Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 56: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe explained
Anna Howe writes to Clarissa, expressing her admiration and sympathy for Clarissa's plight.
What happens
Anna Howe writes to Clarissa, expressing her admiration and sympathy for Clarissa's plight. She condemns the Harlowe family's persecution and Solmes's crude views on marriage, and offers conflicted advice, urging Clarissa to avoid being forced into marriage with Solmes while acknowledging the difficulty of any alternative.
Themes in this chapter
Female Agency and Virtue
Anna highlights Clarissa's virtue as both her crime and her strength, and discusses the limited choices available to women under familial and societal pressure.
Power and Manipulation
Solmes's intention to govern by fear and the Harlowes' use of authority to compel Clarissa's obedience exemplify manipulative power dynamics.
Characters to notice
- Anna Howe
Writes a letter of support and advice to Clarissa, expressing her indignation at the Harlowes' treatment and Solmes's character.
- Clarissa Harlowe
The recipient of the letter; Anna praises her virtue and laments her persecution by her family.
- Mr. Solmes
Described as a 'wretch' who intends to govern by fear and values Clarissa's estate over her affection.
- Sir Harry Downeton
Relays a conversation with Solmes to Anna and her mother, revealing Solmes's callous views on marriage.
- Mrs. Howe
Anna's mother, who suggests that Clarissa's obedience would be praiseworthy if she overcomes her aversion, and speculates the Harlowes may eventually relent.
Key passages
“Your merit is your crime. You can no more change your nature, than your persecutors can theirs.”
Your virtue is the reason you are being punished; you cannot alter who you are, just as your tormentors cannot change their own cruel nature.
Anna emphasizes the tragic irony of Clarissa's situation.
“Fear and terror, the wretch, the horrid wretch! said, looked pretty in a bride as well as in a wife: and, laughing, ... it should be his care to perpetuate the occasion for that fear, if he could not think he had the love.”
Solmes laughingly claimed that fear and terror are attractive in a wife, and that he would ensure she always had reason to fear him if he couldn't win her love.
Reveals Solmes's cruel and manipulative intentions toward Clarissa.