Hello Readers ! This blog is Written as a Part Of assignment writing Of Semester 1. This blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip Sir Barad , Department Of English , MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss about " Moral Vision in Samuel Richardson' s Novel - ' Pamela Or Virtue Rewarded '' .
Name :- Hetal Samirbhai Pathak
Batch :- M.A Sem - 1 ( 2022 - 2024 )
Enrollment No. :- 4069206420220022
Roll No. :- 10
Subject Code :- 22393
Paper No. :- 102
Paper Name :- Literature of the Neo - Classical Period
E- Mail address :- hetalpathak28@gmail.com
Submitted to :- Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji, Bhavnagar University
Date of Submission :- 7th November , 2022
' Moral Vision in Samuel Richardson's Novel -
' Pamela ; Or Virtue Rewarded '
Content of my Assignment :-
1. Introduction
Introduction :-
Samuel Richardson ( 1689 - 1761 ) was an English novelist Who expanded the dramatic
Possibilities of the novel by his invention and Use of the letter form which is known to us as an
'Epistolary Novel.' His major novels were 'Pamela' ( 1740 ) and ' Clarissa ' in ( 1747 - 1748 ).
Richardson Was 50 Years old When he Wrote this novel - ' Pamela ; Or Virtue Rewarded '.
But Of his First 50 Years Of life little is Known to Us. To Richardson belongs the Credit of
Writing the First modern novel. He was the Son of a London Joiner, Who For Economy 's
sake raised in Some Unknown town in Derbyshire, Where Samuel Richardson was born in
the Year - 1689.
The boy received a very little education , but he had a natural talent for Writing letters.
Even as a boy We find him Frequently employed by Working girls to Write their love letters for
them. This early experience together with his fondness for the Society of " his dearest ladies"
rather than of men , gave him that intimate Knowledge of the hearts of Sentimental and
Uneducated women Which is manifest in all his Works. Moreover, he was a keen Observer of
manners, and his Surprisingly accurate descriptions Often Compel Us to listen, even when
he is most tedious in his age. He is also Known to Us as - ' A Man Of Letters.'
At the Age of Seventeen Years in his life he went to London and learned the Printer 's trade,
Which he Followed to the end of his life. When Fifty years of age he had a Small reputation
as a Writer of elegant Epistles , and this reputation led certain Publishers to approach him
With a Proposal that he Write a Series of ' Familiar Letters ' , Which Could be Used as
Models by People unused to Writing. Richardson gladly accepted the Proposal, and had
the happy inspiration to make these letters tell the Connected Story Of a girl 's life. In his
Professional life Richard was hardworking and Successful. He began writing in a modest Way.
He was truly Considered as the - ' Father of Epistolary Novels.'
Thus , We can say that Samuel Richardson - an important literary Figure during the
Neo - Classical era.
About the Novel :-
Samuel Richardson 's - ' Pamela ; Or Virtue being Rewarded ' - First Published in the Year
- 1740. It is Widely regarded as the First English Novel. It was Certainly the First bestseller ,
hyped , Saluted and Scorned in equal measure. Considering Current events in today's time it
Should also be noted that the the novel is all about Sexual harrassment: it is about Fifteen
Years Old girl, Our Protagonist, a midservant is Continually threatened With Sexual assault
and exploitation by her boss - Mr. B.
Samuel Richardson 's Pamela : An interpretation :-
Our Protagonist Pamela is both heroine and narrator. The traumatic experience She undergoes
Forms the Soul Of the Plot , and as the record of her Ordeal Unfolds , We Witness the
development of a Carefully designed and Formally Proportioned Work Of Fiction, One with
the Unity, balance and Symmetry Which are essential to the total Form of any Work of art.
Richardson not Only made the heroine his Central Figure , he also had the marriage occur
almost exactly in the middle of the novel.
Pamela 's desire to reach an accommodation With her new Peers is no doubt an important
element in the novel. It is misleading to give this issue primacy because;
" The Fundamental Conflict in the novel is internal , and not external. '
Pamela Undergoes a Prolonged , intense and disruptive emotional experience, one that severely
affects her Psychic balance and the marriage With Mr. B is only the First Step toward a Full
and Final resolution of the tension that Set Up in the First half of the novel. At its Core is the
evolving Character Of Pamela , and it is very obvious that Our very First responsibility is to
Understand her nature , her motives and her actions in the novel.
Moreover, it Would be very much difficult for Young Pamela to deny the traits of honesty,
modesty and Prudence. But, Pamela 's integrity rather than the mere Preservation of Chastity ,
as her relations With her Parents and With Fellow Servants demonstrate. But , We can
Understand that Mr. B 's Passionate interest indicates that Our Protagonist Pamela Andrews
is Physically very attractive.
So, In this Way we can Clearly Understand the Complete interpretation Of Samuel
Richardson 's Character or heroine or We can Say Protagonist - Pamela Andrews.
What is Morality :-
The term ' Morals ' may be Used in two very different Senses. There is a broad meaning
and a narrow meaning for the term Morals. In general, We shall endeavour to restrict the
Use of the Word Morals to the broad Field and Shall Use the Word Morality to denote the
Narrow One. ' Morals ' is applicable to the Whole Field , While ' Morality ' has a more
restricted meaning. The Field of morals is a Field of Values. When we are talking about
morals we are also talking about Certain Kinds Of Values. But , there are many Other kinds
Of Values and Evaluations rather than those With Which morals are Concerned. An attempt
must be made to determine the Particular Kind Of Values Which we all Call - Moral Values.
When We Use the term - ' Right or Wrong ' We Usually mean action Which is right Or
Wrong according to Some accepted Standard. Thus, it Would Undoubtedly be in the interests
Of Clear terminology always to Use these terms as applicable Only Within the Fiel ' Morality ' .
The Words - ' Right and Wrong ' are not Wholly Synonyms With the Words - ' Good and Bad. '
But they are much broader terms. When We all Used accurately With application Of the Words - Right and Wrong refer to the Sanctions Of Morality.
Thus, We can Clearly Understand that Morality means beliefs about What is right behaviour and What is Wrong behaviour.
Difference between Ethics and Morals:-
The terms - 'Ethics and Morals' used interchangeably. But We need to Understand the
relationship between them. How they both are different. In What ways can we differentiate
both these terms?
Moral Vision in this novel :-
Samuel Richardson is one of the most Popular and admired Writers of his time. We can
Understand that Richardson's novel - ' Pamela ; Or Virtue Rewarded ' is Considered as
the best example to reveal about the moral element in literature. Many of the objections
to Samuel Richardson's novel have Come about because of its alleged middle class morality.
Samuel Richardson Wrote this novel as an true example of the Value of moral sense and
behaviour. Believing in the direct intervention of God , Richardson Felt that Various actions
led to Success on earth as well as in heaven.
The novel was Praised for its Psychological Veracity and its moral influence on the minds of
readers. The Character and Protagonist of this novel - Pamela is the main Symbol of
morality in this novel. She is a Fifteen years Old Servant girl Who Continuously
Struggles to keep her Virtue safe from his Master - Mr. B. During the Past three
Years in the novel Pamela has been Serving the kindly Mrs. B Or lady B. But, Unfortunately
She just died and her Son - Mr. Squire B. takes the Whole Control of the household. He begins
to Flatter Pamela but she at the age of only Fifteen Years resists all Mr. B's attempts to Seduce
her. In letters to her beloved Parents Pamela reports about her master's attempts and bad
intentions. But She Vows and Said that ;
" She Will Suffer any injury Or Social Penalty rather than Sacrifice her Own Chastity. ''
Her Parents also encouraged this devotion to her Virtue and advise to leave Mr. B's
employment and Should return to home. In Spite of Mr. B's Continued harassment
Pamela does not manage to make the departure so easily that She Frequently threatens.
Even though in the novel Mr. B's Several attempts to rape Pamela of her Virtue.
He came up With So many False Plans in Order to have a Physical relationship With her.
But Pamela never Stopped fighting back against it. Pamela is Willing to Protect her Virginity
and Keeps her Virtue Safe any way no matter What She Continues writing letters While in
Captivity , but as She does not know that When she will be able to send them to her Parents.
Pamela Finds help in the Character of Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams Fails to deliver Pamela 's
letters to her family. At that time in the novel Mr. B realises the true Self of Pamela through her
letters. Mr. B gave all kinds of Comforts and money to her. But behind all these things his
intentions were not So good. He Completely became Obsessed With Pamela.
The Virtue described in Pamela was of a much broader and more Significant Scope. Pamela 's
efforts to co - Ordinate her human drives and the moral Code she had learned represented the
real Conflict in Pamela. To the extent that her behaviour was morally acceptable. She was
Virtuous. Pamela 's ability to do what was right in Spite of her Own desires Was the Virtue
that Richardson intended to reward.
So , We can Say that the Element of Morality and Moral Vision are represented very well in
this novel through the Character of Fifteen Years Old girl - Pamela Andrews.
Conclusion :-
To Conclude my Point I would like to say that the Concept the Of Morality and Moral Vision
Presented Very well through the Character Of Pamela Andrews who was a Fifteen years Old
girl by Samuel Richsrdson his novel.
Work Cited :-
Keniston, Kennith. Morals and Ethics, vol. 34, 1965, p. 5, https://www.jstor.org/stable/41209317. Accessed 7 November 2022.
Lee, Harold N. Morals , Morality and Ethics : Suggested Terminology, vol. 38, 1928, p. 17, https://www.jstor.org/stable/2377964. Accessed 7 November 2022.
Long, William J. English Literature. AITBS, 2017. Accessed 7 November 2022.
Willson, Sturat. Richardson' s Pamela - An interpretation, vol. 88, 1973, p. 13, https://www.jstor.org/stable/461328. Accessed 7 November 2022.
[ Words Count :- 1817 ]
[ Images :- 2 ]
Thank you..
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