# Letter 480: Mr. Mowbray, to John Belford, Esq. explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Mr. Mowbray writes to John Belford describing Lovelace's violent and distraught reaction upon receiving news of Clarissa's death. Mowbray recounts how Lovelace tore the letter, raged, and struck him, and how he and Tourville tried to shame Lovelace out of his grief. Mowbray requests the particulars of Clarissa's departure for Lovelace, who cannot bear the word 'dead.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Redemption

Lovelace's violent grief over Clarissa's death highlights his personal suffering and the absence of redemption, as he is unable to accept her loss.

### Friendship and Loyalty

Mowbray and Tourville attempt to support Lovelace, though their crude advice reveals a shallow understanding of his anguish.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Mowbray questions whether Clarissa is truly dead, reflecting the theme of uncertainty and deception surrounding her fate.

## Character check-ins

### Robert Lovelace

Shown in a state of extreme grief and madness upon learning of Clarissa's death; tears the letter, strikes Mowbray, and cannot bear the word 'dead'.

### John Belford

Addressee of the letter; Mowbray requests the particulars of Clarissa's departure from him.

### Richard Mowbray

Writer of the letter; describes Lovelace's breakdown and his own efforts to calm him.

### James Tourville

Present with Mowbray and Lovelace; joins in trying to shame Lovelace out of his grief.

### Will

Lovelace's servant; delivers the letter and discreetly removes Lovelace's pistols to prevent harm.

### Clarissa Harlowe

Recently deceased; her death is the cause of Lovelace's despair, though Mowbray dismisses her suffering.

## Key lines

> He cannot bear to set pen to paper; yet wants to know every minute passage of Miss Harlowe’s departure.

Lovelace is too distraught to write himself but desperately wants every detail of Clarissa's death.

_Highlights Lovelace's conflicted state of avoidance and obsession._

> What great matters has she suffered, that grief should kill her thus?

Mowbray dismisses Clarissa's suffering, questioning why grief would cause her death.

_Reflects Mowbray's callousness and inability to empathize with Clarissa's ordeal._

> He won’t bear the word dead on any account. A squeamish puppy!

Lovelace refuses to hear the word 'dead,' which Mowbray mocks as weak and foolish.

_Illustrates the tension between Lovelace's profound grief and his friends' crude attempts to shame him._

## Links

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