Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 244: Mr. Lovelace explained
Lovelace continues his correspondence, detailing a tense meeting with Clarissa and the disguised Captain Tomlinson.
What happens
Lovelace continues his correspondence, detailing a tense meeting with Clarissa and the disguised Captain Tomlinson. Clarissa expresses suspicion of Lovelace's contrivances and the rapid sequence of events, while Lovelace manipulates Tomlinson with secret signals. After Clarissa withdraws, Lovelace defends his scheme to test Clarissa's virtue, dismissing Tomlinson's compunction and reaffirming his plan to subdue her, though he still contemplates marriage if she proves her love.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace orchestrates an elaborate deception using Captain Tomlinson and secret signals to manipulate Clarissa, while she suspects the contrivances behind the seemingly timely events.
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace exerts control over both Clarissa and Tomlinson, using psychological manipulation and planned signals to steer the conversation and advance his scheme to subdue Clarissa.
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa asserts her desire to remain her own mistress and questions the rapid sequence of events, demonstrating her agency and virtue in the face of Lovelace's manipulations.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Narrates the letter; orchestrates the meeting with Clarissa and Tomlinson, using secret signals to manipulate the conversation; defends his scheme to test Clarissa's virtue and considers marriage only after full trial.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Expresses suspicion of Lovelace's contrivances and the rapid sequence of events; asserts her desire to remain her own mistress and wait for a letter from Anna Howe; displays melancholy dignity and presence of mind.
- Captain Tomlinson
Disguised accomplice of Lovelace; argues for reconciliation and Lady Betty's arbitration; shows compunction and glistening eyes, but is manipulated by Lovelace's signals and ultimately complies.
- John Belford
Referenced by Lovelace as having urged similar pleas as Tomlinson; Lovelace compares Tomlinson's compunction to Belford's own sensibilities.
- Mrs. Bevis
Sent by Lovelace to invite Clarissa back to the parlour; returns with a winking and pinking response.
- Miss Rawlins
Present at the meeting; shows unbounded curiosity and reluctance to leave, but eventually retires with the others.
Key passages
“Nothing can happen amiss, thou sorrowful dog!—What can happen amiss? Are we to form our opinion of things by the romantic notions of a girl, who supposes that to be the greatest which is the slightest of evils?”
Lovelace dismisses Tomlinson's fears, arguing that Clarissa's view of the situation is overly dramatic and that the harm is trivial.
Lovelace rationalizes his actions by belittling Clarissa's concerns as romantic notions.
“Women often, for their own sakes, will keep the last secret; but will ostentatiously din the ears of gods and men with their clamours upon a successless offer.”
Lovelace claims that women will hide a successful seduction but loudly complain about an unsuccessful attempt.
Lovelace uses a cynical generalization to justify his plan to push Clarissa further.
“Let me see, that she loves me well enough to forgive me for my own sake. Has she not heretofore lamented that she stayed not in her father's house, though the consequence must have been, if she had, that she would have been the wife of the odious Solmes?”
Lovelace wants Clarissa to forgive him out of love, not just to reconcile with her family, noting she previously regretted not staying home even if it meant marrying Solmes.
Lovelace reveals his pride and desire for Clarissa's love to be proven through forgiveness.
