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April 16

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Housekeeping:

  • Next week: our final blog
    • Plus: your thesis statement and 2 topic sentences due to class (3 hard copies)

Group Presentation!

Shamela

 

    • Favorite parts?
    • How does Fielding satirize Pamela and Richardson as an author?

To be short, this Book will live to the Age of the Patriarchs, and like them will carry on the good Work many hundreds of Years hence, among our Posterity, who will not HESITATE their Esteem with Restraint. If the Romans granted Exemptions to Men who begat a few Children for the Republick, what Distinction (if Policy and we should ever be reconciled) should we find to reward this Father of Millions, which are to owe Formation to the future Effect of his Influence. —— I feel another Emotion.

He is resolved to have a Book made about him and me; he proposed it to Mr. Williams, and offered him a Reward for his Pains; but he says he never writ any thing of that kind, but will recommend my Husband, when he comes to Town, to a Parson who does that Sort of Business for Folks, one who can make my Husband, and me, and Parson Williams, to be all great People; for he can make black white, it seems.

    • What is Mrs. Jervis’ “business”?

When Mrs. Jervis thinks of coming to Town, I believe I can procure her a good House, and fit for the Business

  • What kinds of critiques regarding class and social climbing does Fielding make?

I Suppose Mrs. Jervis acquainted you with what past ‘till I left Bedfordshire; whence I am after a very pleasant Journey arrived in Lincolnshire, with your old Acquaintance Mrs. Jewkes, who formerly helped Parson Williams to me; and now designs I see, to sell me to my Master; thank her for that; she will find two Words go to that Bargain.

I thought once of making a little Fortune by my Person. I now intend to make a great one by my Vartue.

It would be hard indeed, that a Woman who marries a Man only for his Money, should be debarred from spending it.

  • How does the story portray religion, or at least the public appearance of it?

How sweet is Revenge: Sure the Sermon Book is in the Right, in calling it the sweetest Morsel the Devil ever dropped into the Mouth of a Sinner.

As he went along, he began to discourse very learnedly, and told me the Flesh and the Spirit were too distinct Matters, which had not the least relation to each other. That all immaterial Substances (those were his very Words) such as Love, Desire, and so forth, were guided by the Spirit: But fine Houses, large Estates, Coaches, and dainty Entertainments were the Product of the Flesh. Therefore, says he, my Dear, you have two Husbands, one the Object of your Love, and to satisfy your Desire; the other the Object of your Necessity, and to furnish you with those other Conveniences.

  • What does this novel suggest about the power relations between men and women? What tone does it use to present this? Is it mocking, critical, resigned?
  • What do you make of the way Shamela obtains the letters she writes about?

We had not gone far, before a Man on Horseback, riding full Speed, overtook us, and coming up to the Side of the Chariot, threw a Letter into the Window, and then departed without uttering a single Syllable.

Truly, says I, Sir, I shall live like other Ladies of my Fashion; and if you think, because I was a Servant, that I shall be contented to be governed as you please, I will shew you, you are mistaken. If you had not cared to marry me, you might have let it alone. I did not ask you, nor I did not court you