How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
We are, 'tis true, very poor, and find it hard enough to live; tho' once, as you know, it was better with us. (5.1)
One reason we give Richardson's whole "virtuous poor" the side-eye is that, as with this letter from Pamela's dad, he constantly highlights the fact that the Andrews family is different from other poor people. They used to be better off, until some bad luck (and bad debts) ruined them—meaning that the class difference between Pamela and Mr. B might not be quite as major as she makes it out to be.
Quote #2
He says it does him good at his Heart to see you both, and to hear you talk. He says you are both so good, and so honest, that he always learns something from you to the Purpose. It is a thousand Pities, he says, that such honest Hearts should not have better Luck in the World. (8.1)
Here, Pamela is describing how John feels about visiting the Andrewses, who are consistently described as two of the most honest people around. Pay attention, because this whole "virtuous poor" thing is going to get major play throughout the book.
Quote #3
. . . they stand in Awe of her, knowing her to be a Gentlewoman born, tho' she has had Misfortunes. (8.2)
Like Pamela, Mrs. Jervis was apparently born into a better situation than she now occupies. It is one of many early clues that the novel is incredibly conscious of class status—and it also lets us know that the class system isn't actually as rigid as people like Lady Davers want to believe. Maybe that's why she's so defensive, hm?
Quote #4
Were my Life in question, instead of my Honesty, I would not wish to involve you, or any body, in the least Difficulty for so worthless a poor Creature. But, O Sir! My Soul is of equal Importance with the Soul of a Princess; though my Quality is inferior to that of the meanest Slave. (50.5)
Pamela is no rabble-rouser. She basically accepts her lowly position in the world; she's not out trying to occupy Lincolnshire, or anything. But there's one area where she absolutely claims equal footing with even a "Princess": her virtue. She says as much here in a letter to Mr. Williams, whom she is trying to solicit for help in getting out of Lincolnshire.
Quote #5
Consider, Brother, that ours is no up-start Family; but is as ancient as the best in the Kingdom; and, for several Hundreds of Years, it has never been known that the Heirs of it have disgraced themselves by unequal Matches . . . (74.10)
Excuse us while we snort. Maybe no heirs have disgraced themselves by marrying the servants, but we bet they've been siring a lot of bastard children on them, if you know what we mean. It seems like Lady Davers has some messed-up ideas of what constitutes "disgrace." While she does offer some criticism of his moral transgressions against Pamela, she's most upset about the damage he's done to the family name. Snobbery: 1; Morality: 0.
Quote #6
For well I know, Sir, that nothing so much excites the Envy of my own Sex, as seeing a Person set above them in Appearance, and in Dress. (75.28)
Ugh, don't you hate it when that loser girl gets a makeover and starts dating the popular guy? Oh wait, you don't? Well, Pamela thinks you do.
Quote #7
I am oblig'd to you, Pamela, said he; and pray be only dress'd as you are; for, as they know your Condition, and I have told them the Story of your present Dress, and how you came by it, one of the young Ladies begs it as a Favour, that they may see you just as you are. And I am the rather pleas'd it should be so, because they will perceive you owe nothing to Dress, and make a much better Figure with your own native Stock of Loveliness, than the greatest Ladies do in the most splendid Attire, and stick out with the most glittering Jewels. (75.53)
Take off that designer denim: it's what's on the inside that counts. (No really. Mr. B wants you to take off that designer denim, if you know what we mean.) Jokes aside, this position is hard to argue with. The weird thing is, once they're married, Mr. B demands that she dress the part. Once she's his wife, that is, the outside matters, too. Virtue matters, but keeping up appearances seems to matter just as much.
Quote #8
We Fellows of Fortune, Mr. Williams, take sometimes a little more Liberty with the World than we ought to do; wantoning, very probably, as you contemplative Folks would say, in the Sun-beams of a dangerous Affluence, and cannot think of confining ourselves to the common Paths, tho' the safest and most eligible, after all. (76.26)
Here, Mr. B explains that he has a serious case of affluenza: growing up rich means that he's never learned about consequences. Poor little rich boy, wah wah. Try telling that to the judge. Oh wait. Someone did—and it totally worked.
Quote #9
They all so gaz'd at me, that I could not look up; for I think it is one of the Distinctions of Persons of Condition, and well-bred People, to put bashful Bodies out of Countenance. (77.7)
Did anyone bring the peanuts? The "well-bred" people in the novel treat Pamela like more of a zoo animal than a person; Mr. B likes to show her off to his friends so they'll marvel at her beauty, dress, and intellect. Major point of difference: as aristocrats, Mr. B and his friends would have been used to being looked at. Aristocrats were supposed to display their wealth; it was considered their duty. For them, the outside does count—until Pamela teaches them to value the inside.
Quote #10
Lady Davers, when a Maiden, was always vastly passionate; but a very good Lady when it was over. And she'd make nothing of slapping her Maids about, and begging their Pardons afterwards, if they took it patiently; otherwise, she used to say The Creatures were even with her. (92.129)
So, apparently servants only deserve your apology if they don't think they're entitled to it? Got it. We'll definitely use that tactic on our subordinates.
Quote #11
And then, next, after we have, perhaps, half broken their Hearts, a Wife is look'd out for: Convenience, or Birth and Fortune, are the first Motives, Affection the last (if it is at all consulted); And two People thus educated, thus trained up in a Course of unnatural Ingratitude, and who have been headstrong Torments to every one who has had a Share in their Education, as well as to those to whom they owe their Being, are brought together; and what can be expected, but that they should pursue, and carry on, the same comfortable Conduct, in Matrimony, and join most heartily to plague one another? (93.174)
Mr. B is back with further psychological diagnoses of the upper class, this time with respect to attitudes about marriage. In his view, upper-class marriage just means that one spoiled brat marries another spoiled brat. Not really a recipe for happily ever after.