# Letter 132: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Anna Howe warns Clarissa that her brother James plans to find her, waylay her, and have her taken by ship to a remote house, while also pursuing a prosecution against Lovelace. Anna advises Clarissa to inform Lovelace of the plot but to keep Miss Lloyd's name secret. She also recounts a quarrel with her mother over the correspondence, during which her mother slapped her hands, and notes that Mr. Hickman has secretly sent money to Hannah Burton and supports the correspondence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

Anna's defiance of her mother's command to end the correspondence highlights the tension between filial duty and personal loyalty to a friend.

### Friendship and Loyalty

Anna risks her mother's anger to maintain her correspondence with Clarissa, demonstrating steadfast friendship.

## Character check-ins

### Anna Howe

Writes to warn Clarissa of her brother's plot; describes her conflict with her mother over the correspondence, including being slapped.

### Clarissa Harlowe

The recipient of the warning; Anna urges her to be cautious and to consider marrying Lovelace for safety.

### James Harlowe Jr.

Plans to find Clarissa, waylay her, and have her taken by ship to a remote house; also intends to prosecute Lovelace.

### Robert Lovelace

Target of the prosecution plot; Anna suggests Clarissa inform him of the danger but keep his temper.

### Mr. Hickman

Secretly sent two guineas to Hannah Burton; supports the correspondence between Anna and Clarissa; praised by Anna for his charity.

## Key lines

> Your brother having been assured that you are not married, has taken a resolution to find you out, waylay you, and carry you off.

Your brother, convinced you are still unmarried, has decided to track you down, ambush you, and abduct you.

_Anna warns Clarissa of James's plan to forcibly take her._

> My mother thought fit to slap my hands to get from me a sheet of a letter she caught me writing to you; which I tore, because she should not read it, and burnt it before her face.

My mother slapped my hands to seize a letter I was writing to you; I tore it up and burned it rather than let her read it.

_Anna describes the physical altercation with her mother over the correspondence._

## Links

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