Pamela, or Rewarded Virtue

In 1739, two publishers approached Richardson with a proposal to draw up a scribe, from which readers, inexperienced in epistolary art, could borrow sample letters befitting various occasions. Among the many everyday situations that he touched, he was especially interested in one: the position of a maid servant who was subjected to amorous persecution by the owner. So the initial concept of "Pamela" - the first Richardson novel, was born. As in all his works, he did not indicate his authorship, being called the "publisher" of the allegedly genuine correspondence of his heroes ^[1] .

Richardson said that the story described happened 25 years ago with his friend, but did not disclose the names. The publication " Memoirs of Lady H, the Celebrated Pamela " (1741) pointed to the prototypes of the heroes of the Richardson novel - Hannah Steges in 1725 married the baronet of Sir Arthur Hasilrig ^[2] .

Pamela was a huge success. The popularity of the work provoked the production of thematic objects based on the book: paintings, prints, painted fans, wax figures, playing cards were decorated with drawings based on the plot of Pamela ^[3] .

In the spring of 1741, an anonymous sequel to Pamela went on sale under the name Pamela's Behavior in the Upper World, followed by a series of similar fakes. Then, by the end of the year, Richardson added two more volumes with the correspondence of Pamela with prominent and noble persons to his two volumes, which limited the initial text of his novel. Almost devoid of action, they are mostly didactic in nature and enjoy a well-deserved reputation as the most boring works of Richardson ^[1] .

Volume 1

15-year-old poor Pamela Andrews from Bedfordshire informs in a letter to her parents about the death of her benefactress and the new owner of the estate, the son of the deceased, Esq . Mr. B. Mr. B. pays special attention to Pamela, showers gifts and tries to seduce in a summer house. The attempt to return to the parents' house failed.

Mr. B. reports that he intends to marry Pamela to his chaplain in Lincolnshire and offers the girl's parents money for her daughter. In Lincolnshire, Pamela begins a diary, planning one day to send it to her worried parents, as they are forbidden to write letters. Mrs. Juks, the housekeeper, by order of the owner, vigilantly watches Pamela so that she does not run away. No one in the district decides to help the girl out of fear of the authority and wealth of Esquire Mr. B. Attempts to escape Pamela fail.

With the help of a housekeeper, Mr. B., dressed as a maid, Nan enters Pamela’s bedroom, which is losing her senses. Touched by Pamela's goodwill, the Esquire leaves her, and in the morning in the garden she admits that she is in love, but cannot marry due to social inequality.

Volume 2

Pamela rejects Mr. B.'s proposal to marry and goes to her parents. On the way, she receives a letter about Esquire’s illness and returns, realizing her deep feelings for him. Together they make plans for the future and live like spouses.

After their marriage in the church, Mr. B. Mrs. Devers' sister comes to Pamela and expresses her doubts about the legality of such a marriage. She also talks about Sally Godfrey - a girl who was once seduced by Mr. B. and is the mother of his child.

Mrs. Devers accepts Pamela, Mr. B. expresses his understanding of the wife's duty. They return to Bedfordshire, look for the Esquire’s daughter and find out that Sally Godfrey lives in a happy marriage in Jamaica . Pamela takes the girl to the house. Neighboring aristocrats have changed their negative opinion about Pamela and reckon with her.

The first volumes of the novel also met with criticism and doubt about the heroine's excessive edification and honesty. Parodies quickly appeared: "An apology for the life of Mrs. Chamela Andrews" ( English sham - pretense, false), "Anti-Pamela, or" exposed pretended innocence "", "True anti-Pamela", "Condemnation of Pamela", "Pamela, or pretty little liar. " The frankness with which Richardson ventured to portray Squire B.’s repeated assassination attempts on Pamela’s honor, allowed critics to claim that he tells readers “the most ingenious and seductive love ideas” ^[1] .

The initial conception of the famous novel by Henry Fielding “The Adventures of Joseph Andrews”, conceived in the same way as a parody of “Pamela”, marked the beginning of many years of literary enmity between both writers ^[1] .

Richardson was convinced of the legality and naturalness of the class and class distinctions existing in England. Humility for the poor is considered the best way, in his understanding, why the author rewards this quality of all his plebeian heroes. Walter Scott noticed the author’s choice when describing the girl’s insulted father, who is not filled with the spirit of righteous anger, but humbly accepts the union of Mr. B. and Pamela, as if to pay off all the humiliating persecution, insults and lawlessness ^[1] .

• 1787 - G. Richordson. Pamela, or the awarded virtue. Aglinsky moralizing story. - In Part IV. - SPb. , 1787.
• 2013 - Samuel Richardson. Pamela. Shelmela. Bestsellers of the XVIII century (set of 2 books) / Translation: Tatyana Kovalevskaya, Evgenia Semenyuk, N. Gubanova, A. Karpusenko, O. Tronina. - Dmitry Bulanin, 2013 .-- 1008 p. - ISBN 978-5-86007-741-6 . - ISBN 978-5-86007-743-0 .

Fine Art

In 1742, the artist Francis Heyman painted a number of paintings based on the work ^[4] . Soon, in 1743, artist Joseph Highmore presented a series of 12 paintings (today in the Tate Gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria , the Fitzwilliam Museum ) based primarily on the plot of the first book.

Theater

The plot of the novel was successfully put on the theatrical stages of France (Louis de Bussy, Nicolas-Louis Francois de Neufshato ) and Italy ( Carlo Goldoni , Pietro Chiari ) also in the genre of comedy. In France, Mademoiselle Lange 's straw hat from the production gave rise to the fashion for hats a la Pamela ^{[5] [6]} .

Cinema

• 1974 - Mistress Pamela ^[7] ,   Great Britain
• 2003-2006 - the series " Eliza " (based on),   Italy ^[8] .

• “ Clarissa, or the Story of a Young Lady ” (1748)
• Stockholm Syndrome

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