Throughout the novel so far, we've seen that Mr. B seems to have a devious plot in mind for Pamela. However, Pamela also seems to have made up her mind about him ever since the first incident in the Summer-house.
Could Mr. B actually be trying to be civil to Pamela?
Is Pamela provoking him?
Should she have been more forgiving and open minded?
Or is Mr. B truly as deceptive as Pamela perceives?
Give Specific examples.
Up until "the 25th and 26th Days of my heavy Restraint," as Pamela titles her diary/letter to her parents, I thought that maybe Mr. B could really have been in love with Pamela and trying to be civil towards her. However, after reading the letter that Mr. B sent to Mrs. Jewkes, I think that Mr. B is really as deceptive and cruel as Pamela thinks he is. The point in Mr. B's letter where is think that he shows his true colors is "Well, I think I now hate her perfectly; and tho' I will do nothing to her myself, yet I can bear, for the sake of my Revenge, and my injur'd Honour, and slighted Love, to see any thing, even what she most fears, be done to her; and then she may be turned loose to her evil Destiny..." (page 163). Instead of letting Pamela go because he is know longer interested in 'ruining' her himself, he has begun to design a plot to have someone else ruin her. I think that Pamela's perception of Mr. B following the incident in the Summer-house was the correct reading of his character.
ReplyDelete"... I should be a sad wicked Creature indeed, if, for the sake of Riches or Favour, I should forfeit my good Name: yea, and worse than any other young body of my Sex; because I can so contentedly return to my Poverty again, and think it less Disgrace to be oblig'd to wear Rags, and live upon Rye-bread and Water, as I use to do, than to be a Harlot to the greatest Man in the World." (41)
ReplyDeleteThis quote made me think that she tries so hard to be virtuous. She's so young, and I feel like she is being a bully to Virtue. She clearly knows that Squire B is attracted to her, but her playing hard to get in such a intelligible manner can heighten her "seemly" virtues. And in turn, it keeps him wanting more of her. She knows that he reads her letters, and talks to Mrs. Jewkes. I feel like Pamela does Provoke Mr. B. In a way, they both got the other hooked in some way... if that makes sense.
But her perception of Squire B at the summer house does prevail over his character for awhile, but there are moments where Pamela lifts him up to be a "high" person and have some tones of admiration which confuses me.