- epistolary novel
- tells in first person the story of the virtuous lady's maid Pamela and the modest determination and delicacy with which she rebuffs and reforms her aristocratic seducer Mr. B
- she rejects Mr B until he shows his sincerity by proposing a fair marriage to her
- in the second part of the novel, Pamela attempts to accomodate herself to upper-class society and to build a successful relationship with her husband
- told through Pamela's introspective letters and diary
Clarissa
- Clarissa Harlowe is a beautiful and virtuous young lady whose family has recently become wealthy and is eager to become part of the aristocracy
- Clarissa is forced to marry a rich but heartless man
- She allows a young gentleman of her acquaintance, Lovelace, to scare her into escaping with him, but she refuses to marry him and longs instead to live by herself in peace
- Lovelace has ben trying to arrange a fake marriage all along and considers it a sport to add Clarissa to his conquests
- As Lovelace becomes more impressed by Clarissa, he finds it difficult to keep convincing himself that truly virtuous women do not exist, and he eventually rapes her.
- Clarissa escapes from him but becomes dangerously ill
- When she dies, it is in full consciousness of her own virtue, and trusting in a better life after death
- Lovelace is tormented by what he has done and dies in a duel with Clarissa's cousin
- Clarissa's relatives realize the misery they have caused, but realize as well that they are too late.
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