Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 38: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained
Clarissa responds to Anna's critical observations about her feelings for Lovelace, defending her openness and explaining that she writes her heart without reserve.
What happens
Clarissa responds to Anna's critical observations about her feelings for Lovelace, defending her openness and explaining that she writes her heart without reserve. She insists she has written more in dispraise than favor of Lovelace and clarifies that her conditional expressions are meant to maintain her character in an unhappy situation.
Themes in this chapter
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa asserts her right to judge Lovelace justly and maintain her character, balancing openness with propriety.
Friendship and Loyalty
Clarissa values Anna's honest reproofs and emphasizes the mutual openness their friendship demands.
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Writes to defend her conduct and openness regarding Lovelace, asserting her integrity and desire to appear as she ought.
- Anna Howe
Addressed as the recipient; Clarissa acknowledges her reproofs and thanks her for the cautioning friendship.
- Robert Lovelace
Discussed as the man addressing Clarissa; she insists she has written more in his dispraise than favor.
Key passages
“I wrote my heart at the time: if I had had thought of disguising it, or been conscious that there was reason for doing so, perhaps I had not given you the opportunity of remarking upon my curiosity after his relations’ esteem for me; nor upon my conditional liking , and suchlike.”
I wrote honestly in the moment; if I had tried to hide my feelings, I might not have let you notice my interest in his family's approval or my cautious expressions of favor.
Clarissa defends her transparency with Anna, insisting she has no hidden reserves.
“I would do the man who addresses me as much justice , as if he did not address me: it has such a look of tyranny, it appears so ungenerous, methinks, in our sex, to use a man worse for his respect to us, (no other cause for disrespect occurring), that I would not by any means be that person who should do so.”
I would treat a suitor as fairly as any other man; it seems tyrannical and ungenerous for a woman to treat a man poorly simply because he respects her, unless he gives her reason.
Clarissa articulates her principle of fairness toward Lovelace, rejecting the idea of punishing him for his attentions.