Pamela in her Exalted Condition

Pamela in Her Exalted Condition is Samuel Richardson's 1742 sequel to his novel, Pamela; or Virtue Rewarded. Richardson wrote the novel as a response to criticisms of his original work, continuations written by other authors, and readers' desire to read about the life of the protagonist, the 15-year-old former maid, Pamela, after her ascent into genteel life following her marriage to and reformation of the rakish Mr. B from the original novel. Richardson's sequel explores debates and questions about the roles of women and the challenges Pamela faces in her new life as a wife, mother, and member of the upper class. The novel was a critical and commercial failure.