Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 312: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained
Clarissa recounts the visit of two women impersonating Lady Betty Lawrance and Miss Montague, who, along with Lovelace and Captain Tomlinson, pressure her to forgive Lovelace's premeditated outrage.
What happens
Clarissa recounts the visit of two women impersonating Lady Betty Lawrance and Miss Montague, who, along with Lovelace and Captain Tomlinson, pressure her to forgive Lovelace's premeditated outrage. Despite her suspicions, Clarissa is moved by their pleas and agrees to wait for Anna's answer before deciding her future, though she later realizes the women were impostors.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
The impostor ladies' convincing performance highlights the theme of deception, as Clarissa is fooled by their dress, manners, and false tears.
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa struggles to maintain her resolve and virtue against manipulative pleas, asserting her agency by deferring to Anna's counsel.
Power and Manipulation
Lovelace orchestrates the entire visit, using the impostors and Captain Tomlinson to pressure Clarissa into forgiveness, demonstrating his manipulative power.
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Narrates the visit of the impostor ladies and her internal conflict between forgiveness and resolve.
- Robert Lovelace
Arranges the impostor visit, pleads for forgiveness, and shows frustration at Clarissa's coldness.
- Anna Howe
Recipient of the letter; Clarissa awaits her answer to decide her future.
- Captain Tomlinson
Urges Clarissa to forgive Lovelace during the Hampstead visit.
- Lady Betty Lawrance
Impersonated by an impostor who pleads with Clarissa as a mediatrix.
- Miss Charlotte Montague
Impersonated by an impostor who joins in urging Clarissa to forgive Lovelace.
Key passages
“He had found me out at Hampstead: strangely found me out; for I am still at a loss to know by what means.”
Lovelace discovered my location in Hampstead, and I still don't understand how he managed it.
Clarissa expresses confusion about Lovelace's ability to track her movements.
“I could not help, (fool that I was!) to apologize for my own.”
I foolishly apologized for my own plain dress in front of the richly dressed impostors.
Clarissa regrets her deference to the false ladies' appearance.
“They shed tears upon this—of joy they called them:—But since, I believe, to their credit, bad as they are, that they were tears of temporary remorse.”
The impostors cried, claiming it was joy, but I now think they felt a brief moment of guilt.
Clarissa reflects on the impostors' tears as possibly genuine remorse.