# Letter 69: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Clarissa writes to Anna Howe, acknowledging her silence and expressing anxiety over their friendship. She defends Anna's satirical style as instructive and good-natured, contrasting it with the harsh satire of modern writers. Clarissa describes her precarious situation, torn between the 'rocks' of Lovelace and the 'sands' of Solmes, and considers the possibility of seeking refuge under Anna's mother's protection until her cousin Morden arrives. She details her precautions, including depositing linen and papers secretly, and notes that Lovelace has not written to her, leaving her feeling 'vexedly easy'.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Virtue

Clarissa asserts her own judgment and plans for escape, balancing duty to family with personal integrity.

### Family Obligation and Rebellion

Clarissa feels torn between familial authority and her own will, contemplating secret measures to avoid forced marriage.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Clarissa uses strategic deception (leaving keys, pretending to care for clothes) to mask her true intentions from the family spy Betty.

## Character check-ins

### Clarissa Harlowe

Author of the letter; reflects on her friendship with Anna, her family's pressure, and her cautious plans for escape.

### Anna Howe

Recipient; praised for her satirical skill and offered Clarissa's full correspondence for review.

### Robert Lovelace

Mentioned as a potential suitor; Clarissa notes his silence and feels they may be 'equally sick of one another'.

### Mr. Solmes

Referenced as an unwanted suitor, representing the 'sands' Clarissa fears striking upon.

### James Harlowe Jr.

Implied as a source of envy and pressure, contributing to Clarissa's 'foaming billows'.

### Arabella Harlowe

Implied as a source of envy and pressure, alongside her brother James.

## Key lines

> I see in Lovelace, the rocks on one hand, and in Solmes, the sands on the other; and tremble, lest I should split upon the former, or strike upon the latter.

Clarissa compares Lovelace to dangerous rocks and Solmes to treacherous sands, fearing disaster from either choice.

_Metaphor for her dilemma between two undesirable suitors._

> My heart is vexedly easy, if I may so describe it.

Clarissa feels a troubled calm, vexed by the impending interview with Solmes but otherwise at ease due to Lovelace's silence.

_Expresses her conflicted emotional state._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-69-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-miss-howe
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters