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. But we would sooner live upon the Water and Clay of the Ditches I am forc'd to dig, than to live better at the Price of our dear Child's Ruin." (5.1)
In this early letter to Pamela, her parents make sure she knows what's important to them: her self-respect, intelligence, and happiness. J/K! Her virtue, and only her virtue. This early moment sets us up to understand how Pamela came to prize her virtue so highly—because we get the feeling that, if she slipped, there wouldn't be a happy homecoming.
Quote #2
. . . We had rather see you all cover'd with Rags, and even follow you to the Church-yard, than have it said, a Child of ours preferr'd worldly Conveniencies to her Virtue. (5.5)
Pamela's parents assert they would even rather see her dead than "ruined," i.e. sexed up. Whoa. How's that for parental love?
Quote #3
And must it not be look'd upon as a sort of Warrant for such Actions, if I stay after this? for I think, when one of our Sex finds she is attempted, it is an Encouragement to a Person to proceed, if one puts one's self in the Way of it, when one can help it; and it shews one can forgive what in short ought not to be forgiven. Which is no small Countenance to foul Actions, I'll assure you. (21.5)
Talk about victim-blaming: here, Pamela explains to Mrs. Jervis that she wants to leave the house because, if she stays, she'll look like she was asking for it. Or something. Either way, we're not really down with this thought process.
Quote #4
But I'll do all the Duties of my Place first, if I may. And I hope you'll give me a Character as to my Honesty, as it may not look as if I was turn'd away for any Harm. (21.7)
In case you're wondering why Pamela doesn't just pack up and leave, here's your answer: she needs a good "character." Brain Snack: a "character" is essentially a reference letter; it's a testimonial from a former employer. Without a good character, Pamela won't have a shot at getting another job, since it'll look like she got fired.
Quote #5
But, said I, what do you call Honour?—Why, said she, what does he call Honour, think you?—Ruin! Shame! Disgrace! Said I, I fear!—Pho, pho, said she . . . (40.8)
To Pamela, "honor" means "virginity." To Mr. B, "honor means … whatever Mr. B wants it to mean. Those tricky aristocrats think they have control over language, but Mr. B's about to get a good lesson in what it means to have principles. (Lesson #1: be poor.)
Quote #6
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)
Grab your highlighters, Shmoop, because this just might be the most important sentence in the book. For that matter, it might just be the most important sentence in the history of eighteenth-century novels. (Not even joking.) "My Soul is of equal Importance with the Soul of a Princess." This is radical talk, folks. Pamela is saying that she has as much right as a princess to protect her virtue—and to someone like Mr. B, used to thinking of people like Pamela as practically a difference species, it sounds absolutely nuts.
Quote #7
Poor Mr. Williams, with Tears of Joy in his Eyes, said; How happily, Sir, have you been touched by the Divine Grace, before you have been hurried into the Commission of Sins, that the deepest Penitence could hardly have aton'd for!—God has enabled you to stop short of the Evil; and you have nothing to do, but to rejoice in the Good, which now will be doubly so, because you can receive it without the least inward Reproach. (78.40)
Um okay. Here, Mr. Williams is literally crying because he's so happy God has stopped Mr. B from raping Pamela. We think that Pamela might have had something to do with it, but you do you, Mr. Williams.
Quote #8
Fie, Mr. Andrews, said he, I thought you knew that the outward Appearance was nothing. I wish I had as good a Habit inwardly, as you have. (78.60)
Here, Mr. B takes up the novel's refrain about how possessing inner goodness is better than looking good… right before insisting that Pamela's dad buys new clothes on his dime. So, which is it, Mr. B?
Quote #9
Said she, You deserve more than I can express; for, to all who know your Story, you are a matchless Person. You are an Ornament to our Sex, and your Virtue, tho' your dear Spouse is so excellent and generous as he is, has met with no more than its due Reward. (92.165)
This entry in Pamela's brag book comes from Lady Jones, who believes that Pamela deserves everything she's gotten and then some for the strength of her virtue (despite her "low" birth). Sounds like Lady Jones has some principles of her own—unlike the rest of Mr. B's gentry friends, who harass and abuse Pamela.
Quote #10
You are, said my dearest Sir, very good to me, Madam, I am sure. I have taken Liberties in my former Life, that deserved not so much Excellence. I have offended extremely, by Trials glorious to my Pamela, but disgraceful to me, against a Virtue that I now consider as almost sacred; and I shall not think I deserve her, till I can bring my Manners, my Sentiments, and my Actions, to a Conformity with her own. (92.166)
Though Mr. B generally continues to boss Pamela around after they get married (e.g., he gives her a list of rules for her conduct that's as long as Ulysses), this is one instance in which he admits that he needs to take cues from her. You know that whole cultural narrative about how women are more moral than men? You saw it here first. (Seriously. Back in the seventeenth century, and pretty much for all of recorded Western human history before then, women were considered way, way worse than men.)
Quote #11
People, said I, Mrs. Jewkes, don't know how they shall act, when their Wills are in the Power of their Superiors; and I always thought one should distinguish between Acts of Malice, and of implicit Obedience; tho', at the same time, a Person should know how to judge between Lawful and Unlawful. And even the Great, continued I, tho' at present angry they are not obey'd, will afterwards have no ill Opinion of a Person for withstanding them in their unlawful commands. (93.137)
Here, Pamela buddies up with Mrs. Jewkes, admitting that people might sometimes have a hard time figuring out how to act when they're working for someone else. (200 years later, we started calling this the Nuremberg Defense.) Of course, we get the feeling Pamela herself would never claim she was "just following orders"—but then, she's practically perfect in every way.