Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 155: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained
Clarissa writes to Anna Howe from her new lodgings in London, describing her arrival and the uncomfortable situation created by Lovelace's deception.
What happens
Clarissa writes to Anna Howe from her new lodgings in London, describing her arrival and the uncomfortable situation created by Lovelace's deception. He has told the landlady, Mrs. Sinclair, and her household that they are secretly married, forcing Clarissa into a false appearance. She expresses her unease with the servant Dorcas and her frustration with Lovelace's manipulative behavior, while also chiding Anna for her resolution against marrying Mr. Hickman.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace forces Clarissa to pretend they are married, creating a false appearance that traps her in a web of deceit.
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace manipulates the situation by telling the household they are married, pressuring Clarissa to comply against her will.
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa struggles to maintain her autonomy and virtue while being coerced into a false role by Lovelace.
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Narrates her arrival in London and her distress over Lovelace's false claims of marriage.
- Robert Lovelace
Introduces the servant Dorcas, tells the household they are married, and pressures Clarissa to maintain the deception.
- Anna Howe
Addressed by Clarissa, who chides her for resolving not to marry Mr. Hickman.
- Dorcas Wykes
Introduced as a servant for Clarissa; Clarissa notes her 'sly eye' and genteel appearance.
- Mrs. Sinclair
The widow landlady, described as having an 'odd winking eye' and overly studied respectfulness.
Key passages
“At length, my dearest Miss Howe, I am in London, and in my new lodgings. They are neatly furnished, and the situation, for the town, is pleasant.”
Clarissa informs Anna that she has finally arrived in London and is staying in nicely furnished lodgings in a pleasant part of town.
Clarissa's initial description of her new environment.
“But what I like least of all in her, she has a strange sly eye. I never saw such an eye; half-confident, I think.”
Clarissa is suspicious of the servant Dorcas because of her sly, confident-looking eye.
Clarissa's distrust of Dorcas foreshadows danger.
“I perfectly raved at him. I would have flung from him in resentment; but he would not let me: and what could I do? Whither go, the evening advanced?”
Clarissa became furious with Lovelace and tried to leave, but he restrained her, and she felt trapped with nowhere to go as evening fell.
Clarissa's helplessness and frustration at Lovelace's control.
“Alas! my dear, how vain a thing to say, what we will, or what we will not do, when we have put ourselves into the power of this sex!”
Clarissa laments that once a woman places herself under a man's control, her intentions and choices become meaningless.
Clarissa's reflection on her loss of agency.