Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 529: Miss Howe, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Miss Howe provides materials for a character sketch of Clarissa, praising her person, mind, and virtues, while criticizing her family's persecution and Lovelace's villainy.
What happens
Miss Howe provides materials for a character sketch of Clarissa, praising her person, mind, and virtues, while criticizing her family's persecution and Lovelace's villainy. She reflects on Clarissa's humility, elocution, and writing style, and expresses her own grief and violent temper.
Themes in this chapter
Female Agency and Virtue
Clarissa is portrayed as a paragon of virtue, humility, and moral agency, whose character is contrasted with her family's persecution and Lovelace's villainy.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace's specious behavior is contrasted with his true villainy; Clarissa's outward dignity is mistaken for pride by superficial observers.
Characters to notice
- Anna Howe
Writes to Belford, offering materials for Clarissa's character; expresses grief and acknowledges her own violent passions.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Subject of the character sketch; praised for her person, humility, elocution, and writing; her family's persecution is blamed for her downfall.
- Robert Lovelace
Denounced as a horrid wretch and villain; his premeditated villany entangled Clarissa.
- John Belford
Recipient of the letter; tasked with writing Clarissa's character; has access to papers and Colonel Morden's letters.
- Colonel Morden
His letter of Sept. 23 is referenced as a source for Clarissa's person and character.
Key passages
“How could she then forgive the wretch by whose premeditated villany she was entangled?”
How could she ever forgive the man who deliberately trapped her through his wicked schemes?
Miss Howe questions Clarissa's ability to forgive Lovelace.
“She was an admirable mistress of all the graces of elocution.”
She was a superb speaker, skilled in all the arts of eloquent expression.
Praise of Clarissa's speaking abilities.
“The grace that makes every other grace amiable, is humility.”
Humility is the quality that makes all other virtues lovable.
One of Clarissa's maxims on humility.