AW Short Exercise 1- Pamela
Shifts in language as a contradictory tool for Pamela and Mr B’s relationship
Throughout the entire excerpt the shifts between Mr B and Pamela’s relationship are
seemingly contradicting. To be more specific, the language they use and their choice of
words contradicts itself throughout. The first encounter of contradiction occurs in the first
line of the excerpt: “Hide your dear face in my bosom, my beloved Pamela! your innocent
freedoms charm me!” The contradiction in Mr B’s words is evident here, as he expresses his
sexual desires with Pamela, but then goes on to say her innocent freedom charms him. This is
contradictory as Mr B states that Pamela’s innocence charms him, although he desires to strip
her from that very innocence that he is charmed by, by indulging in sexual relations with her.
This very contradiction of words by Mr B is especially evident in the word “possession” in
line 7 of the extract. It is interesting to use the word possess, as the very definition of it is to
“have complete power over (someone) and be manifested through their speech or actions”
(Oxford dictionary). We then see that Mr B does not only desire Pamela sexually, but to
overpower her in every way, including her speech and actions. This proves to be
contradictory once again, as he desires Pamela so deeply for who she is as a person, yet at the
same time desires to possess her. By possessing Pamela, in the way in which I had just
explained, it would mean that Mr B would have complete power over Pamela that manifests
in her speech and actions. In doing so, Pamela would not be the person Mr B desires any
longer, but instead a mirror reflection of Mr B himself. Therefore, in wanting to possess
Pamela, he would be losing the very being that he so greatly desires.
The start of Pamela’s contradictions in the extract is evident in line 11. Pamela expresses
what gracious words Mr B had just uttered. In the grand scheme of the novel, Pamela proves
to be an educated young girl in comparison to other girls her age at that time. She stands up
for herself and a lot of times goes against 18th century views of women. This is how we meet
Pamela. Yet, each time Mr B offers an ounce of good words, Pamela falls to his feet as
though he had just proven himself to be a worthy gentleman. This is contradictory to
Pamela’s entire character. At the beginning of the novel, we meet Pamela as an innocent but
smart young woman. As soon as Mr B uses his words to express his feelings to Pamela, she
becomes gullible and falls for what he says. This is evident not only in the extract above, but
in letter XII as well when Pamela says maybe her master has learned from his mistakes and
will not do it again. Pamela’s character’s contradiction stays on the two sides of being a smart
grown woman and a gullible 15-year-old girl. Although, one may argue that her words are
falling for Mr B’s speeches, but her actions remain virtuous by not indulging in any sexual
relations with Mr B.
The relationship between Mr B and Pamela are constantly going back and forth. Indeed, it is
evident in most of the novel where Pamela fights for her virtue and stands up against Mr B,
but it is evident in the extract above as well. In the first two lines of the extract, Mr B exudes
passion for Pamela in his use of words such as that he has not known “more sincere
pleasure.” These words are soon contradicted by “I cannot marry.” The relationship from Mr
B’s point of view quickly shifts from intimate desire of love but then is contradicted by his
words in saying he cannot marry. Just as the language Mr B uses contradicts each other, so
does his desires and therefore his relationship with Pamela from his point of view. Their
relationship begin in the extract with passion and words of love and devotion and ends in
having to pretend that the conversation did not in fact happen.
This exact shift in language and therefore relationship is evident in Pamela as well. At the
start of the extract, Pamela begs Mr B to spare her. Highlighting to the readers that she may
not be that fond of Mr B but merely respects him as his master. This soon changes in line 10
when Pamela thinks her master to be such a good gentleman through listening to his
“gracious words.” By the shift in language from Pamela, the relationship between Pamela and
Mr B (from Pamela’s point of view) shifts as well. In the extract Pamela starts her
conversation with something far from love but closes her conversation with gratitude and
what may be love and devotion.
Therefore, using the contradictory language that both Pamela and Mr B constantly uses in
this extract, their relationship subtly shifts from love to disdain or disdain to love as their
languages and choice of words shift.