Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 491: To Miss Harlowe explained
In her final letter to her sister Arabella, Clarissa writes from a state of spiritual transcendence, forgiving past slights and expressing hope for her own redemption through suffering.
What happens
In her final letter to her sister Arabella, Clarissa writes from a state of spiritual transcendence, forgiving past slights and expressing hope for her own redemption through suffering. She acknowledges her error without excusing it, prays for her sister's continued happiness and duty to their family, and signs off as 'The happy Clarissa Harlowe,' suggesting she has found peace in her impending death.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Redemption
Clarissa frames her sufferings as a path to spiritual perfection and divine mercy, culminating in a hopeful redemption.
Family Obligation and Rebellion
Clarissa acknowledges the disgrace her fall brought upon her family and urges her sister to continue in dutiful obedience, highlighting the tension between individual error and familial duty.
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Writes a letter of forgiveness and farewell to her sister, expressing repentance and spiritual exaltation.
- Arabella Harlowe
The recipient of the letter, addressed with affection and a plea for pardon.
Key passages
“Now may you, my dear Arabella, unrestrained by the severity of your virtue, let fall a pitying tear on the past faults and sufferings of your late unhappy sister; since, now, she can never offend you more.”
Now that I am dying, you can safely pity my past mistakes and suffering without compromising your own virtue, because I can no longer cause you any trouble.
Clarissa asks for compassion from her sister, emphasizing her own imminent death as a final end to any offense.
“Thus already, even while she writes, in imagination purified and exalted, she the more fearlessly writes to her sister; and now is assured of pardon for all those little occasions of displeasure which her forwarder youth might give you; and for the disgrace which her fall has fastened upon you, and upon her family.”
Even as I write this, I imagine myself already purified and raised up, so I can write boldly to you, confident that I am forgiven for any childhood annoyances and for the shame my downfall brought to you and our family.
Clarissa expresses a sense of spiritual elevation and certainty of forgiveness, both for minor past grievances and for the major disgrace of her elopement.
“And who now, made perfect (as she hopes) through sufferings, styles herself, The happy Clarissa Harlowe.”
And now, hoping to have been made perfect through my sufferings, I sign myself as 'The happy Clarissa Harlowe.'
Clarissa redefines happiness not as worldly joy but as spiritual fulfillment achieved through pain and repentance.