Pamela Andrews: Definition And Characteristics Of A Novel

A novel is a fictional literary narrative that describes human experiences based on innovation, length, content and character and plot development. To be considered a novel there has to be a literary change or “cutting-edge” material, a new way of viewing society and the world. It also has to be a desirable length, with enough content that conveys realism to its readers in a way that the characters interact with their surroundings, one another and themselves, but it also has to allow room for character and plot development. (Wimmer, Joshua. Novels: Definition, Characteristics & Examples. Study.com.)

By the 1700’s, “novels” was the new way of writing to express how women were to be seen and defined. An ideology struggle that featured how

Pamela Andrews, the main protagonist of the novel, is a young girl of 15 years old who is known for her beauty. Pamela serves as a maidservant and becomes a victim of sexual harassment of Mr. B, her new employer after her lady of the house dies. It is viewed as a novel based on its innovation of using an epistolary writing form which consisted of writing a story in a series of letters. The only problem with this style comes as the reader is reliant upon the protagonist for all insights into the story which creates disadvantage of having to be in every situation. (Berg) By using this style of writing Richardson claims he was not writing a novel at all, but rather using “fiction to redefine the desirable woman.” (Armstrong 97) Armstrong states that if this reasoning is valid than Pamela could also not be considered a book of conduct due to its content of displaying the female body. (Armstrong 109) Pamela’s character attracts the attention of the readers due to such traits as self-confidence, persistence, courage, love, and respect for the dearest people. Pamela's role represents as a devoted and most dutiful daughter to her poor parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, to whom Pamela writes the letters of the

We first see this played out between Pamela and Mr. B early in the novel with letter VII. Mr. B has asked Pamela to come into her lady’s dressing room because he has items to give her. She is embarrassed to be receiving stockens from the gentleman and Mr. B says to Pamela, ”Don’t blush Pamela: Dost think I don’t know pretty Maids wear Shoes and Stockings.” (Richardson 19) This advance by Mr. B shows the early signs of seduction in the novel, but by adding in Pamela’s response of wanting to cry based on the actions of Mr. B, we also can view how the novel still held the qualities of a conduct