Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 321: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace writes to Belford, lamenting the loss of Clarissa and expressing his despair at not being able to find her.
What happens
Lovelace writes to Belford, lamenting the loss of Clarissa and expressing his despair at not being able to find her. He describes his confinement with his ailing uncle Lord M., who enjoys hearing Lovelace's roguish stories despite his religious pretenses. Lovelace also recounts a flirtatious exchange with his cousins Charlotte and Patty Montague, showing his continued libertine attitudes.
Themes in this chapter
Libertinism and Morality
Lovelace's unrepentant libertine attitude is evident as he boasts of his 'enterprising spirit' and dismisses shame, while Lord M. hypocritically enjoys his stories despite his prayers.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace's cousins pretend to be offended by his advances but secretly admire his wit and invention, illustrating the gap between outward propriety and inner feelings.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Writes to Belford, expressing despair over losing Clarissa and frustration at being unable to find her. He entertains Lord M. with his stories and flirts with his cousins.
- John Belford
Recipient of Lovelace's letter; Lovelace responds to his complaints about silence and lack of correspondence.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Lovelace's lost 'angel' and the subject of his longing; he cannot find her despite employing emissaries.
- Lord M.
Lovelace's uncle, who is ill with gout and enjoys hearing Lovelace's roguish stories despite his religious practices.
- Miss Charlotte Montague
Lovelace's cousin; he flirts with her and makes suggestive remarks, which she pretends to resent.
- Miss Patty Montague
Lovelace's other cousin; present during the flirtatious exchange and also addressed by Lovelace.
Key passages
“What heart, thinkest thou, can I have to write, when I have lost the only subject worth writing upon?”
How can I possibly write when I've lost the only person worth writing about?
Lovelace expresses his inability to write meaningfully without Clarissa.
“Having lost her, my whole soul is a blank: the whole creation round me, the elements above, beneath, and everything I behold, (for nothing can I enjoy), are a blank without her.”
Without her, everything feels empty and meaningless; I can take pleasure in nothing.
Lovelace's hyperbolic lamentation over Clarissa's absence.
“I told her, that I had had in debate several times, whether she were or were not too near of kin to me: and that it was once a moot point with me, whether I could not love her dearly for a month or so.”
I told Charlotte that I had considered whether she was too closely related to me to be a romantic interest, and that I once thought I might love her for a short time.
Lovelace's flirtatious and provocative remark to his cousin Charlotte.