# Letter 11: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa responds to Miss Howe's playful accusation that she harbors romantic feelings for Lovelace. She defends herself, insisting she does not love him, and enumerates her objections to his character—his questionable morals, vanity, and constrained politeness. She reaffirms her gratitude to Miss Howe for her candid friendship and promises to confess if ever she should fall in love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Virtue

Clarissa asserts her own judgment and moral autonomy, rejecting the imputation of love and insisting on self-examination.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Clarissa scrutinizes Lovelace's constrained politeness and hidden haughtiness, questioning the gap between his outward manner and inner character.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Defends herself against accusations of loving Lovelace, lists her objections to his character, and thanks Miss Howe for her candid friendship.

### Anna Howe

Addressed as the recipient; Clarissa responds to her raillery and premonitions about Lovelace.

### Robert Lovelace

Discussed as a man Clarissa prefers to Solmes but whom she does not love; she criticizes his morals, vanity, and constrained politeness.

### Mr. Solmes

Mentioned as the man to whom Clarissa prefers Lovelace.

## Key lines

> I cannot own any of the glow, any of the throbs you mention.

I do not feel any romantic excitement or fluttering of the heart as you suggest.

_Clarissa denies Miss Howe's insinuation that she is in love._

> I would not be in love with him, as it is called, for the world.

I would never allow myself to fall in love with him, as people use that term.

_Clarissa firmly rejects the idea of loving Lovelace._

> His very politeness... appear to be constrained; and... something, at times, seems to be behind in his manner that is too studiously kept in.

Even his courtesy seems forced, and occasionally there is something hidden in his behavior that he deliberately suppresses.

_Clarissa perceives a lack of sincerity in Lovelace's polished demeanor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-11-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-miss-howe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters