Henry Fielding’s Shamela and Joseph Andrews as Counternarratives to Samuel Richardson’s Pamela

This paper sheds light on the immediate counternarrative response to publication of Samuel Richardson’s Pamela in 1740. Upon its publication, female servant gained popularity among readers for her exemplary chastity, morality and virtue. discusses writings Henry Fielding as a leading anti-Pamela approach through two subsequent narratives, Shamela (1741) Joseph Andrews (1742). others saw direct threat 18th-century normative servant-master aristocrat-bourgeois relations. In his novels, uses multiple literary motifs confront Pamela’s readership with their beloved character’s hypocrisy deception. Through works, breaks down narrative present deceptively structured plot hypocritical marry master elevate social status. bridges novel create mode skepticism concerning moral values readers. Andrews, extends criticism, presenting an offshoot highlighting alternative reality expose false images chastity