Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 294: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace writes to Belford, confessing his guilt over Clarissa's escape and his failure to seduce her, while also lamenting Lord M.'s unexpected recovery from gout, which dashes his hopes of inheriting the estate.
What happens
Lovelace writes to Belford, confessing his guilt over Clarissa's escape and his failure to seduce her, while also lamenting Lord M.'s unexpected recovery from gout, which dashes his hopes of inheriting the estate. He expresses a mix of contrition and defiance, proposing marriage if Belford can find Clarissa, and vents his frustration at the loss of both his prize and his anticipated fortune.
Themes in this chapter
Libertinism and Morality
Lovelace confesses his guilt and acknowledges the sin of seducing a virtuous woman, while also justifying his actions through libertine maxims.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace discusses the plot to deceive Clarissa with the Captain Tomlinson story and his own feigned contrition, highlighting the theme of appearance versus reality.
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace manipulates those around him, including servants and Belford, to regain control over Clarissa and secure his inheritance.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Writes to Belford, confessing his guilt and frustration over Clarissa's escape, and bemoaning Lord M.'s recovery.
- John Belford
Recipient of Lovelace's letter; Lovelace asks him to find Clarissa and proposes marriage if Belford can persuade her.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Has escaped from Lovelace; he laments her virtue and plots to find her.
- Lord M.
Has recovered from gout, disappointing Lovelace's hopes of inheriting his estate.
- Dorcas Wykes
Mentioned as one of the servants who failed to prevent Clarissa's escape.
- Mrs. Sinclair
Mentioned as one of the brothel keepers whose household was deceived during Clarissa's escape.
Key passages
“I own, was but too favourable to their argument: For dost thou think I could have held my purpose against such an angel as this, had I ever before met with a woman so much in earnest to defend her honour against the unwearied artifices and perseverance of the man she loved?”
Lovelace admits that Clarissa's steadfast virtue is unprecedented, and he questions whether he could have persisted in his schemes if he had encountered such resistance before.
Lovelace reflects on Clarissa's unique virtue and his own guilt.
“I am ruined, undone, blown up, destroyed, and worse than annihilated, that’s certain!”
Lovelace declares himself utterly devastated by Clarissa's escape and Lord M.'s recovery.
Lovelace expresses his despair over multiple disappointments.
“the old Peer, pox of his tough constitution, (for that malady would have helped him on), has made shift by fire and brimstone, and the devil knows what, to force the gout to quit the counterscarp of his stomach, just as it had collected all its strength, in order to storm the citadel of his heart.”
Lovelace complains that Lord M. has recovered from gout, thwarting his hopes of inheriting the estate.
Lovelace laments Lord M.'s recovery and his lost inheritance.