Answer two of the following for Monday's class:
Q1: Why does Pamela turn down Williams' proposal of marriage, considering he is not only a parson but has been trying to woo her in the right way (and of course, could save her virtue as well)? Do you believe her when she tells her parents, "I have no Mind to marry. I had rather live with you"? (144). Is she holding out for a better offer, or is she like Emily (in "The Knight's Tale") who truly wants to live happily and free from marriage?
Q2: Related somewhat to Q1, do you think Williams is proposing to Pamela out of his own love and affection, or is he merely following Mr. B's orders, as everyone else is? Does Pamela suspect this? If so, what might make her suspicious?
Q3: Pamela shares two letters with the reader from Mr. B: one intended for her, and one intended for Miss Jewkes (both of which she conveniently reads, since they were 'accidentally' mislabeled). Do we trust the contents of these transcribed letters verbatim? Do you suspect Pamela of having embellished them? And if not, what do they reveal about Mr. B's psychology and intentions towards Pamela?
Q4: Toward the end of our reading, Pamela makes a shocking admission: "What is the Matter, with all his ill Usage of me, that I cannot hate him? To be sure, I am not like other People!...I must wish him well; and O what an Angel would he be in my Eyes yet, if he would cease his Attempts and reform" (179). Is it believable that after all this time, she could still have feelings for him? Could this be an example of her naive virtue at work? Or could she be acting even here?
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