Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 198: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace, enraged after secretly obtaining extracts of Miss Howe's letters to Clarissa, vows revenge against both women.
What happens
Lovelace, enraged after secretly obtaining extracts of Miss Howe's letters to Clarissa, vows revenge against both women. He describes how Dorcas copied the letters, revealing Miss Howe's harsh criticisms and her encouragement for Clarissa to resist him. Lovelace also learns of Antony Harlowe's marriage proposals to Mrs. Howe and resolves to punish both Clarissa and Miss Howe, while noting Clarissa's defiance in attending church without him.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace secretly copies Clarissa's letters, maintaining a facade of trust while plotting revenge.
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace uses Dorcas and others to spy on Clarissa, and schemes to control both her and Miss Howe.
Friendship and Loyalty
Miss Howe's letters reveal her fierce loyalty to Clarissa, urging her to resist Lovelace and not submit.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Furious after reading Miss Howe's letters, vows revenge on both Clarissa and Miss Howe, and schemes to punish them.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Attends church without Lovelace, defying his control; her letters have been secretly copied by Dorcas.
- Anna Howe
Her letters to Clarissa are intercepted and copied; she is described as a 'little fury' and 'virago' by Lovelace, who plans revenge.
- John Belford
Recipient of Lovelace's letter; Lovelace addresses him directly and dismisses his moralizing.
- Dorcas Wykes
Assists Lovelace by secretly copying Clarissa's letters and providing extracts.
- Sally Martin
One of the 'three ready writers' who helped copy the letters; adds a prayer for Miss Howe to come to London.
Key passages
“I am too much disturbed in my mind to think of anything but revenge; or I did intend to give thee an account of Miss Harlowe’s observations on the play.”
Lovelace is so agitated that he can only focus on revenge, abandoning his plan to describe Clarissa's reactions to the play.
Lovelace's rage over the intercepted letters overrides his earlier intentions.
“Sparkling eyes, Jack, when the poetical tribe have said all they can for them, are an infallible sign of a rogue, or room for a rogue, in the heart.”
Lovelace claims that bright eyes always indicate a deceitful nature or potential for deceit.
Lovelace uses this as justification for his suspicions about Clarissa.
“And now my revenge is up, and joined with my love, all resistance must fall before it.”
Lovelace's desire for revenge and love together will overcome any opposition.
He resolves to combine his passions to dominate Clarissa.
“I have been denied breakfasting with her. Indeed she was a little displeased with me last night: because, on our return from the play, I obliged her to pass the rest of the night with the women and me, in their parlour, and to stay till near one.”
Clarissa refused to have breakfast with Lovelace because she was annoyed that he made her stay late with the women after the play.
Clarissa's displeasure shows her resistance to Lovelace's control.
“She is gone. Slipped down before I was aware. She had ordered a chair, on purpose to exclude my personal attendance.”
Clarissa left for church secretly, having arranged a sedan chair to avoid Lovelace accompanying her.
Clarissa deliberately avoids Lovelace's company, asserting her independence.
