Pamela Censured: In a Letter to the Editor
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Author: Unknown
Date: April 24th, 1741
Full Text
Pamela Censured was published in the form of a pamphlet as a blatant attack on Richardson- not a parody or satire. It condemns Pamela on many grounds by questioning the declarations made on the title page, the introductory praises and the motivations behind the supposedly "lascivious" scenes. The author quotes the book, then follows with humorous yet deeply insulting commentary. This criticism received its very own precisely for what it sought to critique.
Quotes:
In regards to the title page...
(He picks apart nearly every word.)
"The Porch erected with cunning Symmetry, and shining with agreeable Colours allures us in; Nature, Truth, Virtueand Religion; Words that are sure to please not only the Innocent Youth, but the more Thinking and experienced Sage, are press'd into the Service of the first Page; and so artfully rank'd that they at once invite us to proceed and assure us that the Production can be nothing less than a Miracle: Nay so much are you convinc'd of it's Worth, so happy in the Consideration of your own Desert, that, tacitly condemning all former Writings of the like Kind, You assume to yourself the Merit of prescribing Virtue, and cultivating both that and Religion (which by the way I never knew were distinct before) in the Minds of the Youth of both Sexes, and that you have the Honour of now First publishing these Things to the World: Was no Romance or Novel ever published with a Design to recommend moral Virtue?—Is Pamela the First of that Kind!.... Pamela is first a Series of Letters from a Girl to her Parents, which it is presumed are offered us as Originals, and then immediately we are told it is a Narrative which has it's Foundation in Truth, and Nature; now what can any Man that would reduce this to the Language of his own Opinion and Judgment call it, but, a Romance form'd in Manner of a literary Correspondence founded on a Tale which the Author had heard, and modell'd into it's present Shape. "
In regards to the preface materials...
(Richardson is then identified as being "Half-Editor, Half-Author", thus pointing out the hypocrisy of his preface.Below is the Pamela Censured version of the Letter to the Editor.)
"I the Editor tell you and command you to believe, that this Book, called Pamela, will divert,entertain, instruct, and improve the Youth of both Sexes. It is the best System of Religion and Morality extant, delightful and profitable to the younger Class of Readers, as well as those of maturer Years and Understanding. All the social Duties in high and low Life, are set forth in the most exemplary Lights. Vice is madeodious, Virtue truely lovely; the Characters justly drawn, and equally supported; the Man ofFortune, Passion, or Intrigue rightly instructed; practical Examples given to the Ladies in the most critical and affecting Cases, either of Virgin, Bride, or Wife: These represented in so lively a Manner, that the Passions of every sensible Reader must be affected; and his that are not, I pronounce him a Fool. Yet though the Passions are so much touched, there is not a single Idea throughout the Whole that shall shock the exactest Purity, nor shall a Lady be put to the Blush, even where she may very naturally expect it. Besides all this, believe me, Sirs, 'tis every Word true; nor do I at all doubt the Success of the Sale; because I confidently assert, that all the desireable Ends are obtained in these Sheets; and if any one should dispute it, I will convince him by two incontestable Proofs. First, that I know from my own Passions, that I never perused these engaging Scenes without being uncommonly moved: And, for that Reason, I insist upon it, that every Man who reads them must be the same: And next, that I, as an Editor, judge with more Impartiality than an Author can do."
In regards to a particularly "naughty" part...
(The author goes on to basically present almost every encounter between Mr. B and Pamela as a design to ignite lust in the readers' minds. Many failed to see the supposed pornographic undertones of Pamela as they are described in Pamela Censured.)
"Here the lovely Nymph is undress'd in her Bed Chamber, without Reserve, and doing a Hundred little Actions, which every one's Fancy must help him to form who reads this Passage, and in the Midst of all this, the Squire is introduced: And however she and Mrs. Jervis may endeavour to keep down the Under Petticoat, yet few Youths but would secretly wish to be in the Squire's Place, and naturally conclude they would not let the Nymph escape so easily.—Now the Scene rises, the Colours begin to glow and rise to the Life: "I found his Hand in my Bosom, and when my Fright let me know it, I was ready to die; and I sigh'd, and screamed, and fainted away. And still he had his Arms about my Neck; and Mrs. Jervis was about my Feet, and upon my Coat. And all in a cold clammy Sweat was I. Pamela! Pamela! said Mrs. Jervis, as she tells me since, O—h, and gave another Shriek, my poorPamela is dead for certain!—And so, to be sure I was for a Time; for I knew nothing more of the Matter, one Fit following another, till about three Hours after, as it prov'd to be, I found myself in Bed, and Mrs. Jervis sitting up on one Side, with her Wrapper about her, and Rachel on the other." Feeling of the Breasts, fainting, and dying away, may, in your Opinion, Sir, be Excitements to Virtue, but they are too Virtuous a Description in my Mind for any young untainted Mind to peruse."
Date: April 24th, 1741
Full Text
Pamela Censured was published in the form of a pamphlet as a blatant attack on Richardson- not a parody or satire. It condemns Pamela on many grounds by questioning the declarations made on the title page, the introductory praises and the motivations behind the supposedly "lascivious" scenes. The author quotes the book, then follows with humorous yet deeply insulting commentary. This criticism received its very own precisely for what it sought to critique.
Quotes:
In regards to the title page...
(He picks apart nearly every word.)
"The Porch erected with cunning Symmetry, and shining with agreeable Colours allures us in; Nature, Truth, Virtueand Religion; Words that are sure to please not only the Innocent Youth, but the more Thinking and experienced Sage, are press'd into the Service of the first Page; and so artfully rank'd that they at once invite us to proceed and assure us that the Production can be nothing less than a Miracle: Nay so much are you convinc'd of it's Worth, so happy in the Consideration of your own Desert, that, tacitly condemning all former Writings of the like Kind, You assume to yourself the Merit of prescribing Virtue, and cultivating both that and Religion (which by the way I never knew were distinct before) in the Minds of the Youth of both Sexes, and that you have the Honour of now First publishing these Things to the World: Was no Romance or Novel ever published with a Design to recommend moral Virtue?—Is Pamela the First of that Kind!.... Pamela is first a Series of Letters from a Girl to her Parents, which it is presumed are offered us as Originals, and then immediately we are told it is a Narrative which has it's Foundation in Truth, and Nature; now what can any Man that would reduce this to the Language of his own Opinion and Judgment call it, but, a Romance form'd in Manner of a literary Correspondence founded on a Tale which the Author had heard, and modell'd into it's present Shape. "
In regards to the preface materials...
(Richardson is then identified as being "Half-Editor, Half-Author", thus pointing out the hypocrisy of his preface.Below is the Pamela Censured version of the Letter to the Editor.)
"I the Editor tell you and command you to believe, that this Book, called Pamela, will divert,entertain, instruct, and improve the Youth of both Sexes. It is the best System of Religion and Morality extant, delightful and profitable to the younger Class of Readers, as well as those of maturer Years and Understanding. All the social Duties in high and low Life, are set forth in the most exemplary Lights. Vice is madeodious, Virtue truely lovely; the Characters justly drawn, and equally supported; the Man ofFortune, Passion, or Intrigue rightly instructed; practical Examples given to the Ladies in the most critical and affecting Cases, either of Virgin, Bride, or Wife: These represented in so lively a Manner, that the Passions of every sensible Reader must be affected; and his that are not, I pronounce him a Fool. Yet though the Passions are so much touched, there is not a single Idea throughout the Whole that shall shock the exactest Purity, nor shall a Lady be put to the Blush, even where she may very naturally expect it. Besides all this, believe me, Sirs, 'tis every Word true; nor do I at all doubt the Success of the Sale; because I confidently assert, that all the desireable Ends are obtained in these Sheets; and if any one should dispute it, I will convince him by two incontestable Proofs. First, that I know from my own Passions, that I never perused these engaging Scenes without being uncommonly moved: And, for that Reason, I insist upon it, that every Man who reads them must be the same: And next, that I, as an Editor, judge with more Impartiality than an Author can do."
In regards to a particularly "naughty" part...
(The author goes on to basically present almost every encounter between Mr. B and Pamela as a design to ignite lust in the readers' minds. Many failed to see the supposed pornographic undertones of Pamela as they are described in Pamela Censured.)
"Here the lovely Nymph is undress'd in her Bed Chamber, without Reserve, and doing a Hundred little Actions, which every one's Fancy must help him to form who reads this Passage, and in the Midst of all this, the Squire is introduced: And however she and Mrs. Jervis may endeavour to keep down the Under Petticoat, yet few Youths but would secretly wish to be in the Squire's Place, and naturally conclude they would not let the Nymph escape so easily.—Now the Scene rises, the Colours begin to glow and rise to the Life: "I found his Hand in my Bosom, and when my Fright let me know it, I was ready to die; and I sigh'd, and screamed, and fainted away. And still he had his Arms about my Neck; and Mrs. Jervis was about my Feet, and upon my Coat. And all in a cold clammy Sweat was I. Pamela! Pamela! said Mrs. Jervis, as she tells me since, O—h, and gave another Shriek, my poorPamela is dead for certain!—And so, to be sure I was for a Time; for I knew nothing more of the Matter, one Fit following another, till about three Hours after, as it prov'd to be, I found myself in Bed, and Mrs. Jervis sitting up on one Side, with her Wrapper about her, and Rachel on the other." Feeling of the Breasts, fainting, and dying away, may, in your Opinion, Sir, be Excitements to Virtue, but they are too Virtuous a Description in my Mind for any young untainted Mind to peruse."