Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 536: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained
Lovelace writes to Belford from Trent, detailing his final arrangements for a duel with Colonel Morden.
What happens
Lovelace writes to Belford from Trent, detailing his final arrangements for a duel with Colonel Morden. The two men have agreed to meet the next morning in a lone valley, armed with single rapiers, and have arranged for a surgeon to be on standby. Lovelace expresses confidence in his skill and anticipates either killing Morden or being killed himself.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Redemption
Lovelace's impending duel with Morden represents a potential culmination of his guilt and suffering over Clarissa's death, with the duel offering a chance for redemption or final judgment.
Characters to notice
- Robert Lovelace
Arranges the duel with Colonel Morden, expresses confidence in his swordsmanship, and writes to Belford detailing the plan.
- Colonel Morden
Meets Lovelace to settle the terms of the duel, chooses the sword as the weapon, and agrees to the time and place.
- John Belford
Recipient of Lovelace's letter detailing the duel arrangements.
Key passages
“Tomorrow is to be the day, that will, in all probability, send either one or two ghosts to attend the manes of my Clarissa.”
Tomorrow will likely result in one or both of us dying and joining Clarissa's spirit.
Lovelace anticipates the fatal outcome of the duel.
“I will only say, replied he, that the chances may be more equal by the sword, because we can neither of us be to seek in that; and you would stand, says he, a worse chance, as I apprehend, with a pistol; and yet I have brought two, that you may take your choice of either; for, added he, I have never missed a mark at pistol-distance, since I knew how to hold a pistol.”
Morden suggests the sword because both are skilled with it, but offers pistols as well, noting his own perfect aim.
Morden demonstrates fairness and confidence in his choice of weapon.
“So, Jack, you see I take no advantage of him: but my devil must deceive me, if he take not his life or his death at my hands before eleven tomorrow morning.”
I am giving him a fair chance, but I am certain I will kill him or be killed by eleven tomorrow.
Lovelace asserts his skill and fatalistic certainty about the duel's outcome.