Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 356: Mrs. Harlowe, to Mrs. Howe explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Harlowe writes to Mrs. Howe, enclosing copies of letters between Miss Howe and Arabella, complaining of the freedoms Miss Howe has taken in criticizing the Harlowe family. She appeals to Mrs. Howe as a mother to understand the family's distress over Clarissa's disobedience and disgrace, and requests that they not be further reflected upon.
Themes in this chapter
Family Obligation and Rebellion
Mrs. Harlowe frames Clarissa's actions as rashness and ingratitude, highlighting the conflict between filial duty and personal will.
Class and Social Reputation
The letter is concerned with the family's public disgrace and the need to control how others perceive them, especially through correspondence.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Harlowe
Writes to Mrs. Howe, expressing distress over Clarissa's actions and complaining of Miss Howe's liberties.
- Mrs. Howe
Recipient of the letter; appealed to as a prudent mother to understand the Harlowe family's suffering.
- Anna Howe
Mentioned as having taken freedoms in criticizing the Harlowe family in her letters.
- Arabella Harlowe
Mentioned as having exchanged letters with Miss Howe, which are enclosed.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Referred to as a naughty creature who has brought ruin upon herself and disgrace upon the family.
Key passages
“I send you, enclosed, copies of five letters that have passed between Miss Howe and my Arabella.”
I am including copies of five letters exchanged between your daughter and my Arabella.
Mrs. Harlowe provides evidence of Miss Howe's critical remarks.
“You are a person of so much prudence and good sense, and (being a mother yourself) can so well enter into the distresses of all our family, upon the rashness and ingratitude of a child we once doted upon”
As a wise mother, you can understand the pain our family feels because of the reckless and ungrateful behavior of a daughter we once loved dearly.
Mrs. Harlowe appeals to maternal empathy to justify her complaint.
“We only beg, that we may not be reflected upon by a young lady who knows not what we have suffered, and do suffer by the rashness of a naughty creature who has brought ruin upon herself, and disgrace upon a family which she had robbed of all comfort.”
We ask only that we not be criticized by a young woman who does not know how much we have suffered because of a wicked girl who has destroyed herself and shamed a family she has deprived of all happiness.
Mrs. Harlowe defends the family against Miss Howe's judgments, blaming Clarissa entirely.