# Letter 335: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Lovelace writes a furious and tormented letter to Belford, expressing extreme anguish and rage over Belford's abrupt and torturous communication. He compares his suffering to Clarissa's, curses Belford with violent fantasies, and anxiously awaits the sequel of Belford's intelligence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Redemption

Lovelace's hyperbolic description of his own torture and his comparison to Clarissa's suffering highlights the theme of suffering, though without any redemptive aspect.

## Character check-ins

### Robert Lovelace

Writes in a state of extreme fury and torment, accusing Belford of cruelty and expressing violent fantasies.

### John Belford

The recipient of Lovelace's angry letter, blamed for causing intense suffering through his abrupt communication.

### Clarissa Harlowe

Mentioned as a comparison for suffering; Lovelace claims his own torture exceeds hers.

## Key lines

> Curse upon thy hard heart, thou vile caitiff! How hast thou tortured me, by thy designed abruption!

Damn your cruel heart, you wicked wretch! You have tormented me with your deliberate interruption.

_Lovelace opens with a curse, accusing Belford of intentionally causing him pain by breaking off his narrative._

> I wish thou wert a post-horse, and I upon the back of thee! how would I whip and spur, and harrow up thy clumsy sides, till I make thee a ready-roasted, ready-flayed, mess of dog’s meat;

I wish you were a post-horse that I could ride, whipping and spurring you until you were cooked and flayed, fit only for dogs to eat.

_Lovelace expresses his rage through a violent fantasy of riding Belford like a horse and torturing him to death._

## Links

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