# Letter 500: Colonel Morden, to John Belford, Esq. explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Colonel Morden describes the arrival of Clarissa's hearse at Harlowe Place and the profound grief and remorse of the Harlowe family. He recounts the mournful scene, the family's self-reproach, and their shared condemnation of Lovelace as the author of their woe. Morden also notes Mrs. Norton's illness on the road and the family's desperate need for comfort, which he attempts to provide by affirming Clarissa's happy end.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Redemption

The Harlowe family's intense grief and remorse over Clarissa's death, coupled with Morden's assurance of her eternal happiness, highlights the redemptive power of suffering.

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

The family's collective guilt and self-reproach for their harsh treatment of Clarissa underscores the conflict between familial duty and individual autonomy.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The family's outward grief contrasts with their earlier hardness of heart, revealing the gap between their public mourning and private culpability.

## Character check-ins

### Colonel Morden

Narrates the chapter; describes the family's grief and attempts to comfort them.

### Mrs. Norton

Falls ill on the road and is left behind at St. Albans.

### James Harlowe Jr.

Shows remorse and is subdued by guilt; blamed by others for keeping up resentment.

### Arabella Harlowe

Expresses grief and self-reproach for her taunting letters to Clarissa.

### Mrs. Harlowe

Inconsolable mother who laments her passivity and loss.

### Mr. John Harlowe

Present among the mourners, visibly affected and weeping.

## Key lines

> Here the wicked cease from troubling —But could read no farther. Her tears fell in large drops upon the plate she was contemplating

She began reading the inscription but was overcome with tears and could not continue.

_Describes Mrs. Harlowe's emotional reaction to Clarissa's coffin plate._

> I have done but half my duty to the dearest and most meritorious of children, resumed the sorrowing mother!—Nay, not half!—How have we hardened our hearts against her!

Mrs. Harlowe confesses that she failed in her duty to Clarissa and regrets hardening her heart.

_Highlights the mother's remorse and the theme of family obligation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-500-colonel-morden-to-john-belford-esq
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters