Character Portrayal of the Servants in Samuel Richardson’s ‘Pamela’

 Character Portrayal of the Servants in Samuel Richardson’s ‘Pamela’:

              Samuel Richardson’s ‘Pamela: or, Virtue Rewarded’ explores various aspects of 18th-century society, including the roles and attitudes of household servants. Apart from Pamela, three key servants—Mrs. Jervis, Mrs. Jewkes, and John—play significant roles in the story. Each of these characters represents different facets of servitude, morality, and their relationships with their employer, Mr. B. Let’s examine their portrayals in the novel.


1. Mrs. Jervis: The Compassionate Housekeeper:

            Mrs. Jervis is the senior servant in Mr. B’s household and serves as Pamela’s ally and confidante. Her character is portrayed as kind, maternal, and morally upright.  

Loyal to Pamela: 

            Mrs. Jervis supports Pamela and often warns her of Mr. B’s advances. She genuinely cares for Pamela’s well-being and shares a bond of trust with her.  

Conflict with Mr. B: 

            Despite her loyalty to the household, Mrs. Jervis is not afraid to stand up to Mr. B when she feels Pamela is being mistreated. However, her position as a servant limits her power, highlighting the vulnerability of even high-ranking servants.  

Symbol of Goodness: 

             Mrs. Jervis embodies the values of decency and kindness, contrasting sharply with characters like Mrs. Jewkes. She serves as a moral anchor in the household.  


2. Mrs. Jewkes: The Villainous Housekeeper:

              Mrs. Jewkes, another housekeeper in Mr. B’s estate, is portrayed as a direct foil to Mrs. Jervis. She is tasked with overseeing Pamela when she is sent to the country house, and her character is marked by cruelty, cunning, and selfishness.  

Loyal to Mr. B: 

            Unlike Mrs. Jervis, Mrs. Jewkes is blindly loyal to Mr. B and carries out his orders without question, even when they are morally questionable. Her obedience highlights the darker side of servitude, where survival depends on pleasing one’s employer at any cost.  

Harsh Treatment of Pamela: 

             Mrs. Jewkes is manipulative and physically restrains Pamela to prevent her escape. She spies on Pamela constantly and enjoys asserting her power, making her a symbol of oppression in the novel.  

Complex Morality: 

            While she is often seen as villainous, Mrs. Jewkes’s behavior reflects the harsh realities of servitude and the pressures servants faced to comply with their masters’ wishes, no matter how unethical.  


3. John: The Loyal Footman:

            John, the footman, plays a smaller but significant role in the novel. He is portrayed as a good-hearted and loyal servant who sympathises with Pamela’s plight.  

Supportive of Pamela: 

           John shows kindness and helps Pamela by secretly delivering her letters to her parents. This act of loyalty puts him at personal risk, as going against Mr. B’s authority could lead to severe consequences.  

Moral Integrity: 

            John’s willingness to aid Pamela reflects his sense of justice and decency. His actions, though limited, highlight the potential for good even among those in subordinate positions.  


Servants as Social Mirrors:

             The portrayal of servants in ‘Pamela’ offers insight into the rigid class structure of the 18th century. Servants like Mrs. Jervis and John are shown to possess moral integrity and a sense of justice, while characters like Mrs. Jewkes highlight the darker realities of servitude. Together, they demonstrate the complexity of human behaviour, influenced by individual values and societal pressures.


Conclusion:

            In ‘Pamela’, Richardson uses the servants to explore themes of power, loyalty, and morality. Mrs. Jervis represents kindness and virtue, Mrs. Jewkes reflects the corrupting influence of absolute loyalty to authority, and John embodies quiet resistance and integrity. These characters, alongside Pamela, enrich the novel’s exploration of social dynamics, making them crucial to the story’s moral and thematic framework.

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