Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 202: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace writes to Belford, wrestling with his conflicting desires for Clarissa.
What happens
Lovelace writes to Belford, wrestling with his conflicting desires for Clarissa. He admires her virtue and purity, which often subdues his malicious intentions, yet he feels goaded by his companions and his own pride to test her further. He transcribes a paper from Clarissa outlining her conditions for marriage, emphasizing her wish to avoid litigation with her family and her hope for his condescension. Lovelace admits he cannot yet marry and fears being despised by a wife who excels him, but he resolves to try her a few more times before possibly making her legally his.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace contemplates using force or gentle means to subdue Clarissa, revealing his manipulative designs and struggle for control.
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa's paper asserts her conditions and moral principles, demonstrating her agency and virtue even under Lovelace's power.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Writes to Belford, torn between admiration for Clarissa's virtue and his own pride and vengeful plans.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Lovelace transcribes her paper outlining conditions for marriage; she is described as reserved, virtuous, and disdainful of him.
- John Belford
The recipient of Lovelace's letter, to whom Lovelace confesses his inner turmoil.
- Anna Howe
Mentioned as declaring that Clarissa despises Lovelace and calling him the devil.
- Dorcas Wykes
Transcribes Clarissa's paper for Lovelace; reports that Clarissa is not well.
Key passages
“There is no triumph in force — no conquest over the will — no prevailing by gentle degrees over the gentle passions! — force is the devil!”
Using force brings no real victory because it does not win over her will or gently persuade her affections; force is evil.
Lovelace reflects on the futility of coercion in winning Clarissa's love.
“Her love of virtue seems to be principle, native principle, or, if not native, so deeply rooted, that its fibres have struck into her heart, and, as she grew up, so blended and twisted themselves with the strings of life, that I doubt there is no separating of the one without cutting the others asunder.”
Her commitment to virtue is so deeply ingrained that it is inseparable from her very being.
Lovelace marvels at the depth of Clarissa's virtue.
“Condescension is not meanness. There is a glory in yielding, that hardly any violent spirit can judge of.”
Being humble is not degrading; there is honor in giving in, something a stubborn person cannot appreciate.
Clarissa's paper argues for the nobility of condescension.