The Virtuous Heroine: ‘Pamela's Role in Shaping Moral Norms

1. Paper 102: Literature of the Neo-classical
Period
Presented at: Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department
of English MKBU, Bhavnagar
The Virtuous Heroine:
Pamela's Role in Shaping
Moral Norms

2. Presented by: Yashrajsinh Sodha
Enrollment Number: 5108230043
Email: yashrajsinhsodha0000@gmail.com
Batch: 2023-2025
Date: 31 October, 2023
Subject Code: 22393
Roll No: 50
Personal Information

3. Subtitle: Virtue Rewarded
Author: Samuel Richardson
Country: England
Language: English
Genre: Epistolary novel
Publisher: Messrs
Rivington & Osborn
Publication date: 1740
(Richardson and Highmore)
Pamela

4. Morality of Pamela in the novel
● Chastity
● Modesty
● Honesty
● Humility
● Compassion
● Faith
● Forgiveness
● Devotion to Family (Richardson)

5. Importance of Virtue and
Religion in Richardson’s life
● “Samuel Richardson wrote Pamela as an example of the
value of moral behavior. Believing in the direct
intervention of God, Richardson felt that virtuous actions
led to success on earth as well as in heaven”. (Ballwahn)
● “My own industry, and God's providence, have been my
whole reliance. In the mind of Samuel Richardson people
had the right to independent action and an obligation to
work, with God's help, toward that end”. (Ballwahn)

6. Importance of Virtue and
Religion in Richardson’s life
● “As a writer unsure that his intent would be clear
without explanation, Richardson promised on his title
page "to cultivate the Principles of Virtue and Religion
in the minds of the Youth of both Sexes” (Ballwahn)

7. Importance of Virtue in the play
● “I never will do anything that shall bring your grey hairs
with sorrow to the grave. I will die a thousand deaths,
rather than be dishonest any way.” (Richardson)
● “For to rob a person of her virtue is worse than cutting
her throat.” (Richardson)
● “Your rings, sir, your necklace, and your ear-rings, will
better befit ladies of degree, than me: and to lose the best
jewel, my virtue, would be poorly recompensed by those
you propose to give me.” (Richardson)

8. Conclusion
● Richardson wants to promote mobility through the novel.
● Title ‘Virtue Rewarded’ suggest the importance of being
virtuous.
● One should be virtuous by ancestry and heredity.
● Richardson wants to make a critique of the Aristocracy.
● He wants to impose moral lessons to 18th century world.
● Richardson portrays his own morals and virtues in the
character of Pamela.
● Those virtues can’t be applicable in contemporary world.

9. References
Ballwahn, Larry, et al. “Morality of Pamela and Richardson.” Minds@UW, 1968,
https://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/46209. Accessed 31 October 2023.
Richardson, Samuel. Pamela, or, Virtue rewarded. Edited by Peter Sabor, Penguin
Publishing Group, 1980.
Richardson, Samuel, and Joseph Highmore. “Pamela | Sentimental Novel, 18th Century,
Epistolary.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pamela-novel-by-
Richardson. Accessed 31 October 2023.

10. Thank You