A Freudian Reading of Samuel Richardson's Pamela

Shadi Torabi Sarijaloo ,Shahram Kiaei

doi:10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.5n.2p.30

Abstract

Richardson's Pamela (1740_1) is replete with elements and incidents that make it worthy enough to be viewed from Freud's perspective. The present study focuses upon how Richardson's characters unconsciously attempt to conceal and repress their own conflicting emotions, thoughts, wishes, impulses and how they struggle against their anxiety-ridden situations to regain their psychic balance. Moreover, the repetition of certain occurrences and elements play a crucial role in generating the uncanny effect in Pamela, including the role of double and deja-vu, the castle-like settings, heroine's intimidating situations and also her master's past secret. In addition, the way Richardson's characters dress for the noteworthy masquerade ball scene and the ambiguous words of Pamela's master are considerably implies something that is affiliated with characters' psyche according to Freud's condensation theory. With regard to Freud's concepts of The 'Tripartite Psyche', 'Anxiety and Ego Defense Mechanisms' and 'Uncanny' the researcher attempts to delve into the heroine and her master's psyche through her letters which reveal the contents of the heroine's unconscious mind.

Highlights

The present study applies Freudian psychoanalysis to Richardson's Pamela (1740-1)
Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) is one of the most celebrated novelists of the eighteenth century since he introduced a new kind of novel writing which is called epistolary novel
The twentieth century's turmoil is affiliated with the human personality and human relationships as well as economic and social causes, but the feelings and experiences such as anxiety, self-fragmentation and fear of harassment are crucial in founding new systematic field of knowledge which is called psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud in the late nineteenth century (Eagleton 131)

Summary

Introduction

The present study applies Freudian psychoanalysis to Richardson's Pamela (1740-1). Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) is one of the most celebrated novelists of the eighteenth century since he introduced a new kind of novel writing which is called epistolary novel. His major works are Pamela (1740-1), Clarissa (1747-8) and Sir Charles Grandison (17534). Pamela was thrilling among readers on its first publication; it was the best-selling novel of its time and it was translated into French (Keymer 31-2). Pamela consists of two intimately related novels. The first two volumes, Pamela: or, Virtue Rewarded (1740), were depicting a young maidservant girl's apprehension before her marriage in the stratified society of the eighteenth-century England and the following two volumes, Pamela in Her Exalted Condition (1741), were dealt with the heroine's perturbation in her genteel life after she climbed up the social ladder owing to her marriage to her high-born lord

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion