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Letter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Pamela, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Value of Virtue
Class and Morality
Religion and Marriage
Sexual Politics
Summary
Analysis
Pamela writes to her mother to explain why it’s been a few weeks since her last letter. She says that something bad has happened: Mr. B has shown his “true colors” and offered Pamela “freedoms.” Pamela tried to write about this earlier but believes her letter was stolen. Pamela realizes Mr. B is watching her, and he comments at one point to Mrs. Jervis that Pamela seems to always be writing. Pamela is discouraged and hopes maybe eventually she’ll find her stolen letter.
Pamela can no longer keep up the denial that she maintained in the previous letters, suggesting that Mr. B’s behavior truly has gone beyond what is proper. The fact that Mr. B controls Pamela’s life so fully, even overseeing her communication with her parents, illustrates the advantages that his class and gender give him over someone like Pamela. His bold behavior suggests that it’s unlikely he’ll face any consequences for his actions.
Themes
Quiz
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