Letter 524: Mr. Belford, to Miss Howe explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Friendship and Loyalty

  Belford's respectful gratitude and commitment to reformation honor Clarissa's wishes, demonstrating loyalty to her memory and to Miss Howe's trust.

• Suffering and Redemption

  Belford's earnest desire to reform and seek divine blessing reflects a redemptive turn, inspired by Clarissa's pious example.

Characters to notice

• John Belford

  Expresses gratitude to Miss Howe for her condescending hint about Clarissa's wishes for his reformation, and vows to pursue it earnestly.

• Anna Howe

  Addressed by Belford; she has written frankly about her past and present mind regarding single and matrimonial life, and is praised for her lovely failings.

• Clarissa Harlowe

  Referred to as the 'exalted friend' whose pious wishes for Belford's reformation are mentioned.

• Robert Lovelace

  Mentioned as having departed from England, as revealed in the enclosed letters.

• Colonel Morden

  Referred to as the 'worthy gentleman' who admires Miss Howe and whose original letter Belford might have sent entire.

Key passages

• “I return you, Madam, my most respectful thanks for your condescending hint, in relation to the pious wishes of your exalted friend for my thorough reformation.”

  I thank you, Madam, for your kind suggestion regarding your noble friend's devout hopes that I would fully reform.

  Belford acknowledges Miss Howe's hint about Clarissa's wishes for his moral improvement.

• “I cannot, Madam, express how much I think myself obliged to you for your farther condescension, in writing to me so frankly the state of your past and present mind, in relation to the single and matrimonial life.”

  I am deeply grateful, Madam, for your further kindness in writing so openly about your past and current feelings regarding being single or married.

  Belford appreciates Miss Howe's frankness about her views on marriage.

• “If the lady by whom, as the executor of her inimitable friend, I am thus honoured, has failings, never were failings so lovely in woman!”

  If the lady who honors me as the executor of her incomparable friend has any faults, no woman's faults were ever so charming.

  Belford praises Miss Howe's failings as endearing.

• “I send you, Madam, a letter from Lord M. to myself; and the copies of three others written in consequence of that.”

  I am sending you, Madam, a letter from Lord M. to me, along with copies of three other letters that were written as a result.

  Belford encloses letters revealing Lovelace's departure from England.