Neil Hiney, Gender, Genre and the Eighteenth century final question. 08578117. 26/11/09


Q.3 Discuss the depiction of ideas of masculinity and femininity in Samuel Richardson’s novels Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded (1740) and The history of Sir Charles Grandison (1753). Your answer should make substantial use of the extracts from SCG in your course reader.


Masculinity and femininity can be discussed in equal terms in the present era but in the mid eighteenth century you would notice that the equality among the male and female sexes were quite uneven. This was because men were seen as being the strong sex that had all the required characteristics that would always diminish any chance of female power. In the novels Pamela; or Virtue Rewarded and The history of Sir Charles Grandison, we see how the ideas of masculinity and femininity are similar in some cases and in others they are not. These novels were written by Samuel Richardson thirteen years apart from each other and the difference in relation to femininity in The History of Sir Charles Grandison from Pamela; or Virtue rewarded was quite apparent and enlightening. In this essay I hope to discuss these depictions of masculinity and femininity in a detailed way and enlighten the reader how a writer can or can’t change his views in relation to masculinity or femininity in these two novels.

The idea of masculinity in the eighteenth century was one that would not have been thought of much by men. This was because when you are in power and you are the dominant sex, you rarely will look at how this power is affecting you or the other sex. You will enjoy this lifestyle and because you grew up in the luxury of this social superiority, you will seize to see that women deserve the chance to become the dominant sex or even an equal one. In the two novels I have read and examined by Samuel Richardson. One thing is apparent and that is that men will always have power for many years and women will not be able to grab a hold of this power unless they fall in love with a man and really see no superiority but equality and vice-versa. In Pamela; Virtue Rewarded we see how the depictions of masculinity are very similar to the times. Mr B might be in love with Pamela but he frequently uses his male superiority to try and get her to love him. In the end it works because he only seems like the most suitable companion in love that Pamela feels she can have because she has been tormented by Mr B for so long. The masculinity portrayed in this novel is one of a cunning and misleading nature. Pamela’s father who only appears through her letters seems to be the only nice man in the story. John was the man who brought Pamela’s letters back to her parents. At first he seemed like a nice person but when money came his way and push came to shove, he quickly accepted the bribe from Mr B and would not help Pamela when she was sent to Mrs Jewkes and kept as her prisoner-servant for a while. Masculinity in Pamela in the form of Mr B was a very strong version of men’s power to manipulate young girls because of their power. Pamela’s beauty struck a chord in Mr B’s mind and from the first day that he knew that he could make her his because she had no one to care for her after his mothers death. He was going to make sure he got the girl he wanted. Masculinity on the other hand which fell with the main male character in The history of Sir Charles Grandison. This was one of heroic and honest masculinity. In these extracts form the course reader we see how Charles Grandison rescues Harriet from the evil hands of Sir Hargrave Poppexlen. This is a heroic move because he was threatened by swords and almost being run down by the chariot. In relation to Sir Charles in this story and Sir Hargrave. The difference in their masculine ideologies is quite disturbing. This is because Sir Charles is a nice honest man who lives in a house with his sisters, then he re

Ladies, you're damn right,
You can't read a man's mind,
We're living in two tribes,
And heading for war.
Nobody's perfect,
We all gotta work it,
Cuz fellas we're worth it,
So don't break the law.

Your call's late, big mistake,
You gotta hang about the limo for as long as I take,
Next time, read my mind,
And I'll be good to you.
We're gift-wrapped kitty cats,
Only turnin' into tigers when we gotta fight back,
Let's go, Eskimo,
Out into the blue...

Come take my hand, understand that you can,
You're my man and I need you tonight.
Come make my dreams,
Honey, hard as it seems,
Loving me is as easy as pie.

I! I'm just a Love Machine,
Feeding my fantasy,
Give me a kiss or three,
And I'm fine.
I need a squeeze a day,
'Stead of this neglege,
What will the neighbours say?
This time...

I've been going crazy while you sleep,
Searching for a language that the two of us can speak.
So, whistle through your story make it real,
And I'll breath underwater cos I like the way it feels.

Your call's late, big mistake,
You gotta hang about the limo for as long as I take.
Next time, read my mind,
And I'll be good to you.
We're gift-wrapped kitty cats,
Only turnin' into tigers when we gotta fight back,
Let's go, Eskimo,
Out into the blue....

Come take my hand, understand that you can,
You're my man & I need you tonight.
Come make my dreams,
Honey, hard as it seems,
Loving me is as easy as pie.

I! I'm just a Love Machine,
Feeding my fantasy,
Give me a kiss or three,
And I'm fine.
I need a squeeze a day,
'Stead of this neglege,
What will the neighbours say?
This time...

Oh, it's very new.
Will anybody tell me what to do?
Oh, this feeling's very strange.
Will anybody tell me what's your game?

(Oh) A little education.
(Oh) to give you motivation.
(Oh) Whatever situation.

Now...

(Oh) Cos I don't wanna change ya.
(Oh) I'm livin' with a stranger.
(Oh) I'll only re-arrange ya.

Now

I'm just a Love Machine
(Oh), to give you motivation
I'm just a Love Machine
Ooh,ooh
I'm just a love machine
(Oh), to give you motivation
I'm just a Love Machine