Pamela, or, Virtue Rewarded | Themes

Pamela, or, Virtue Rewarded Themes

Virtue

The most important theme of this novel is virtue; it is even mentioned in the title of the novel. The introduction praises Pamela and the author for their virtue. Pamela's parents warn her against Mr. B in order to protect her virtue. Lady Davers, Mrs. Jervis, the Bedfordshire gentry and the Lincolnshire gentry all praise Pamela for her virtue repetitively throughout the novel. Pamela's parents stress the importance of virtue when they tell her that it is better to lose her life than her virtue; they also say that only goodness and virtue makes one truly beautiful. Pamela demonstrates her virtue by rejecting Mr. B's many advances at Bedfordshire, even sleeping with Mrs. Jervis to protect her chastity. Pamela decides to leave Bedfordshire because of the danger to her virtue while under Mr. B's roof. Mrs. Jervis shows her virtue by defending Pamela against Mr. B and refusing to apologize...
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