# Letter 113: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa confronts Lovelace about the garden-door incident and his manipulation of Joseph Leman. Lovelace confesses to bribing Leman to spy on her family and to orchestrating the alarm that forced her to flee with him. He admits he left her revocation letter at the loose bricks to ensure she would meet him, and reveals he planned to abduct Solmes if necessary. Clarissa is horrified by his deceit and acknowledges her own weakness in trusting him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Lovelace's elaborate lies about the garden-door alarm and his manipulation of Leman reveal the gap between his charming exterior and his deceitful actions.

### Power and Manipulation

Lovelace's systematic bribery of Leman and his orchestration of events demonstrate his use of power to control Clarissa's choices and her family's actions.

### Female Agency and Virtue

Clarissa's attempt to assert her agency by confronting Lovelace is undermined by her acknowledgment of her own weakness, reflecting the limited power of women in her society.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Confronts Lovelace about his manipulations, expresses indignation and regret for her own weakness.

### Robert Lovelace

Confesses to bribing Joseph Leman, leaving Clarissa's letter, and planning to abduct Solmes; defends his actions as necessary to prevent her forced marriage.

### Joseph Leman

Revealed as a double agent bribed by Lovelace to spy on the Harlowe family and facilitate Clarissa's escape.

### James Harlowe Jr.

Identified as one of the employers who originally bribed Leman to spy on Lovelace.

### Antony Harlowe

Named alongside James as a principal who employed Leman against Lovelace.

### Mr. Solmes

Mentioned as the intended victim of Lovelace's plan to abduct and hide him for a month or two.

## Key lines

> I was resolved to task him upon this subject, the first time I could have patience to enter upon it with him.

Clarissa decided to confront Lovelace about the garden-door incident as soon as she could muster the patience.

_Shows Clarissa's determination to seek the truth despite her emotional turmoil._

> I will, without reserve, my dearest life, said he, tell you the whole; and hope that my sincerity in the relation will atone for anything you may think wrong in the fact.

Lovelace promises to confess everything, hoping his honesty will excuse his misdeeds.

_Lovelace uses a pretense of sincerity to manipulate Clarissa's perception of his actions._

> Was ever such a wretch heard of!⁠—I sighed from the bottom of my heart; but bid him proceed from the part I had interrupted him at.

Clarissa is appalled by Lovelace's plan to abduct Solmes, yet she forces herself to listen to the rest of his story.

_Highlights Clarissa's internal conflict between her horror and her desire to understand the full extent of his deceit._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-113-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-miss-howe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters