# Letter 290: To Captain Tomlinson explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Lovelace writes to Captain Tomlinson, explaining a misunderstanding with Clarissa and requesting his help to persuade her to proceed with their planned marriage. He mentions Lord M.'s illness and desire to see Clarissa as his niece, and expresses concern that Clarissa's family fault of irreconcilableness may cause further delay.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Lovelace's letter presents a fabricated narrative of a misunderstanding and a planned marriage, concealing his true manipulative intentions.

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

Lovelace invokes Clarissa's family obligations, particularly her uncle's disappointment and her mother's potential reconciliation, to pressure her into compliance.

## Character check-ins

### Robert Lovelace

Author of the letter; expresses distress over misunderstanding with Clarissa and seeks Captain Tomlinson's assistance.

### Clarissa Harlowe

The 'dearest lady' with whom Lovelace has a misunderstanding; she refuses to answer his letters.

### Captain Tomlinson

Recipient of the letter; Lovelace asks him to intercede with Clarissa and to inform Mr. John Harlowe.

### Lord M.

Extremely ill and impatient to see Clarissa as his niece before he dies.

### Mr. John Harlowe

Mentioned as the friend of Captain Tomlinson who expects to be obliged by the marriage.

## Key lines

> An unhappy misunderstanding has arisen between the dearest lady in the world and me (the particulars of which she perhaps may give you, but I will not, because I might be thought partial to myself); and she refusing to answer my most pressing and respectful letters; I am at a most perplexing uncertainty whether she will meet us or not next Thursday to solemnize.

Lovelace claims a misunderstanding has occurred with Clarissa, but he refuses to give details to avoid appearing biased. He is uncertain if she will attend their planned marriage ceremony on Thursday.

_Lovelace manipulates the situation by feigning innocence and uncertainty._

> With regret I speak it of the charmer of my soul, that irreconcilableness is her family-fault⁠—the less excusable indeed for her, as she herself suffers by it in so high a degree from her own relations.

Lovelace criticizes Clarissa's tendency to be unforgiving, calling it a family trait that she herself has suffered from, yet he uses this to justify his own actions.

_Lovelace deflects blame onto Clarissa's character while acknowledging her suffering._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-290-to-captain-tomlinson
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters