Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 70: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe explained
Anna Howe reports on her investigation into Lovelace's behavior at an inn, where he has been pursuing a young innocent girl named Rosebud.
What happens
Anna Howe reports on her investigation into Lovelace's behavior at an inn, where he has been pursuing a young innocent girl named Rosebud. She details his rakish activities, his deception of the locals, and expresses her determination to rescue the girl. Anna warns Clarissa of Lovelace's true character and advises her against both Solmes and Lovelace.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Lovelace presents himself as a military man in disguise, hiding his true rakish nature from the locals while pursuing an innocent girl.
Libertinism and Morality
Lovelace's libertine behavior is exposed through his pursuit of a young girl and his association with brother-rakes, contrasting with Anna's moral outrage.
Characters to notice
- Anna Howe
Writes to Clarissa with the fruits of her inquiry into Lovelace's behavior, expressing concern and determination to rescue the young girl.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Recipient of the letter; Anna warns her about Lovelace's true nature and advises against him.
- Robert Lovelace
Described as a villainous rake pursuing a young innocent girl at an inn, deceiving the locals with a false military identity.
- Mr. Hickman
Mentioned as having heard in town about Lovelace's frequent attendance at plays and operas with different women.
Key passages
“Wrens and sparrows are not too ignoble a quarry for this villainous goshawk!”
Even the smallest and most innocent creatures are not beneath this predatory villain's notice.
Anna uses a metaphor to describe Lovelace's predatory nature toward the young girl.
“A sweet pretty girl, I am told—innocent till he went thither—Now! (Ah! poor girl!) who knows what? But just turned of seventeen!”
A lovely young girl, only seventeen, was innocent until Lovelace arrived, and now her virtue is in question.
Anna expresses concern for the girl's innocence being compromised by Lovelace.
“He appears to the people as a military man, in disguise, secreting himself on account of a duel fought in town; the adversary’s life in suspense.”
He pretends to be a soldier hiding out because he supposedly wounded someone in a duel, deceiving the locals.
Anna reveals Lovelace's elaborate deception to conceal his true identity and intentions.