# Letter 212: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa writes to Anna Howe about Mr. Lovelace's sudden illness, a vomiting of blood, which deeply affects her despite their recent contentions. She reflects on her own feelings, confessing that she may have loved him more than she admitted, and struggles with self-reproach and the desire to govern her passions by reason.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Virtue

Clarissa struggles to reconcile her feelings for Lovelace with her principles, questioning whether love can excuse folly and emphasizing the need to subdue passions.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Clarissa fears she has exposed her true feelings to Lovelace and the women below, and reflects on the gap between her outward reserve and inner emotions.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Confesses her emotional turmoil and self-examination after Lovelace's illness, acknowledging her hidden feelings.

### Robert Lovelace

Suffers a sudden vomiting of blood; Clarissa is affected by his danger and kindness.

### Anna Howe

Recipient of the letter; Clarissa recalls their past debates about Lovelace.

## Key lines

> Mr. Lovelace, my dear, has been very ill. Suddenly taken. With a vomiting of blood in great quantities.

Lovelace fell suddenly ill, vomiting large amounts of blood.

_Describes the onset of Lovelace's illness._

> I was the affected with it, as I am afraid it was occasioned by the violent contentions between us.

I was deeply moved, fearing our arguments caused his illness.

_Clarissa worries her conflicts with Lovelace led to his condition._

> One cannot, my dear, hate people in danger of death, or who are in distress or affliction.

It's impossible to hate someone who is dying or suffering.

_Clarissa reflects on the softening effect of danger and distress._

> I have, I doubt, exposed myself to him, and to the women below.

I fear I have revealed my true feelings to him and the servants.

_Clarissa worries about having shown her emotions._

> If love, as it is called, is allowed to be an excuse for our most unreasonable follies, and to lay level all the fences that a careful education has surrounded us by, what is meant by the doctrine of subduing our passions?

If love excuses our foolishness and breaks down the barriers of our upbringing, what is the point of learning to control our passions?

_Clarissa questions the role of love versus reason and self-discipline._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-212-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-miss-howe
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