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A review by abagoflobsters
Pamela by Samuel Richardson
1.0
Outside of historical or social research, this book is hot garbage. This book needs an editor desperately, I felt as though I could rip out 100 pages at random and this book would not lose very much. Outside of this book being of an ungodly length, the plot is dreadful.
Our character, Pamela is a servant to a rich man and writes this novel in the form of letters to her parents and journal entries. We read hundred of pages of Pamela defending her "Virtue"(meaning virginity), against the man's repeated attempts to rape her. This is explained away as "boys will be boys, especially rich ones! Hang in there, Pam!" (Happy 1700's values!). We read as Pamela rejects rape attempts, is belittled, kidnapped and tortured by this man, which is disheartening. Despite Pamela's insufferable backpatting (boy, aren't I so virtuous and great?), we actually sympathize with her! Then, Pamela falls in love with this man, and no, it's not Stockholm Syndrome, it's Richardson cramming his values down your throat. Pamela legitimately loves this man and turns him into a virtuous good man with sheer power of her own virtue! Happy Ending!
So, you see, Richardson wrote this novel as a handbook for young girls to live their lives by. Such wonderful lessons like "Accept your rapist husbands (I mean, to be fair, you were asking for it by wearing suggestive clothes), always protect your virginity and rich people are directly better than everyone else!
If you're looking for entertainment, don't look here. If you're looking for historical context, read excerpts. Sentimentalism is no good.
Our character, Pamela is a servant to a rich man and writes this novel in the form of letters to her parents and journal entries. We read hundred of pages of Pamela defending her "Virtue"(meaning virginity), against the man's repeated attempts to rape her. This is explained away as "boys will be boys, especially rich ones! Hang in there, Pam!" (Happy 1700's values!). We read as Pamela rejects rape attempts, is belittled, kidnapped and tortured by this man, which is disheartening. Despite Pamela's insufferable backpatting (boy, aren't I so virtuous and great?), we actually sympathize with her! Then, Pamela falls in love with this man, and no, it's not Stockholm Syndrome, it's Richardson cramming his values down your throat. Pamela legitimately loves this man and turns him into a virtuous good man with sheer power of her own virtue! Happy Ending!
So, you see, Richardson wrote this novel as a handbook for young girls to live their lives by. Such wonderful lessons like "Accept your rapist husbands (I mean, to be fair, you were asking for it by wearing suggestive clothes), always protect your virginity and rich people are directly better than everyone else!
If you're looking for entertainment, don't look here. If you're looking for historical context, read excerpts. Sentimentalism is no good.