Pamela characters

      Hello

This Blog is an Assignment of paper no.: 102 Literature of the Neo-classical Period  In this assignment I am discussing  some characters of "Pamela".

Personal Information 

Name:- Mansi B. Gujadiya

Roll Number:-14

Enrollment Number:-4069206420220013

Batch:-M.A SEM -1 ( 2022-23 )

Email ID:- mansigajjar10131@gmail.com

Paper Number:-102

Paper Code:-22393

Paper Name:- Literature of the Neo-classical Period 

Submitted to:- English department MKBU

Topic:- Character study of "Pamela"

Question:-Some characters of "Pamela"

  

Introduction 

   

  In the epistolary novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, Samuel Richardson, the well-known English writer of the 18th century, discusses a lot of significant issues, such as the nature of virtue and interpersonal relations, sexual politics and class discrimination, and some other issues. 

Main Character 

Pamela 

Lady B 

Lady Devers 

Mr.B 

Mrs.Jewkes 

Mrs.Jervis 

Mr.Williams 

Minor  Character

John Andrews

Elizabeth Andrews 

Monsieur Colbrand 

Sally Godfrey 

Mr. Jewkes 

Miss Goodwin 

Some neighbours 

Pamela

    

        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 becomes a victim of sexual harassment of Mr. B., her new employer. It is known that the author uses a special style of writing ԓ epistolary form, which helps the readers to better evaluate the situation and to analyze the character of Pamela in a proper way. In Richardson’s epistolary novel the plot is developed through the use of different letters and journal entries written by the main character. 

           These letters help to gain insight into the character’s nature, and to analyze her thoughts and feelings. The letters help to reveal that in Bedfordshire, the main character Pamela Andrews is psychologically aware of suppressed emotions and tensions which are social and sexual, while on Lincolnshire, it is clear that her psyche reveals tensions which are more moral and spiritual. Samuel Richardson portrays his main character as the model woman who tries to maintain her morality despite her protests against sexual temptations and advances from her master. A young girl’s behavior and morality help her to solve many problems and to succeed in her life.

           Pamela’s character attracts attention of the readers due to such traits as self-confidence, persistence, courage, love and respect for the dearest people. Pamela is represented as a devoted and most dutiful daughter to her poor parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, to whom the girl regularly writes letters . Pamela’s parents had enormous impact on the girl’s moral formation due to which she protects her purity as she can.

           For example, in the Letter 1, Pamela tells her parents about the changes that took place in the house of her masters and about her grief. She writes, I have great Trouble, and some Comfort, to acquaint you with. The Trouble is that my good Lady died of the Illness I mention’d to you, and left us all much griev’d for her Loss . It is clear that Pamela is an educated young girl who takes care of her parents, as she writes them regularly. Moreover, she had respect and love for her good Lady.

           Besides, her letters give an opportunity to understand that she is a religious person who loves God and follows the key Commandments of God. For example, she often uses such phrase in her letters as God bless Him/Her! .

           It is known that Pamela resists her powerful young master Mr. B. through the long period of time. She witnesses his aggression toward her, tries not to capitulate to his assaults and his later tenderness. Samuel Richardson describes Pamela’s behaviour, her feelings and her thoughts. It is clear that Pamela needs some time to realize that she loves Mr. B. Soon, they marry and Pamela becomes a Lady. Die to her virtue and honesty, the young girl managed to avoid seduction and soon she was rewarded by marriage. 

          Although some critics consider that Pamela’ story is a story of a servant girl who decided to climb the ladder of social class, it is a wrong opinion . It is known that the major goal of Samuel Richardson was to give practical examples, worthy to be followed in the most critical and affecting cases, by the virgin, the bride, and the wife. 

           Pamela is portrayed not only as a good daughter too her parents, but also as a true and reliable servant, and later as a loving wife. In the second part of the novel, the author praises Pamela’s positive qualities, such as benevolence and generosity. Her husband, Mr. B. highly values all these qualities, as he proposed Pamela to marry him. When he found her entries in the journal and read them, he discovered her tenderness and true feelings toward him. Pamela is an honest and kind person who deserves love and respect .

Mr.B

             A country squire, 25 or 26 years of age, with properties in Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Kent, and London. He is Pamela’s employer, pursuer, and eventual husband. Richardson has censored Mr. B.’s name in order to protect the pretense of non-fiction, but scholars have conjectured based on manuscripts that the novelist had “Brandon” in mind. Mr. B. has rakish tendencies, and he attempts to compel Pamela’s reciprocation of his sexual attentions, even to the point of imprisoning her in his Lincolnshire estate. His fundamental decency prevents him from consummating any of his assaults on her, however, and under her influence he reforms in the middle of the novel.

Lady Davers

             The married elder sister of Mr. B. to whom the Squire’s Bedfordshire servants apply when trying to enlist some aid for Pamela. She objects strenuously to the union of her brother with their mother’s waiting-maid, subjecting Pamela to a harrowing afternoon of insults and bullying, but eventually comes to accept and value her new sister-in-law. She once cleaned up after her brother’s affair with Sally Godfrey. Lady Davers is subject to drastic changes in mood, given to alternate between imperious and abject humors, but she is, like her brother, basically decent.

Lady B.

              Pamela’s original employer, the mother of Mr. B. and Lady Davers. Lady B. was morally upright and kind to Pamela, educating her and contributing to the formation of her virtuous character. On her deathbed, she told her son to look after all the Bedfordshire servants, especially Pamela.

Mrs. Jewkes

            The housekeeper at Mr. B.’s Lincolnshire estate and Pamela’s primary warder during the period of her captivity. Pamela represents her as a brazen villain, physically hideous and sexually ambiguous, though the hyperbolic attributions of depravity may be Pamela’s way of deflecting blame from Mr. B., about whom her feelings are more conflicted. Mrs. Jewkes is devoted to her Master, to a fault: she is as ready to commit a wrong in his service, not excluding assisting in an attempted rape of Pamela, as she is to wait loyally on that same Pamela once Mr. B. has decided to elevate and marry her.

Mrs. Jervis

          The elderly housekeeper of Mr. B.’s Bedfordshire estate, one of the virtuous servants who applies to Lady Davers on behalf of Pamela. She has a genteel background and is an able manager, presumably the linchpin of the well-ordered Bedfordshire household. Despite her good nature and her motherly concern for Pamela, however, she is nearly useless in defending her young friend from their Master’s lecherous advances.

Mr. John Andrews

         Pamela’s father and her chief correspondent. He is virtuous and literate like his daughter, formerly the master of a school, though his fortunes have since declined and he is now an agricultural laborer. He had two sons, now dead, who pauperized him before dying. Pamela credits both her parents with forming her character by educating her in virtue and giving her an example of honest, cheerful poverty.

Mrs. Elizabeth Andrews

        Pamela’s mother, who has no independent presence in the novel.

Mr. Williams

           The curate (junior pastor) of Mr. B.’s parish in Lincolnshire. Pamela engages his assistance in her efforts to escape her captivity, and she finds him dutiful but ineffectual; he makes an unsuccessful bid to become Pamela’s husband, and his efforts on her behalf come decisively to naught when Mr. B. sends him to debtor’s prison. Overall, he is meritorious but scarcely appealing, and he suffers from his position as the suitor whom no one takes seriously. Mr. B.’s drawn-out preoccupation with his “rival” Williams only serves to keep the latter’s risibility in view.

Monsieur Colbrand

             The monstrous Swiss man whom Mr. B. sends to Lincolnshire to keep watch over Pamela. Like Mrs. Jewkes, he becomes Pamela’s ally after the Squire’s reformation.

Jackey

             Lady Davers’s nephew, who accompanies her to Mr. B.’s estate in Lincolnshire and aids her in browbeating Pamela. He exemplifies what Richardson sees as the aristocratic impulse toward sexual exploitation of social inferiors, though he is quicker than his aunt in perceiving Pamela’s innate respectability.

Beck Worden

           Lady Davers’s waiting-maid, who attends her at Mr. B.’s estate in Lincolnshire and aids in the persecution of the newly married Pamela.

John Arnold

             A footman at the Bedfordshire estate. In the early stages of the novel he delivers Pamela’s letters to and from her parents, and Pamela appreciates his cheerfulness is performing this service. After her abduction, however, he sends her a note confessing that he has allowed Mr. B. to read all of the correspondence between Pamela and her parents. He has been torn between his duty to Mr. B. and the promptings of his conscience, and the result is that he comes into conflict with both Pamela and Mr. B. The Squire dismisses him, but after the marriage, Pamela has him reinstated.

Mr. Longman

             The steward at the Bedfordshire estate, one of the virtuous servants who applies to Lady Davers on behalf of Pamela. He admires Pamela and supplies her with the abundant writing materials that allow her to continue her journal during her captivity in Lincolnshire.

Mr. Jonathan

           The butler at the Bedfordshire estate, one of the virtuous servants who applies to Lady Davers on behalf of Pamela.

Nan (or Ann)

             A servant-girl at the Lincolnshire estate. Mrs. Jewkes gets her drunk and Mr. B. impersonates her on the night of his last attempt on Pamela’s virtue.

Sally Godfrey

           Mr. B.’s mistress from his college days. She bore him a child, the future Miss Goodwin, and then fled to Jamaica, where she is now happily married.

Miss Goodwin

           Mr. B.’s illegitimate daughter by Sally Godfrey. She lives at a boarding school in Bedfordshire and does not know who her parents are; she addresses Mr. B. as her “uncle.”

Sir Simon Darnford

               A noble neighbour of Mr. B. in Lincolnshire. He refuses to help Pamela when Mr. Williams applies to him but comes to admire her after her elevation by Mr. B. He is given to dirty jokes.

Lady Darnford

The wife of Sir Simon Darnford.

Miss Darnford (the elder)

           The first daughter of Sir Simon and Lady Darnford. She once had hopes of marrying Mr. B., but she accepts Pamela’s triumph sportingly.

Miss Darnford (the younger)

          She is second daughter of Sir Simon and Lady Darnford. She joins her sister in demanding a ball to commemorate the nuptials of Pamela and Mr. B.

Mr. Peters

          The vicar of Mr. B.’s parish in Lincolnshire. He refuses to help Pamela when Mr. Williams applies to him but eventually gives Pamela away at her wedding.

Mrs. Peters

    The wife of Mr. Peters.

Lady Jones

A noble neighbour of Mr. B. in Lincolnshire.

Mr. Perry

A genteel neighbour of Mr. B. in Lincolnshire.

Mr. Martin

          A genteel but rakish neighbour of Mr. B. in Bedfordshire. Pamela dislikes him due to his penchant for saying cynical things about married life.

Mr. Arthur

A genteel neighbour of Mr. B. in Bedfordshire.

Mrs. Arthur

The wife of Mr. Arthur.

Mr. Towers

A genteel neighbour of Mr. B. in Bedfordshire.

Lady Towers

A renowned “wit,” the wife of Mr. Towers.

Mr. Brooks

A genteel neighbour of Mr. B. in Bedfordshire.

Mrs. Brooks

The wife of Mr. Brooks.

Mr. Chambers

A genteel neighbour of Mr. B. in Bedfordshire.

Mrs. Chambers

The wife of Mr. Chambers.

Mr. Carlton

          An acquaintance of Mr. B. in Lincolnshire who dies shortly after the wedding. His distress at the end motivates Mr. B. to make arrangements that will provide for Pamela in the event of his early death.

Farmer Nichols’s wife and daughters

Neighbours in Bedfordshire from whom Pamela buys material to make a gown and petticoats.

A gypsy fortune-teller

The agent who delivers to Pamela a note from Mr. Longman warning her of Mr. B.’s plans for a sham-marriage.

Rachel, Cicely, and Hannah

Maidservants at the Bedfordshire estate.

Harry, Isaac, and Benjamin

Manservants at the Bedfordshire estate.

Richard, Roger, and Thomas

Grooms at the Bedfordshire estate.

Robin

The coachman at the Lincolnshire estate.

Abraham

A footman at the Bedfordshire estate.

Miss Dobson

Miss Goodwin’s governess at the boarding school.

Miss Booth, Miss Burdoff, and Miss Nugent

Peers of Miss Goodwin at the boarding school.

Words:-2160

Image:-2