# Letter 380: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Harlowe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa writes to her sister Arabella, expressing that she does not repine at the severity of Arabella's letter because her own heart reproaches her more strongly, though she maintains she is not as culpable as believed. She recalls the anniversary of her birth on July 24 with a bleeding heart and declares it will likely be her last. She humbly begs permission to write half a dozen lines to her parents to obtain their last blessing, asking Arabella to intercede and grant her liberty to write.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

Clarissa seeks her parents' blessing despite her estrangement, showing her continued sense of duty and desire for reconciliation.

### Suffering and Redemption

Clarissa's penitent tone and anticipation of her death reflect her suffering and hope for redemption through forgiveness.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Writes to her sister with penitence, recalling her birth anniversary and seeking parental blessing.

### Arabella Harlowe

The recipient of Clarissa's letter, whose severity Clarissa acknowledges but does not repine at.

### Mrs. Norton

Mentioned as a possible commissioner to hear Clarissa's story.

## Key lines

> I repine not, my dear Sister, at the severity you have been pleased to express in the letter you favoured me with; because that severity was accompanied with the grace I had petitioned for; and because the reproaches of mine own heart are stronger than any other person's reproaches can be: and yet I am not half so culpable as I am imagined to be

I do not complain about the harshness of your letter, since it granted the favor I asked, and my own self-blame is harsher than any external criticism; still, I am not as guilty as you think.

_Clarissa acknowledges her sister's severity but asserts her own innocence is greater than perceived._

> I remembered with a bleeding heart what day the 24th of July was. I began with the eve of it; and I passed the day itself⁠— as it was fit I should pass it . Nor have I any comfort to give to my dear and ever-honoured father and mother, and to you, my Bella, but this⁠—that, as it was the first unhappy anniversary of my birth, in all probability, it will be the last .

I recalled July 24 with deep sorrow, observing it as I deserved; the only comfort I can offer my parents and you is that this unhappy birthday will likely be my last.

_Clarissa marks her birth anniversary as a day of mourning and predicts her imminent death._

> Only, be so good as to embolden me to attempt this task⁠—write but this one line, 'Clary Harlowe, you are at liberty to write as you desire.' This will be enough⁠—and shall, to my last hour, be acknowledged as the greatest favour

Please encourage me by writing just this line: 'Clary Harlowe, you are free to write as you wish.' That alone will be a great favor I will remember until I die.

_Clarissa begs her sister for a simple permission to write to their parents for a blessing._

## Links

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