Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 315: Miss Clarissa Harlowe explained
Clarissa recounts her recovery from delirium, her attempts to escape, and her confrontations with Lovelace.
What happens
Clarissa recounts her recovery from delirium, her attempts to escape, and her confrontations with Lovelace. She describes her successful escape and the difficulties of finding lodging. She reflects on the impostures of Tomlinson and Lovelace, and expresses her determination to never marry Lovelace. She requests that Anna and Mrs. Howe not reveal the details of the violence and potions she suffered, preferring to slide quietly into her grave.
Themes in this chapter
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa asserts her agency by escaping and refusing marriage, while grappling with the loss of her virtuous reputation.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Clarissa uncovers Lovelace's impostures, including Tomlinson's falsehoods and the likely fabrication of Mrs. Fretchville's story.
Suffering and Redemption
Clarissa's physical and emotional suffering leads her to seek a quiet death as a form of redemption from her 'first error.'
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Narrates her recovery, escape, and resolution not to marry Lovelace; expresses despair and desire for a quiet death.
- Anna Howe
Recipient of Clarissa's letter; Clarissa inquires after her health and requests her silence on the violence suffered.
- Robert Lovelace
Described as a perjured villain; Clarissa recounts his guilty figure, impostures, and attempts to force marriage.
- Dorcas Wykes
Clarissa suspects Dorcas dropped the promissory note on purpose to betray her.
- Captain Tomlinson
Referred to as 'vile Tomlinson'; Clarissa wonders how he knew details that gave her confidence in him.
- Mrs. Howe
Clarissa received a letter from her that had a reviving effect; Clarissa requests her silence.
Key passages
“I cannot, however, forbear to wonder how the vile Tomlinson could come at the knowledge of several of the things he told me of, and which contributed to give me confidence in him.”
Clarissa is puzzled about how Tomlinson knew details that made her trust him.
Clarissa reflects on the deception that led her to trust Lovelace's accomplice.
“But since my character, before the capital enormity, was lost in the eye of the world; and that from the very hour I left my father’s house; and since all my own hopes of worldly happiness are entirely over; let me slide quietly into my grave; and let it be not remembered, except by one friendly tear, and no more, dropped from your gentle eye, mine own dear Anna Howe, on the happy day that shall shut up all my sorrows”
Clarissa feels her reputation was ruined when she left home, and she wishes to die quietly, remembered only by Anna's tear.
Clarissa expresses her despair and desire for a private, dignified end.