Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 472: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace writes a frantic and contradictory letter to Belford, oscillating between hope and despair over Clarissa's health.
What happens
Lovelace writes a frantic and contradictory letter to Belford, oscillating between hope and despair over Clarissa's health. He blames her 'female wilfulness' for her decline, expresses remorse, and demands reassuring news, threatening dire consequences if Belford reports her death.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Redemption
Lovelace's repentance and prayers for Clarissa's recovery highlight his struggle with guilt and desire for redemption.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace accuses Clarissa of feigning Christian forgiveness to wound him, while he himself seeks to deceive Belford with demands for false hope.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Author of the letter; displays extreme emotional turmoil, guilt, and manipulative reasoning regarding Clarissa's illness.
- John Belford
Recipient of the letter; Lovelace accuses him of delighting in death and demands he send hopeful news.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Subject of Lovelace's anxiety; he describes her as dying, willful, and vengeful through forgiveness.
- James Harlowe Jr.
Mentioned as part of the confederacy against Clarissa, intended to disgrace and keep her down.
- Arabella Harlowe
Mentioned alongside James as part of the confederacy against Clarissa.
Key passages
“How familiarly dost thou use the words, dying , dimness , tremor ? Never did any mortal ring so many changes on so few bells.”
You casually throw around words like dying, dimness, and tremor, as if you enjoy varying a limited set of gloomy terms.
Lovelace criticizes Belford's frequent use of morbid language.
“I have most sincerely repented of all my baseness to her—And will nothing do?”
I have genuinely regretted all my cruel behavior toward her, but it seems no amount of repentance helps.
Lovelace expresses remorse and frustration that his repentance may not save Clarissa.
“But I’ll have none of her forgiveness! My own heart tells me I do not deserve it; and I cannot bear it!”
I refuse to accept her forgiveness because I know I don't deserve it, and it's unbearable to receive it.
Lovelace rejects Clarissa's forgiveness, feeling unworthy and pained by it.