Pamela - Fall From Virtue

Question 1

We are, ‘it’s true, very poor…

Answer 1

We are, ‘it’s true, very poor… But we would sooner live upon the water and the clay of the ditches that I am forced to dig, than to live better at the price of our child’s ruin

• ‘child’s ruin’ = social death

Question 2

I hope you’ll give a character as to my honesty

Answer 2

I hope you’ll give a character as to my honesty, as it may not look as if I was turned away for any harm

Character = reference letter
- consider how letters / written word is used here to translate Pamela’s virtue to others - the letter is containing a description of her self and is of immense importance to ensure any chance of future employability and therefore survival

Question 3

We would rather see you covered with rags…

Answer 3

We would rather see you covered with rags… than have it said, a child of ours preferred worldly conveniences to her virtue

The pendulum of criteria of what constitutes a virtuous woman almost reaches the archetypal - either a woman is divinely virtuous or she experiences social death and is reduced to rags - peasantry

‘To her virtue’ = there is an inclination that Pamala owns her virtue, in truth the protagonist is captive to the idea of virtue as it attaches itself like a shadow on her identity

Question 4

But said I, what do you call honour? - …

Answer 4

But said I, what do you call honour? - why, said she, what does he call honour, think you? - Ruin! Shame! Disgrace!

• Auxesis
• the language here seems claustrophobic, as if Mrs Jewkes and Pamela are both contesting for space and voice - their speech is merely defined by an aposiopesis which signifies who is speaking
• notice when asked of honour, Mrs Jewkes diverts to what the Master’s definition of honour would be - i.e she serves blindly and places her master as her moral compass
• the aristocrats have a monopoly on virtue - they align its definition to coincide with personal ambition

Question 5

Indeed I am Pamela…

Answer 5

Indeed I am Pamela, her own self!

The Master pretends not to recognise Pamela when he sees her wearing her ‘country clothes’

• he manipulates his pretext of confusion to move closer to her
• Pamela’s declaration of identity and decision to dress in her modest peasant clothing illustrates her championing of honest poverty over corrupt luxury

Question 6

O Sir! my Soul is of equal Importance with the Soul of a Princess

Answer 6

O Sir! my Soul is of equal Importance with the Soul of a Princess; though my Quality is inferior to that of the meanest Slave.