It is no secret that the world we inhabit today is divided...

It is no secret that the world we inhabit today is divided amongst social classes. However, while the boundaries between those classes have become blurred over time concerning personal relationships, the same cannot be said about the society in which our principal characters exist in Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded (1740). Readers encounter Pamela, Mr. B, and Lady Davers in a world where the elite only associate with other elite, and furthermore even expect to be granted certain privileges over those beneath them. The actions of these three characters perfectly reflect the attitudes of the era in which this novel is set. It is their respective social classes that lead to the behaviors of the characters, from the physical and emotional†¦show more content†¦117). The word â€Å"obey† is pivotal in her statement, as it solidifies the idea that Pamela responds to Mr. B due to the fact that she understands he is above her and thus she must cater to his wishes. In the same fashion that Pamela reacts in a certain way to the actions of those above her due to her low social standing, the actions of Mr. B and Lady Davers can also be explained by their status. The novel identifies these characters as brother and sister, children of the late Lady B, which makes it obvious to the reader that they are rather high on the social ladder. During Pamela’s stay at the Lincolnshire estate, she receives a letter from Mr. B in which he writes, â€Å"Consider who it is that urges you to give him leave to go to his own house† (Richardson p. 170). Clearly Mr. B has fully bought into the idea that because he was born into a higher family, he is therefore more important and is due the obedience of those below him. While this case does not explicitly address Mr. B’s physical aggression toward Pamela, it can be safely assumed that he carries this attitude at all times and would expect the obedience of Pamela for these same reasons. While Mr. Bâ€⠄¢s feelings toward Pamela are evident throughout the story, Lady Davers makes her feelings toward Pamela felt after her marriage to Mr. B; or rather, after what Lady DaversShow MoreRelatedThe House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay6806 Words   |  28 Pagespoor fellow named Matthew Maule. Maule was a nobody. Furthermore, he was rumored to be practicing witchcraft. For this, he was hanged and it was rumored that Pyncheon was responsible for it because he wanted the land for himself. However, his social prominence and Maules infamy allowed him to get away with the crime smoothly. Before Maule died though, cursed him saying, God will give him blood to drink. For years, the Pyncheon-Maule dispute carried on. The long line of PyncheonsRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pageswill give a good idea of the breadth and complexity of this important subject, and this is precisely what McAuley, Duberley and Johnson have provided. They have done some sterling service in bringing together the very diverse strands of work that today qualify as constituting the subject of organisational theory. Whilst their writing is accessible and engaging, their approach is scholarly and serious. It is so easy for students (and indeed others who should know better) to trivialize this very problematic