Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Pamela, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Value of Virtue
Class and Morality
Religion and Marriage
Sexual Politics
Summary
Analysis
In her letter to her father and mother, Pamela writes that she heard from John that they cried over her last letter. She tells them about how Mr. B has requested Mrs. Jervis to stay, paying her five guineas and making a big deal in front of the steward, Mr. Longman, about how he (Mr. B) always rewards loyalty. Mr. B went on a long speech to Mr. Longman about Pamela’s flaws, including how “pert” she is. But Pamela just accepted this and said that as her master, Mr. Longman could say what he pleases.
While Mr. B is still a morally questionable character at this point in the story, he is not as effective at manipulating people as he’d like to be. Although the novel explores the real power imbalance between the wealthy and the poor, it also shows how even with all their privilege, sometimes people who are wealthy but immoral fail to get what they want.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Pamela continues her letter. Mr. B’s attempts to insult Pamela backfired, causing Mr. Longman to actually have more sympathy for her. Although Pamela stayed strong in the moment, she admits in her letter that she was trembling.
Pamela will suffer more in the following chapters, but this passage provides some early evidence of how her model behavior helps her to combat the trickery of an immoral man like Mr. B.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
