So, on to the form—the reason for all this, anyway.
I had, of course, read plenty of epistolary novels before starting this project, but I think I’d always taken for granted something that’s actually a little weird when you think about it. Not always, but often, the letters (and other documents) that make up the story also have a role as objects within the story. Pieces of the narrative are things within it, and also, because of the nature of the letters as a series of installments, they can affect the course of the story.
So, the writing of the story can affect the outcome of the story. Sounds like maybe a little bit postmodern when you put it that way, don’t you think?
In Pamela, this happens a lot. When she’s still living in the Bedfordshire house, Pamela’s letters to her parents are intercepted by Mr. B, giving him knowledge of her state of mind and the ability to more effectively plot against her. One character’s whole role consists in carrying Pamela’s physical letters (which we’re reading) to her parents (secretly showing them to Mr. B along the way), thereby ingratiating himself with the whole family. His betrayal comes as a great blow.
Writing is clearly important to Pamela, who knows she doesn’t have much of consequence to say but nevertheless compulsively “scribbles” about everything that happens to her. She hoards paper and hides ink around the house in case Mrs. Jewkes tries to stop her writing. While she’s being held in the Lincolnshire house, instead of writing letters to her parents, she writes (very faithfully) a journal addressed to them instead. This journal is an even more important document to the story itself.
Pamela is able to get part of the journal sent off to her parents, via Mr. Williams (with whom she carries on another secret correspondence, the physical presence of which creates constant danger of being found out). When Mr. B reads her later entries, they are ultimately what cause him to warm toward her enough to propose, and he is very jealous of the part no longer in the house. He wants the rest sent for, he wants to keep reading further entries. Pamela tries to hide her journal in her clothing but he’s ready to strip it off to get it from her. He simply must get his hands on everything she writes; she can’t have any privacy of thought from him.
But after that Pamela is very willing to let people read her story. Mr. B’s sister, Lady Davers, gets it after him:
‘But I understand, child,’ continued she, ‘that you keep a journal of all matters that pass; and that he has several times found means to get at it: should you care I should see it? It could not be to your disadvantage; for I find it had no small weight with him in your favour; and I should take great pleasure to read all his stratagems, attempts, contrivances, menaces, and offers to you, on one hand; and all your counter-plottings, which he much praises, your resolute resistance, and the noble efforts you have made to preserve your virtue; and the steps by which his pride was subdued, till you were made what you now are: for it must be a rare, an uncommon story. I shall have great pleasure in reading it; and it will, probably, reconcile me to the step he has taken.’
Sounds as exciting as a novel!
I know I haven’t (yet) talked about characterization via the letters, but Lady Davers has such good things to say about that too I’ll pass them on in case I don’t get to it.
‘There is such a sweet simplicity in thy story, as thou tellest it; such an honest artlessness in they mind, and such an amiable humility in thy deportment, that I believe I shall be forced to love thee, whether I will or not. The sight of your papers, I dare say, will crown the work.’
At least, that’s the idea.
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