Previous
Letter 18
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 father and mother, saying she still isn’t sure exactly when she’ll be home. She finds out Mrs. Jervis and Mr. B have been having private conversations, but she still trusts Mrs. Jervis. When Pamela talked to Mrs. Jervis herself about it, Mrs. Jervis tried to convince Pamela to stay, saying Mr. B surely won’t kiss Pamela against her will a third time. Pamela replied that she’ll keep resisting him no matter how many times he tries. Ultimately, Pamela remains committed to leaving the house. In her letter’s postscript, however, she writes that she is staying long enough to finish working on a waistcoat.
Mrs. Jervis has faith in the class system, and so she wants to believe that Mr. B is the gentleman he claims to be. Mr. B preys on this belief, using it to try to manipulate Mrs. Jervis and turn her against Pamela, and making her an unwitting accomplice to his schemes. Once again, Pamela’s behavior is strange; she seems to be stalling her departure, even as she says how urgently she wants to get home.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
