Title: Pamela or Shamela: The Textual Performance in Pamela

Abstract: The paradox between Pamela and Shamela, as a classic issue, had given impetus to fervent criticism upon the Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela. Based on the performative theory of literature and following the interactive relationship between text and reader, this paper tries to explore the competing performative process and effect within and outside the text. By analyzing the construction trajectory of Pamela and Shamela, this paper recognizes the autonomous performative significance embodied in the rift between these two literary images, and argues that this novel has helped with to genre evolution and consciousness transition.

Keywords:: Samuel Richardson, Pamela, Shamela, text, reader, performance

Author: Jin Tian, Lecturer, School of Foreign Studies, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, China.

DOI: 10.19967/j.cnki.flc.2024.03.001