Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 492: To John and Antony Harlowe, Esqrs explained
Clarissa writes a posthumous letter to her uncles, seeking to comfort them and beg forgiveness for her error.
What happens
Clarissa writes a posthumous letter to her uncles, seeking to comfort them and beg forgiveness for her error. She reflects on her pride, her fall, and her purification through suffering, expressing hope for a happy meeting in eternity. The chapter also abstracts her letters to Mrs. Hervey and Miss Howe, urging them to rejoice in her release and to guard against similar delusions.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Redemption
Clarissa frames her afflictions as a means of purification and spiritual preparation, leading to her hoped-for redemption.
Family Obligation and Rebellion
Clarissa seeks forgiveness from her uncles for her 'only great fault' and reflects on her deviation from familial duty.
Characters to notice
- Clarissa Harlowe
Writes posthumous letters to her uncles, aunt Hervey, and Miss Howe, expressing penitence, gratitude, and hope for eternal happiness.
- John Belford
Delivers Clarissa's posthumous letters to Mrs. Hervey, Miss Howe, and Mrs. Norton.
- Anna Howe
Receives a tender posthumous letter from Clarissa, who urges her to rejoice and marry Mr. Hickman.
- Mr. Hickman
Praised by Clarissa as a sincere, honest, virtuous, and pious man, worthy of Anna Howe.
- Dolly Hervey
Addressed by Clarissa as her amiable cousin, warned to guard against delusions and to observe filial duty.
Key passages
“I write, therefore, my dear uncles, and to you both in one letter (since your fraternal love has made you both but as one person) to give you comfort, and not distress; for, however sharp my afflictions have been, they have been but of short duration; and I am betimes (happily as I hope) arrived at the end of a painful journey.”
Clarissa writes to comfort her uncles, explaining that her sufferings were brief and she has reached the end of her painful life.
Clarissa emphasizes her desire to console rather than distress her family.
“I had a secret pride to be punished for, which I had not fathomed: and it was necessary, perhaps, that some sore and terrible misfortunes should befall me, in order to mortify that my pride, and that my vanity.”
Clarissa believes her misfortunes were sent to humble her hidden pride and vanity.
She interprets her suffering as divine punishment for her pride.
“Rejoice with me, then, dear Sirs, that I have weathered so great a storm. Nor let it be matter of concern, that I am cut off in the bloom of youth.”
Clarissa asks her uncles to celebrate her survival of trials and not mourn her early death.
She frames her death as a positive release from worldly storms.