# Letter 363: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Arabella Harlowe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa, in precarious health, writes to her sister Arabella begging her to intercede with their father to revoke the part of his curse that concerns the afterlife. She acknowledges her punishment from Lovelace and expresses gratitude for her mother's kindness in sending her clothes, but refrains from further correspondence to avoid giving offense.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

Clarissa's plea for intercession highlights the tension between her duty to her family and the consequences of her rebellion.

### Suffering and Redemption

Clarissa's physical and spiritual suffering is evident as she seeks to mitigate the eternal consequences of her father's curse.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

The writer, in failing health, humbly petitions her sister for intercession regarding her father's curse.

### Arabella Harlowe

The recipient of Clarissa's letter, asked to intercede with their father.

### Mrs. Harlowe

Mentioned with gratitude for sending Clarissa her clothes.

## Key lines

> If, my dearest Sister, I did not think the state of my health very precarious, and that it was my duty to take this step, I should hardly have dared to approach you, although but with my pen, after having found your censures so dreadfully justified as they have been.

Clarissa explains that only her failing health and sense of duty compel her to write, despite knowing her sister's harsh judgment has been proven correct.

_Clarissa's humility and acknowledgment of her sister's censure._

> I have not the courage to write to my father himself, nor yet to my mother. And it is with trembling that I address myself to you, to beg of you to intercede for me, that my father will have the goodness to revoke that heaviest part of the very heavy curse he laid upon me, which relates to Hereafter ; for, as to the Here , I have I have indeed met with my punishment from the very wretch in whom I was supposed to place my confidence.

Too afraid to contact her parents directly, Clarissa asks Arabella to plead with their father to lift the part of his curse concerning her eternal fate, as she has already suffered enough in this life through Lovelace's betrayal.

_Clarissa's fear of her father and her belief that her earthly punishment has been fulfilled._

## Links

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