# Letter 529: Miss Howe, to John Belford, Esq. explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-529-miss-howe-to-john-belford-esq
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters