Exploring How Pamela's Story Would Differ in the Contemporary Era

 

This blog is a thinking activity given by vaidehi mam.  If Pamela was in the contemporary time, will the story take any changes? Before answering this question let me introduce you with the novel "Pamela or virtue rewarded".

Introduction:

"Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded" is an epistolary novel written by Samuel Richardson and published in 1740. It is considered one of the earliest novels in the English language and is known for its portrayal of a virtuous young woman who triumphs over adversity. 

This novel is about a young woman named Pamela andrew. This novel is presented in series of letters, written by pamela to her parents. Pamela is young woman who is working for Lady B. She is coming from a poor family. When Lady B passes away her son Mr. B, who is young rich man come back to home. He begins to attracted to pamela. He is infatuated by her beauty. Although she  comes from  low class.

Pamela resists Mr. B. She writes Letters to her parents about this situation that how she is struggling with Mr .B. her parents suggests her to come back to them. But decide to stay and resisting Mr. B. 

On other hand Mr.B gets frustrated with pamela's behaviour. So, he deside to abduct her. 

Mr. B Continuous to pressure her to became his mistress. Pamela writes her struggles and isolation in the letters.

By the time Mr. B's behaviour changes and he became respectful towards her. He allows her freedom. Pamela's virtuous character influence Mr. B and he falls in love with her. And they both get married. This is how pamela's virtue rewarded her.

• If Pamela was in contemporary time, will the story take the changes?

Yes, according to me if Pamela was a in contemporary time this story would have take so many changes.

• Pamela's Early Life

In the original novel pamela is only a 15 year old teenager. And she was working for Lady B as a servant . In this time if any one is doing a job at the age of 15 thats illegal. And thats called child labour. In contemporary time education is almost free for everyone. Even if someone is hiring a underage child as a servant that's a crime.

• Mr. B's Advances

In this novel Mr.B's age is not mentioned but still Mr.B is significantly older than Pamela Andrews. He is attracted towards a  younger girl. He tries to seduce her and also gives her gifts but she is resisting him. And pamela tells about this struggles to her parents through the letter and her parents try to convince her to come back. 

In contemporary time if  Mr. B is trying to misbehave with Pamela, she has full rights on her choice that she wants to be with him or not but still she is just a teenage girl. In modern time if she is struggling from this problem she would decided to stay away from him and the things he had done with her like abducting her and all that's a crime. Her parents wouldn't let her stay at that place 

• The Role of Women

In today’s society, women’s rights and protections are much more secure than they were in Samuel Richardson's era. While it would still be wrong for Mr. B to attempt to take advantage of Pamela as he did in the novel, there would be much more chances for her to seek help or support from people around her - such as family members or authorities - if she felt threatened in any way. Furthermore, Pamela likely wouldn't face as many obstacles when it came to speaking out against Mr. B’s advances or seeking retribution after everything was said and done.

• Technological Advancements

As you know that this novel is presented with the series of the letters. So, the letters are very time consuming but in That time Letters were the only source of communication.

In contemporary time the technology is advanced. Peoples now uses the technology to communicate with each other in seconds.

In the novel, pamela was writing her struggles in Letters. In contemporary time we have social media, internet , with the help of it we can easily communicate with eachother.

For example in 1700s the letters written by pamela to her parents minimum takes 15 days to reach them. If she wants the  help the day she wrote the Letter she can't get the help. But in 21st century she can ask for help to any one in seconds.

• Changes to Pamela's Character

In today’s society, Pamela would be portrayed as an independent woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself against Mr. B’s advances. She would also be praised by other characters throughout the novel for her strength and perseverance in protecting her own rights and values. Rather than being seen  weak and helpless in the face of Mr. B’s advances, she would be viewed as someone who was able to make decisions for herself while maintaining her own sense of moral authority despite being challenged by those around her. Pamela would also have more freedom within the novel itself 

• What if the character of pamela switched with Mr. B?

The way samuel Richardson is romanticizing the kidnapping and isolating pamela with out her will. And he justified Mr. B by saying that he loves her. But the question is what if Pamela was attracted towards Mr. B and she did the same thing with him? 

For sure if that would happened than this story wouldn't be a love story because at that time the men has the power so they can do whatever they want. It was like they are always right. He would judged pamela by saying that she is an mannerless women or she is is mad woman. Even if she gives justification to them that she loves him. They can't digest the fact that a woman dare to kidnapped someone  Society would seen as a criminal. 

Conclusion:

The novel explores themes of love, class, social norms, and personal growth. It can be seen as a love story in the sense that it portrays the development of romantic feelings between the two central characters and ultimately rewards Pamela's virtue with a happy and loving marriage.

According to me the contemporary the themes of the novel would be manipulation, infatuation. For me this novel has more elements of the crime and manipulation than the love. Because first of all in contemporary time she is working as servant at the age of 15 and she is also  struggling with the misbehaviour of the Mr. B 

The way he is abducting her and isolating her is crime in contemporary time.

In1700s the kidnapping and isolating a woman with out her consent is romanticize by the writer. He calls it love. That Mr. B loves her but in reality he is just attracted to her. 

In contemporary time the ending of the novel would be different than the original novel. I think that Pamela will not ended up with marrying to Mr B in contemporary time.

Thank you..