# Letter 62: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa receives a harsh letter from her uncle John Harlowe, who condemns her defiance and informs her that she is to be sent to her uncle Antony's moated house on Thursday, where she will be pressured to marry Solmes. She also receives a letter from Lovelace, who expresses tender concern for her health and reports that he has been watching and suffering in the rain. He pleads for an interview, offering to bring Lord M. or Lady Betty Lawrance to negotiate with her family, and vows to reform. Despite her misgivings, Clarissa agrees to meet him that night by the ivy summerhouse, though she is troubled by his use of a spy (Joseph Leman) and the pressure of her family's plans.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

Clarissa defies her uncle's command to marry Solmes and secretly arranges a meeting with Lovelace, highlighting the conflict between filial duty and personal autonomy.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Lovelace's use of disguises and a spy (Joseph Leman) contrasts with his professions of reform, while Clarissa's family presents a facade of concern that masks coercive control.

### Power and Manipulation

Both Clarissa's family and Lovelace employ manipulation—her family through forced confinement and threats, Lovelace through bribery and emotional appeals—to control her decisions.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Receives harsh letters from her uncle and Lovelace; resolves to meet Lovelace despite her doubts, feeling desperate about being sent to her uncle's moated house.

### Robert Lovelace

Writes a tender letter detailing his nightly vigils and illness; pleads for an interview and offers to bring noble relations to negotiate; Clarissa suspects he has corrupted a servant.

### Mr. John Harlowe

Sends a stern letter rebuking Clarissa for her defiance and informing her of the plan to send her to her uncle Antony's house on Thursday.

### Joseph Leman

Suspected by Clarissa of being Lovelace's spy within the family, as well as her brother's spy; she notes his obsequious behavior.

### Betty Barnes

Sent to help Clarissa prepare for her removal to her uncle's house on Thursday.

### Anna Howe

Clarissa addresses her letter to Anna, seeking her advice and sharing her conflicted feelings about meeting Lovelace.

## Key lines

> Your parents will be obeyed. It is fit they should.

Your mother and father must be obeyed, as is proper.

_Uncle John Harlowe asserts parental authority, reinforcing the theme of family obligation._

> He had been in different disguises loitering about our garden and park wall, all the day on Sunday last; and all Sunday night was wandering about the coppice, and near the back door.

He spent all of Sunday in disguise, lurking near the garden and park wall, and the entire night wandering near the woods and back door.

_Lovelace's persistent surveillance demonstrates his determination and the deceptive lengths he goes to._

> I cannot but say, I am sorry the man is not well. I am afraid to ask you, my dear, what you would have done, thus situated.

I admit I feel sorry that he is ill. I hesitate to ask your advice, my dear, on what you would do in my situation.

_Clarissa's conflicted sympathy for Lovelace reveals her emotional vulnerability and uncertainty._

## Links

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