Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 249: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace writes to Belford while Clarissa is at church with Mrs.
What happens
Lovelace writes to Belford while Clarissa is at church with Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Bevis, having refused his company. He debates internally whether his hesitation to harm her stems from a young conscience, love, or Belford's arguments. He imagines a debate with the god of love, who initially pleads for Clarissa but ultimately gives her up when Lovelace argues that her love is not the 'right sort' and that she has declared herself a rebel against love's sovereignty.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace debates whether to proceed with his scheme against Clarissa, weighing his revenge against her virtue, and considers manipulating Mrs. Bevis to isolate Clarissa.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace reflects on Clarissa's seeming love as a last resort due to family persecution, and his own internal deception about the nature of his feelings.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Writes to Belford, alone in his dining-room, debating his intentions toward Clarissa and recounting an imaginary debate with the god of love.
- John Belford
The recipient of Lovelace's letter, whose 'whining arguments' in Clarissa's favor are acknowledged by Lovelace.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Has gone to church with Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Bevis, refusing Lovelace's attendance; her virtue and perverseness are the subjects of Lovelace's debate.
- Mrs. Moore
Accompanies Clarissa to church; Clarissa goes with her to avoid looking odd.
- Mrs. Bevis
Accompanies Clarissa to church; Lovelace considered finding her other employment to separate her from Clarissa.
Key passages
“This fair inexorable is actually gone to church with Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Bevis; but Will closely attends her motions; and I am in the way to receive any occasional intelligence from him.”
Clarissa has gone to church with Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Bevis, but Will is watching her, and I can get updates from him.
Lovelace reports that Clarissa is at church under surveillance by his servant Will.
“Conscience is dead and gone, as I told thee; so it cannot be that. A young conscience growing up, like the phoenix, from the ashes of the old one, it cannot be, surely.”
I told you my conscience is dead, so it can't be that. A new conscience rising from the old one's ashes seems impossible.
Lovelace dismisses the idea that conscience is causing his hesitation.
“I required a definition of this right sort of love, he tried at it: but made a sorry hand of it: nor could I, for the soul of me, be convinced, that what he meant to extol was love.”
I asked him to define the right kind of love, but he did a poor job, and I couldn't believe what he praised was actually love.
Lovelace rejects the god of love's definition of proper love.