The text to be analysed remains to Samuel Richardsons work: Pamela or Virtue

Rewarded. It is an epistolary novel about the relationship between a beautiful servant

girl and her aristocratic master. An epistolary novel is one in which a character (or
characters) tells the story through letters (epistles) sent to a friend, relative, etc., and/or
through journal entries. Moreover Richardson gives a lot of importance to the realism,
didacticism, he defence the middle class values and shows us the prototype of the
sentimental heroine. The book was published in 1740, when the Augustan Period ended
and it took place the rise of the novel and the sensibility in order to prepare the ground
for the Romantic movement which began at the end of the 18th century. Pamela became
a best-seller, the first example of that phenomenon in the history of English fiction.
The relevant role of fiction during the end of this century was very important to the
point that none of the main novelists of the period can be said to escape its influence.
The book is composed by 2 volumes: Pamela and her Virtue Rewarded and Pamela and
her Exalted Condition. It tells us the story of a young and inexperienced girl who works
as a servant for an aristocrat (Mr.B) who is sexually attracted to her and is determined to
seduce her, no matter the means he has to use. She soon realises her masters intentions
and she advise her parents. Her father told her only one particular thing: she should not
lose her virtue (virginity). The excerpt can be divided in 2 parts: the first two paragraphs
in which Pamela explains to her parents her misfortune because someone has stolen her
letter and the last 2 paragraphs in which Pamela suspects about Mr.B and explains that
she feels observed by her master.
Part 1:
This part occurs in Bedfordshire (England). In this part Pamela writes to her parents
telling them that someone has stolen her letter but she does not know who has been. She

reassures her parents telling that she has not lost her virtue and that God will keep her
like that in spite of all the problems that she will have to face in a recent future. One of
the most important themes here is the preservation of virtue which becomes the main
theme around which the novel revolves throughout. Moreover we can see the good
qualities that Pamela has despite she feels observed: a grateful heart, social virtues
despite remaining to the poor class, thankful spirit and her affiance to God, who became
for her an important supporting point in which she will feel secure. Moreover, Pamela
explains that for her, his master does not rate his title because he has degraded himself
offering freedoms to his poor servant. Now, Pamela has realized how is his master and
what are their purposes for her He has showed himself in his true colours, and, to me,
nothing appear so black, and so frightful. Although she told her parents not to be
worried about her, she asserts to be scared and since this moment she is going to be
aware of all his masters actions and purposes and being prepared for them.
Conslusion:
To sum up we can conclude that in this letter there have been presented 3 main topics:
Firstly, Pamela has become aware of his masters intentions and she is scared about
losing her virtue. Secondly, Richardson shows us the prototype of woman that Pamela
is: a one with correct manners and thankful heart but at the same time with very clear
ideas and firm with her decisions and believes. We can also appreciate Richardsons
didacticism because he tries to teach that both sex are equal by showing us the virtues of
the excellency of Pamelas mind, which may make her character worthy of the imitation
of her sex. And finally, since that moment Pamela is going to be more attentive to
whatever could happen and defending her middle-class origins from the aristocrats
values and thoughts of being superior from the rest of the people.