Pamela's Oscar acceptance speech would thank God first … and second … and third … and, in fact, she'd probably still be thanking God when the orchestra swelled to cut her off. For Pamela, it's all about God. Her letters and journals are filled with Biblical allusions; she likes to point out to Mr. B that God probably wouldn't be too pleased with his actions; and she uses Biblical stories and psalms to make sense of her own captivity. And there's a good reason for it: according to God, she says, her soul is just as worthy as the soul of a princess. In Pamela, religion isn't a tool of oppression: it's a tool of freedom and equality. Pretty cool.
Questions About Religion
- Though Pamela is constantly praised for her inherent excellence (just ask her), the second half of the novel contains numerous reminders that it's really God who's behind all her greatness. What do these moments do for your understanding of the characters and the text as a whole? If Pamela really attributes all her awesomeness to God, why should we even bother reading about her?
- When she returns to the Bedfordshire house, Pamela goes around praying in all the rooms where she and Mr. B had violent interactions. What does this "exorcism" do for you as a reader, in terms of how you view the characters and/or their progress? (And, come on, is this weird, or is it really weird?)
- The end of the book seems kind of fantastical, with lots of previously unreligious people (for example, Mr. B and Jane the sullen maid) suddenly coming up with religious sentiment. Does Richardson's portrayal of Pamela's impact on the piety of others ring true for you? Why or why not?
Chew on This
In the second half of the novel, all the emphasis on religion shifts the novel so it reads more like a conduct manual than an exploration of human nature and behavior.
Pamela uses religion to demonstrate character growth. The increased religious sentiment in Pamela's new community shows that characters are able to change.