewed view on femininity. The bourgeois sexual moral laid its focus on prudery and a de-sexualized picture of the woman, whereas Pamela had an underlying erotic potential, introducing this "new" type of woman.
Henry Fielding's parodies Shamela (1741) and Joseph Andrews (1742) play with this erotic potential and the faultlines of the novel.
Bibliography:
Beck, Rudolf and Konrad Schröder (Eds.). Handbuch der britischen Kulturgeschichte. Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, 2006.
Brewer, John. The Pleasures of Imagination: English Culture in the Eighteenth Century. London: HarperCollins, 1997.
Gelfert, Hans-Dieter: Kleine Geschichte der englischen Literatur. München: C. H. Beck, 2nd Edition, 2005.