Literary morality

Through read of a romance as Pamela of Samuel Richardson(1689-1761), this romance was published between in 1740 and 1741. We can understand what was a society, a document that on official document we can’t find, because it is immaterial document, this is morality of a century and society, but author of this romance lived in England, thereupon he took morality of England of 18^th century, that is deducible from this romance, a letter of this epistolary romance Pamela said:“I will die a thousand deaths, rather than be dishonest any way.” And other letter to hers mother she writes: “As my last was to my father, in answer to his letter, I will now write to you; though I have nothing to say but what will make me look more like a vain hussy, than any thing else:…”, what is so wicked and dishonorable she hasn’t said, but may has spoke to a man on the street, and it isn’t quip because in that time morality and conformism was very strong, and a woman that spoke to a man she was a slut; anyway documents other use that orders that all is depends from man: “ Pamela shall come and live with me, I think. With all his heart, he replied; he should be glad to have me so well provided for. Well,’ said she, I’ll consult my lord about it.” An episode in other letter shows that also a kiss to a maiden was a crime: “(a waiter think he called me his pretty Pamela; and took hold of me, as if he would have kissed me(for which, you may be sure, I was very angry)”; certainly a woman can fells nuisance to this act but angry is too much, and in cat she has underline that this maiden has appreciated her prudence and modesty, she writes: “and told me she was very well pleased to see my prudence and modesty”, but limit is very crossed inn following compel: “I cannot bear to be looked upon by these men-servants as they are apt to look upon me…”, evident noise she has felt because they are servants. We can consider the example of mother of Charles 5^th of Spain(1500-1558), his mother was nicknamed “the crazy”, because she has loved his husband, and a time attacked a waitress because has looked his husband; why it? Because in that time weddings were alone to interest of states and no certainly to love; thereupon Johannes, mother of Charlies 5th loved his husband? Yes!, she was crazy, and stop! We must think that it were other context and other costumes, because the needs were other; today marry to interest is ignoble but in that time it was normal work; every aristocratic family or of high level worked these marries to political motives, napoleon married Mary Louise of Austria because necessary in that moment to Napoleon; thereupon we can certainly reproached this behavior, but policy doesn’t consider the happiness or sentiments, but alone utility to the nation. We can this romance as example to study the morality and other, without prejudice, because we must think that other times have other instruments and strategy.

Alessandro Lusana