The marriage between Mr. B and Pamela, in Samuel Richardson's Pamela, has often perplexed readers due to its nature and history disconcerting; It is suggested that Pamela is in a constant state of anguish and it is claimed that Mr. B has "pleasure to torture [Pamela]" and yet, all is ignored and forgiven ending in marriage (Golden 10). Some suggest that it is a companionate marriage due to Mr. B's eventual change and the development of Pamela's love for him, while even more readers see it as a relationship arranged by Mr. B and his forty-eight rules that dictate Pamela's whole character after marriage. Perhaps, however, readers overlook the complexity of Pamela's character, particularly her involvement in those marriage negotiations, while maintaining an appearance of passivity. Pamela displays an adolescent dependence on the other characters, both before and during Mr. B's initial advances, which allows her to embody a childish weakness. As Pamela realizes the problematic position of herself as a servant, her parents as distant and unable to help, and Mrs. Jervis' servitude to Mr. B, she discovers a paradoxical independence and power by acting weak during the trials that endures. She shows clear mental and physical strength through her resistance and escape attempts, but still portrays weakness during the situations with Mr. B and Mrs. Jewkes with crying, fainting, and childish pleading to suggest a manipulation of virtue representation that ultimately leads to Mr. B's reform. Mr. B's reform and marriage proposal demonstrate Pamela's power; she obtains a position from which to bargain and arranges the marriage to achieve advantageous goals for herself and her family. Although her initial weakness seems genuine, Pamela's sub... middle of paper... protects her. She, also through marriage, provides for the improvement of her family's financial situation and has power over Mr. B through his passivity. Although many readers see the marriage as a horrible triumph for Mr. B, capable of tormenting her and earning her love, Pamela is willing to pursue the marriage for personal and financial gain. Works Cited Dussinger, John A. “What Pamela Knew: An Interpretation.” The journal of English and Germanic philology. vol. 69, no. 3. 377-393. University of Illinois. 1970. Network. Accessed December 2, 2013.Golden, Morris. Richardson's characters. University of Michigan.1963. Print.Richardson, Samuel. Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded. 1740. Ed. Thomas Keymer and Alice Wakely. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001. Print.Wolff, Cynthia Griffin. Samuel Richardson and the Puritan character of the eighteenth century. Connecticut: Archon Book, 1972. Print