# Letter 468: Mr. Brand, to Mr. John Walton explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Mr. Brand writes to Mr. Walton, expressing regret for having misjudged Clarissa Harlowe's character based on appearances. He has prepared an apologetic letter to Mr. John Harlowe to set matters right and hopes to visit Clarissa with an olive branch. He discusses his desire to keep his letter from being printed, his use of classical quotations, and his private hope that if Clarissa recovers and lives privately, she might employ him as a chaplain—or perhaps even consider him as a future husband after Lovelace's death.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Mr. Brand admits that he and others judged Clarissa by appearances and conjecture, and now seeks to correct their mistaken views.

### Class and Social Reputation

Mr. Brand speculates that Clarissa's high fortune and his own mean ones might be brought to equivalence, and considers the social standing of a clergyman marrying a 'slurred' lady.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Mr. Brand now believes Clarissa is innocent in intention and resolves to set matters right with her family.

### Mr. John Harlowe

Mr. Brand has written an apologetic letter to his patron Mr. John Harlowe to reconcile with Clarissa.

### John Belford

Mr. Brand mentions Mr. Belford's resentment and warns that he may be as passionate and fierce as Mr. Lovelace.

### Robert Lovelace

Mr. Brand compares Mr. Belford's fierceness to Mr. Lovelace's and hints that Lovelace may die soon due to his detestable courses.

### Mr. Walton

Mr. Brand addresses Mr. Walton as his old schoolfellow and confides his private hopes regarding Clarissa.

## Key lines

> I had reason, before that came , to think , (and to know indeed), that we were all wrong .

I already had cause to realize that we had all misjudged the situation.

_Mr. Brand acknowledges his earlier error in judging Clarissa._

> Words one spoken cannot be recalled . But, Mr. Walton, they may be contradicted by other words; and we may confess ourselves guilty of a mistake , and express our concern for being mistaken ; and resolve to make our mistake a warning to us for the future

Though spoken words cannot be taken back, we can correct them by admitting our error and resolving to learn from it.

_Mr. Brand justifies his plan to write an apologetic letter to set things right._

> If she doth, who can stand a better chance than myself ?

If she keeps a chaplain, I would be the most likely candidate for the position.

_Mr. Brand privately hopes to become Clarissa's chaplain—or even her husband—after Lovelace's death._

## Links

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