Letter 37: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Female Agency and Virtue

  Anna encourages Clarissa to assert her own feelings and make a conscious choice, challenging the family's coercion and advocating for personal honesty.

• Friendship and Loyalty

  Anna's letter demonstrates deep friendship, as she presses Clarissa to share her secrets and offers unwavering support against familial persecution.

• Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

  Anna questions Clarissa's 'conditional liking' and urges her to see through Lovelace's charming exterior, highlighting the tension between outward behavior and inner truth.

Characters to notice

• Anna Howe

  Writes to Clarissa with a mix of raillery and earnest advice, pressing her to confess her feelings for Lovelace and criticizing her family's persecution.

• Clarissa Harlowe

  The recipient of Anna's letter; Anna urges her to be open about her affections and to consider her options between Lovelace and Solmes.

• Robert Lovelace

  Discussed as a suitor; Anna notes his insinuating address and suggests Clarissa may have a 'conditional liking' for him.

• Mr. Solmes

  Mentioned as the suitor proposed by Clarissa's family, whom Anna dismisses as unworthy.

• James Harlowe Jr.

  Referenced as part of Clarissa's 'wise relations' and persecutors, along with her sister.

• Arabella Harlowe

  Mentioned as one of Clarissa's persecutors, part of the family's oppressive tactics.

Key passages

• “I have advised you to resume your own estate: that you won't do. You cannot bear the thoughts of having their Solmes: and Lovelace is resolved you shall be his, let who will say to the contrary.”

  I suggested you take control of your own property, but you refuse. You can't stand the idea of marrying Solmes, and Lovelace is determined to have you no matter what anyone says.

  Anna summarizes Clarissa's dilemma: she rejects Solmes but is pressured by Lovelace's determination.

• “If, then, there be not a reason for this change of style, which you have not thought fit to give me, be so good as to watch, as I once before advised you, how the cause for it will come on—Why should it be permitted to steal upon you, and you know nothing of the matter?”

  If there isn't a hidden reason for your change in tone that you haven't told me, then pay attention to how it develops—don't let it sneak up on you unaware.

  Anna warns Clarissa to be mindful of her growing feelings for Lovelace, comparing it to catching a cold.

• “I shall think I have reason to be highly displeased with you, if, when you write to me, you endeavour to keep from me any secret of your heart.”

  I will be very upset if you try to hide any secret of your heart from me in your letters.

  Anna insists on complete honesty between friends, demanding Clarissa share her true feelings.

• “Will you tell me, my dear, what you have thought of Lovelace's best and of his worst?—How far eligible for the first; how far rejectable for the last?—Then weighing both parts in opposite scales, we shall see which is likely to preponderate; or rather which does preponderate.”

  Please tell me what you consider Lovelace's best and worst qualities—how much his good points make him suitable and his bad points make him unsuitable. Then we can weigh them to see which side wins out.

  Anna asks Clarissa to rationally evaluate Lovelace's character to determine her true feelings.