Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 121: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained
Clarissa writes to Anna Howe recounting Lovelace's return from Windsor, where he found no suitable apartments.
What happens
Clarissa writes to Anna Howe recounting Lovelace's return from Windsor, where he found no suitable apartments. She describes their heated argument about her staying at Mrs. Sorlings's, his proposal to put herself under Lady Betty's protection, and his violent, passionate pleas for her to marry him. Clarissa expresses fear and distrust of Lovelace's motives, feeling trapped and uncertain about her next move.
Themes in this chapter
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa struggles to assert her autonomy and maintain her virtue while being pressured by Lovelace and trapped by her circumstances.
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace uses emotional manipulation and violent passion to pressure Clarissa, revealing his desire to control her choices.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Clarissa questions Lovelace's true intentions, noting his behavior mirrors how he treated her sister, and fears his promises are deceptive.
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Narrates her distress and fear of Lovelace's violent temper, feeling trapped and uncertain about leaving Mrs. Sorlings's.
- Robert Lovelace
Returns from Windsor with no suitable apartments, argues passionately with Clarissa, and displays wild, fervent behavior that frightens her.
- Anna Howe
Recipient of the letter; Clarissa asks her to send Hannah Burton to her.
- Hannah Burton
Clarissa plans to send for her through Anna Howe, offering to pay a month's wages to release her from her place.
- Mrs. Sorlings
Clarissa considers staying longer at her house, though it may be inconvenient for her and her daughters.
Key passages
“He has been very solicitous to keep to the letter of my instructions: which looked well: and the better I like him, as, although he proposed that town, he came back, dissuading me from it”
Lovelace carefully followed my instructions, which seemed good, and I liked him more because he himself advised against Windsor after proposing it.
Clarissa notes Lovelace's apparent compliance with her wishes.
“I told him, I by no means approved of his violent temper: he was too boisterous a man for my liking.”
I told him I did not like his violent and loud behavior.
Clarissa expresses her fear and disapproval of Lovelace's passionate outburst.
“I plainly see that he means not, if he can help it, to leave me to the liberty of refusing him; which I had nevertheless preserved a right to do; but looks upon me as his, by a strange sort of obligation, for having run away with me against my will.”
I clearly see he intends not to allow me the freedom to refuse him, even though I have that right, and he considers me his due because he helped me escape against my own wishes.
Clarissa perceives Lovelace's sense of entitlement over her.