Paper 102 - Virtue social mobility,and female spher :woman in 18th century in context of Pamela and Rape of the lock

 Paper 102 :  literature of neoclassical period 

 This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 102 - Literature of neoclassical  Period , in this paper I going to dealing with the topic

"Virtue, social mobility,and female spher:  woman in 18th century in context of Pamela and Rape of the lock "

Personal information 

Name :- Krupali Belam 

Batch :- M.A. Sem 1 (2024-2026)

Enrollment Number :- 5108240007

E-mail address:

krupalibelam1204@gmail.com

Roll Number :- 14

Assignment details

Topic :-  "Virtue, social mobility,and female spher: woman in 18th century in context of Pamela and Rape of the lock "

Paper & subject code :- 102: literature of neoclassical period 

Submitted to :- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 20 November 2024

Table of Contents

•  Introduction
•  Concept of Virtue in 18th-Century     Society 
•  Social Mobility and Marriage as a   Pathway
•  Female Sphere and Limitations
•  Literary Representations of Women’s   Roles
•  18th-Century Satire and Social Critique
•  Conclusion
•  Reference 

Introduction

The 18th century in England was marked by sharp contrasts in the roles and expectations of women. On one hand, this period heralded advancements in literature, philosophy, and art, all of which reflected changing attitudes towards gender, class, and virtue. On the other hand, the social structure remained largely patriarchal, and women found their roles confined by strict codes of conduct, primarily centered around virtue, marriage, and their domestic sphere.

The literature of the 18th century, particularly works such as Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded and Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock, offers a window into the societal views of women at the time. Both texts explore themes of female virtue, marriage as a tool for social mobility, and the restricted roles of women in society. Through a detailed analysis of these works and other historical context, this essay will investigate how virtue and social mobility intersected for women, as well as the constraints imposed by their assigned societal roles.

Concept of Virtue in 18th-Century Society

Virtue and Female Identity

In the 18th century, virtue was synonymous with female identity. Women were expected to embody the highest standards of moral and sexual purity, which were crucial to their societal value. The ideal woman of this period was one who upheld the moral codes of chastity, modesty, and obedience. These qualities not only defined a woman’s personal character but also her place within society. A woman’s virtue was her most significant social capital, essential for maintaining respectability, and determining her prospects in marriage and social standing.

Virtue was often presented as a commodity that could either elevate a woman’s position in society or lead to her fall from grace. The notion that a woman’s purity could be exploited as a form of social control is evident in the literature of the period, especially in works like Pamela, where the protagonist’s virtue becomes a subject of contention and manipulation.

Societal Expectations of Women’s Virtue

The societal expectation for women to be virtuous was deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of 18th-century England. Women’s virtue was not only seen as an individual trait but as a reflection of the family’s honor and social position. A woman’s reputation for virtue was fragile; it could be easily tarnished by any perceived deviation from the moral code, such as immodesty or promiscuity. Thus, women were encouraged, if not coerced, to remain chaste and virtuous, especially in the context of courtship and marriage.

In literature, the concept of virtue often played a dual role both a tool of empowerment and a mechanism of control. In Pamela, for example, the protagonist’s refusal to yield to her suitor’s advances becomes a powerful statement of self-respect and resistance. However, this resistance is also a tool used by her eventual husband to both reward and control her.

Social Mobility and Marriage as a Pathway

Marriage as a Means of Economic and Social Advancement

Marriage in the 18th century was one of the few ways for women to attain social mobility. For women from lower social strata, marriage was not merely a personal union but a strategic alliance that could offer economic security and improve social status. The idea of marriage as a vehicle for upward mobility was common, as women were largely excluded from the professional and political spheres.

Marriage could elevate a woman from a life of dependence on her family or a low-paying job to a higher social standing. In this sense, marriage was a contract that not only bound two people together but also served as a means of securing economic and social advantages for both families involved. However, for women, this often meant entering a marriage that was based more on pragmatic considerations than on love or personal choice.

Depictions of Social Mobility in Pamela

In Pamela, the protagonist’s rise in social status through marriage is emblematic of the limited pathways available to women in the 18th century. Pamela, a servant girl, is elevated to the status of a lady after her marriage to Mr. B, the wealthy landowner who initially seeks to seduce her. Her virtue is what ultimately enables her to marry up in society, but it is also what enables Mr. B to control her.

Pamela’s story, in a way, demonstrates the complex relationship between virtue, social mobility, and gender. While her moral character elevates her status, it is also used by Mr. B to secure her loyalty and submission. This raises questions about the true nature of social mobility for women whether it is truly empowering or whether it reinforces patriarchal control over their bodies and lives.

 Female Sphere and Limitations

Women in the Domestic Sphere

In the 18th century, the concept of the “female sphere” was primarily domestic. Women were expected to manage households, raise children, and provide moral and emotional support to their husbands. The domestic sphere was seen as the natural and appropriate realm for women, where their moral virtues could be best expressed. In this space, women were revered as moral guides for the family, responsible for shaping the ethical and emotional life of the home.

However, this domestic ideal limited women’s opportunities for personal growth and independence. While they were celebrated for their nurturing roles, women were also confined to the home and denied access to the public and intellectual spheres. The role of women in the domestic sphere was celebrated as their primary function in society, but it also served to restrict their autonomy and their ability to engage in public or intellectual life.

Restriction from the Public Sphere

The public sphere, which included political life, business, and intellectual discourse, was almost entirely closed off to women in the 18th century. Women were expected to remain in the private, domestic sphere and were rarely afforded the same opportunities for education, professional careers, or public engagement as men. This exclusion from the public sphere meant that women had limited control over their own lives and were often dependent on the decisions and approval of male figures.

The restriction of women from the public sphere reinforced the notion that their worth was tied to their ability to uphold domestic virtues and maintain the moral integrity of the family. This relegation to the private sphere also meant that women were largely excluded from the political and economic decisions that shaped their world, further entrenching their subordinate status in society.

 Literary Representations of Women’s Roles

Virtue as Power and Constraint in Pamela

In Pamela, Richardson presents virtue as both a source of power and a constraint. Pamela’s refusal to submit to Mr. B’s advances is initially portrayed as a form of resistance and a declaration of her moral autonomy. However, her eventual marriage to Mr. B, which is portrayed as a reward for her virtue, also reveals the limitations of her power. Pamela’s virtue is ultimately a means of securing her social position, but it also leaves her vulnerable to manipulation by the very person who claims to reward her.

Richardson’s portrayal of virtue highlights the tension between personal agency and societal expectation. Pamela’s virtue may elevate her social status, but it also binds her to Mr. B’s control, demonstrating how virtue can simultaneously empower and limit women in a patriarchal society.

Satirical Depictions in The Rape of the Lock

In contrast to Richardson’s serious treatment of virtue in Pamela, Pope’s The Rape of the Lock offers a satirical view of female virtue. In the poem, the heroine Belinda’s beauty and virtue are treated as objects of trivial pursuit by the male characters. Pope’s satire highlights the superficiality of the aristocracy and the objectification of women in society. Belinda is not only an object of desire but is also reduced to a commodity, her virtue and beauty the subject of male manipulation.

Pope’s treatment of women in The Rape of the Lock critiques the shallow values of the aristocracy, suggesting that women’s worth was often tied more to their appearance and social status than to their character or moral integrity. In this way, Pope exposes the contradictions of a society that valorizes virtue while simultaneously reducing women to mere symbols of beauty and status.

18th-Century Satire and Social Critique

Critiquing Aristocratic Superficiality 

Pope’s The Rape of the Lock satirizes the superficial values of the aristocracy, particularly how women’s virtue and beauty are commodified in a society obsessed with appearances. Belinda’s loss of a lock of hair an event that seems trivial in itself becomes the catalyst for a social and political upheaval, suggesting the emptiness of the aristocratic values that place so much importance on such insignificant matters. Through the mock-heroic form, Pope exposes the absurdity of the aristocracy’s obsession with superficialities, especially in relation to women, who are expected to maintain their beauty and charm at the expense of their more substantial qualities.

This satirical treatment underscores the larger critique of social vanity, where the pursuit of external beauty becomes a marker of worth and influence. Women in this context, such as Belinda, are reduced to ornamental objects, as seen when her actions are often exaggerated into comical or dramatic gestures in the poem. Pope’s portrayal highlights the contradictory expectations placed on women, especially in a high-society context where virtue, though often emphasized, is frequently undermined by vanity and materialism.

Gender and Morality in Satire

The satire in The Rape of the Lock also explores the tension between gender and morality in the 18th century. Pope’s mock-heroic tone elevates a trivial act such as the cutting of a lock of hair into a grand event, which highlights the artificial nature of the social codes dictating women’s behavior. While Belinda is depicted as a figure of grace and beauty, her moral integrity is not celebrated but rather overshadowed by the social importance of her appearance. Pope suggests that the concept of virtue for women was often more about conforming to societal expectations rather than reflecting genuine moral strength.

Moreover, by placing women like Belinda in the satirical spotlight, Pope critiques the hypocrisy of those who celebrate virtue in women while simultaneously reducing them to their physical attributes. The men in the poem treat Belinda with a combination of admiration and condescension, viewing her as both a prize to be won and a symbol of their own social standing. This objectification of women critiques how 18th-century society dealt with women’s roles often emphasizing the importance of outward appearance over inward virtue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the 18th century may have placed women in rigid roles defined by virtue and domesticity, the literature of the time also subtly critiques and exposes the limitations of these roles. The works of Richardson and Pope, through their exploration of women’s roles in society, reveal both the constraints and potential for agency that women navigated during this period. The complex dynamics between virtue, social mobility, and the limitations imposed by societal expectations continue to provide rich material for reflection and analysis today.

Word count - 1970

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References

Challenging a Stereotype: Female Nature in Rape of the Lock and “Saturday. Small-Pox. Flavia.,” scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=mi. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024. 

“Comparison between Pamela and the Rape of the Lock.” SlideShare, Slideshare, 8 Oct. 2021, www.slideshare.net/slideshow/comparison-between-pamela-and-the-rape-of-the-lock/250402136. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024. 

The Psychological Effects of Patriarchy and Courtship: Eighteenth Century Women’s Mentalities in Pamela and Clarissa , scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=mi. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024. 

Trepanier, Maddy. "The Rape of the Lock Themes: Gender." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 12 Oct 2019. Web. 15 Nov 2024.