Samuel Richardson

(1689 - 1761)

1. INTRO
Another one of the founding fathers
of English novel
Different character and different lit.
figure (compared to e.g. Defoe)
Modest, hardworking printer and
publisher
First novel when he was 51

2. BIO
1689 Born in Derbyshire, one of 9
siblings, father in trade
Father wanted Samuel to become a
clergyman, but due to poor financial
state the family put their children to
trades
Grammar school in London, then (at the age
of 17) 7 year apprenticeship as a printer
I stole from the hours of rest and relaxation,
my reading times for improvement of my mind

3. LETTERS
A crucial point for his literary career
Writing letters from his early years
At the age of 11, wrote a letter to a
widow (50), assuming the style and
address of a person in years, cautioned
her about her actions
Shy and withdrawn as a boy, socialized
with young women with literary interests,
reading to them and discussing lit.
Helping others write letters, esp. girls
answering love letters

4. CAREER & PRIVATE LIFE

After the apprenticeship started his own
printing shop
Married the daughter of his former
employer
Took on his own apprentices
His wife and 5 children died, married
again and had 6 children, 4 daughters
reached adulthood
No male heir to his business

 1733 wrote Apprentices Vade Mecum: or,

Young Mans Pocket Companion didactic,
intended to create a perfect apprentice
The idea that the apprentices are the focal
point for the moral improvement of
society
Condemning popular forms of
entertainment (theatres, taverns,
gambling)

5. THE FIRST NOVEL

In 1739 asked by 2 friends to write a little
volume of letters for those who could not
write them themselves (lower social
classes)
Aside from introducing the formal models
for letters, Richardson introduces the ways
of thinking and acting in various situations
Various characters, situations and themes,
e.g. Love affairs, courting, employer
apprentice relations, etc.

 new: develops sets of letters with the

continuous story
1741 Letters written to and for
particular Friends, on the most
important Occasions. Directing not
only the requisite Style and Forms to
be observed in writing Familiar
Letters; but how to think and act justly
and prudently, in the common
Concerns of Human Life

 Inspired by these letters, started

working on the case of a young and
attractive servant girl
1740 Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded
(completed in 2 months) the 1st
English novel
1741 Pamela's Conduct in High Life, a
sequel
Epistolary Novel

EPISTOLARY TECHNIQUE
Point of view of the servants, simple style,
practical moral advice, no romantic idea of
love
Problems in writing: developing a story in a
series of letters
Detailed analysis of Pamelas thoughts and
other characters thoughts, but also the
depiction of the setting and circumstances
writing to the moment (characters
writing all the time)

Pamela vs. 1st person

narrative
1. Not writing from memory, but writing
down the events as they happen
(writing to the moment)
2. Move to subjective perspective (as
opposed to the objective) and the
principle of selection (as opposed to
the mass of details and impressions)
3. Point of view (of one or several
characters)

 The element of suspense not knowing

what will happen, maintaining the
continuous interest of readers (the same
way he wrote the novel)

FLAWS:
1.Plausibility of character (the way of
writing has to be adjusted to the choice of
character, Pamela poor and not educated)
2. Plausibility of technique (writing all the
time?)

6. OTHER NOVELS
1747-48 Clarissa, or the History of a
Young Lady (mastered the technique):
Clarissa and Lovelace, plus 2 friends
Multiple perspective, 4 correspondents,
547 letters, over 1000000 words
1753-54 (The History of) Sir Charles
Grandison
A virtuous male character, plus 2 female
characters (Clementina and Harriet)

7. SOCIAL ASPECT
Subjective experience not separated from
social setting & surroundings
From social point of view, Pamela might
be regarded as a democratic novel (the
maid breaking social barriers)
Pamela seen as Richardsons embodiment
of feminine virtue and feminine roles
Anti-Pamelas (e.g. Fielding Shamela,
Joseph Andrews; Coleridge) and the
problem of moral perspective

8. & ARTISTIC ASPECT

The first novelist to turn towards the
psychological (in portrayal of the
emotional reactions of the characters)
No deep psychological analysis, but
achieves psychological credibility
The possibility of identifying with the
characters? (emotional level)
Sentimentality
Entertainer vs. Artist?

9. The Importance of (being)

Samuel Richardson
1. Introduction of Epistolary Novel
2. Psychological aspect with focus on
sentimentality
3. Portrayal of female characters from
lower and middle classes
4. Moral instructiveness