Clarissa
Encyclopedia
Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady is an epistolary novel
by Samuel Richardson
, published in 1748
. It tells the tragic story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family, and is the longest real novelA completed work that has been released by a publisher in printed form (excluding self-published works in serial form or in virtual form only.) in the English language
.
ine of Clarissa, is a beautiful and virtuous young lady whose family has become wealthy only in recent years and is now eager to become part of the aristocracy
. Their original plan was to concentrate the wealth and lands of the Harlowes into the possession of Clarissa's brother James Harlowe, whose wealth and political power will lead to his being granted a title. Clarissa's grandfather leaves her a substantial piece of property upon his death and a new route to the nobility opens through Clarissa marrying Robert Lovelace, heir to an earldom. James's response is to provoke a duel with Lovelace, who thereafter is seen as an enemy to the family. James also proposes that Clarissa marry Roger Solmes, who is willing to trade properties with James to concentrate James's holdings and speed his becoming Lord Harlowe. The family agrees and attempts to force Clarissa to marry Solmes, whom she finds physically disgusting as well as boorish.
Desperate to remain free, she begins a correspondence with Lovelace and when her family's campaign to force her marriage is at its height, Lovelace tricks her into eloping with him. Joseph Leman the Harlowes' servant, shouts and makes noise so it may seem like the family has awoken and they have discovered that Clarissa and Lovelace are about to run away
. Scared of the aftermath, Clarissa goes with Lovelace. Clarissa remains Lovelace's prisoner for many months. She is kept at many lodgings and even a brothel
, where the women are disguised as high-status ladies by Lovelace himself. She refuses to marry him on many occasions, longing — unusually for a girl in her time — to live by herself in peace. She eventually runs away but is discovered by Lovelace and is tricked into going back to the brothel.
Lovelace, who means to marry Clarissa in order to avenge the treatment begot to him by the Harlowe family, wants to possess Clarissa's body as well as her mind. He believes that if she loses her virtue
, she will be forced to marry him on any terms. As he is more and more impressed by Clarissa, he finds it difficult to believe that virtuous women do not exist.
The pressure he finds himself under, combined with his growing passion for Clarissa, drives him to extremes and eventually he rape
s her by drugging her. Through this action, Clarissa must accept and marry Lovelace. It is suspected that Mrs. Sinclair (the brothel manager) and the other prostitutes assist Lovelace during the rape.
Lovelace's action backfires and Clarissa is ever more adamantly opposed to marrying a vile and corrupt individual like Lovelace. Eventually, Clarissa manages to escape from the brothel but becomes dangerously ill due to the mental duress she has been under for so many months at the hands of "the vile Lovelace."
Clarissa is sheltered by the kind but poor Smiths and during her sickness she gains another worshipper — John Belford, another libertine
who happens to be Lovelace's best friend. Belford is amazed at the way Clarissa handles her approaching death and laments over what Lovelace has done. In one of the many letters sent to Lovelace he writes that "if the divine Clarissa asks me to slit thy throat, Lovelace, I shall do it in an instance." Eventually, surrounded by strangers and her cousin Col. Morden, Clarissa dies in the full consciousness of her virtue and trusting in a better life after death. Belford manages Clarissa's will and ensures that all her articles and money go into the hands of the individuals she desires should receive them.
Lovelace seems to have moved on but Belford sends him Clarissa's will. He is shattered when he reads it and can live no longer. Col. Morden has gone back to Italy and he knows that there is only one way to atone for his sins. Lovelace asks Morden for a duel (although not directly) and they meet somewhere in Italy. Lovelace fights Morden and keeps on getting injured. He pretends to be not injured and goes after Morden many times — each time receiving another deadly blow. Eventually Morden realizes that he has been injured very badly and might die. The duel ends, Morden leaves and Lovelace is taken to his lodgings. The doctor is unable to do anything and Lovelace dies a day afterwards. Before dying he says "LET THIS EXPIATE!"
Clarissa's relatives finally realise the misery they have caused but discover that they are too late and Clarissa has already died. The book ends with an account of the fate of the other characters.
adapted the novel as a television series
in 1991, starring Sean Bean
and Saskia Wickham
.
Epistolary novel
An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic "documents" such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use...
by Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an 18th-century English writer and printer. He is best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded , Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady and The History of Sir Charles Grandison...
, published in 1748
1748 in literature
The year 1748 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* While in debtor's prison in London, John Cleland writes Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, also known as Fanny Hill, considered the first modern "erotic novel" by some.* Euler’s fifth paper on nautical topics, E137,...
. It tells the tragic story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family, and is the longest real novelA completed work that has been released by a publisher in printed form (excluding self-published works in serial form or in virtual form only.) in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Plot summary
Clarissa Harlowe, the tragic heroTragic hero
A tragic hero is the main character in a tragedy. Tragic heroes appear in the dramatic works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Seneca, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Webster, Marston, Corneille, Racine, Goethe, Schiller, Kleist, Strindberg, and many other writers.-Aristotle's tragic hero:Aristotle...
ine of Clarissa, is a beautiful and virtuous young lady whose family has become wealthy only in recent years and is now eager to become part of the aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
. Their original plan was to concentrate the wealth and lands of the Harlowes into the possession of Clarissa's brother James Harlowe, whose wealth and political power will lead to his being granted a title. Clarissa's grandfather leaves her a substantial piece of property upon his death and a new route to the nobility opens through Clarissa marrying Robert Lovelace, heir to an earldom. James's response is to provoke a duel with Lovelace, who thereafter is seen as an enemy to the family. James also proposes that Clarissa marry Roger Solmes, who is willing to trade properties with James to concentrate James's holdings and speed his becoming Lord Harlowe. The family agrees and attempts to force Clarissa to marry Solmes, whom she finds physically disgusting as well as boorish.
Desperate to remain free, she begins a correspondence with Lovelace and when her family's campaign to force her marriage is at its height, Lovelace tricks her into eloping with him. Joseph Leman the Harlowes' servant, shouts and makes noise so it may seem like the family has awoken and they have discovered that Clarissa and Lovelace are about to run away
Elope
To elope, most literally, merely means to run away with a girl and to not come back to the point of origination. More specifically, elopement is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving hurried flight away from one's place of residence together...
. Scared of the aftermath, Clarissa goes with Lovelace. Clarissa remains Lovelace's prisoner for many months. She is kept at many lodgings and even a brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
, where the women are disguised as high-status ladies by Lovelace himself. She refuses to marry him on many occasions, longing — unusually for a girl in her time — to live by herself in peace. She eventually runs away but is discovered by Lovelace and is tricked into going back to the brothel.
Lovelace, who means to marry Clarissa in order to avenge the treatment begot to him by the Harlowe family, wants to possess Clarissa's body as well as her mind. He believes that if she loses her virtue
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
, she will be forced to marry him on any terms. As he is more and more impressed by Clarissa, he finds it difficult to believe that virtuous women do not exist.
The pressure he finds himself under, combined with his growing passion for Clarissa, drives him to extremes and eventually he rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s her by drugging her. Through this action, Clarissa must accept and marry Lovelace. It is suspected that Mrs. Sinclair (the brothel manager) and the other prostitutes assist Lovelace during the rape.
Clarissa is sheltered by the kind but poor Smiths and during her sickness she gains another worshipper — John Belford, another libertine
Libertine
A libertine is one devoid of most moral restraints, which are seen as unnecessary or undesirable, especially one who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behavior sanctified by the larger society. Libertines, also known as rakes, placed value on physical pleasures, meaning those...
who happens to be Lovelace's best friend. Belford is amazed at the way Clarissa handles her approaching death and laments over what Lovelace has done. In one of the many letters sent to Lovelace he writes that "if the divine Clarissa asks me to slit thy throat, Lovelace, I shall do it in an instance." Eventually, surrounded by strangers and her cousin Col. Morden, Clarissa dies in the full consciousness of her virtue and trusting in a better life after death. Belford manages Clarissa's will and ensures that all her articles and money go into the hands of the individuals she desires should receive them.
Lovelace seems to have moved on but Belford sends him Clarissa's will. He is shattered when he reads it and can live no longer. Col. Morden has gone back to Italy and he knows that there is only one way to atone for his sins. Lovelace asks Morden for a duel (although not directly) and they meet somewhere in Italy. Lovelace fights Morden and keeps on getting injured. He pretends to be not injured and goes after Morden many times — each time receiving another deadly blow. Eventually Morden realizes that he has been injured very badly and might die. The duel ends, Morden leaves and Lovelace is taken to his lodgings. The doctor is unable to do anything and Lovelace dies a day afterwards. Before dying he says "LET THIS EXPIATE!"
Clarissa's relatives finally realise the misery they have caused but discover that they are too late and Clarissa has already died. The book ends with an account of the fate of the other characters.
Characters
- Miss Clarissa Harlowe: title character
- James Harlowe, Sr.: Clarissa's father
- Lady Charlotte Harlowe: Clarissa's mother
- James Harlowe, Jr.: Clarissa's brother, bitter enemy of Robert Lovelace.
- Miss Arabella Harlowe: Clarissa's older sister
- John Harlowe: Clarissa's uncle (her father's elder brother)
- Antony Harlowe: Clarissa's uncle (her father's younger brother)
- Roger Solmes: a wealthy man whom Clarissa's parents wish her to marry
- Mrs. Hervey: Clarissa's mother (Lady Charlotte Harlowe)'s half-sister
- Dolly Hervey: daughter of Mrs. Hervey
- Mrs. Norton: Clarissa's nurse, an unhappy widow
- Colonel Morden: a man of fortune, closely related to the Harlowe family
- Miss Howe: Clarissa's best friend and companion
- Mrs. Howe: the mother of Miss Howe
- Mr. Hickman: Miss Howe's suitor
- Dr. Lewin: one of Clarissa's educators, a divine of great piety and learning
- Dr. H: a physician
- Mr. Elias Brand: young clergyman
- Robert Lovelace: the villainVillainA villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
and pursuer of Clarissa - John Belford: a close friend of Mr. Lovelace
- Lord M.: Mr. Lovelace's uncle
- Lady Sarah Sadleir: half-sister of Lord M., widow, lady of honour and fortune
- Lady Betty Lawrance: half-sister of Lord M., widow, lady of honour and fortune
- Miss Charlotte: niece of Lord M., maiden lady of character
- Patty Montague: niece of Lord M., maiden lady of character
- Richard Mowbray: libertine, gentleman, companions of Mr. Lovelace
- Thomas Doleman: libertine, gentleman, companions of Mr. Lovelace
- James Tourville: libertine, gentleman, companions of Mr. Lovelace
- Thomas Belton: libertine, gentleman, companions of Mr. Lovelace
- Capt. Tomlinson: the assume named of a pander that aids Mr. Lovelace
- Mrs. Moore: a widowed gentlewomanGentlewomanA gentlewoman in the original and strict sense is a woman of good family, analogous to the Latin generosus and generosa...
, keeping a lodging-house at Hampstead - Miss Rawlins: a notable young gentlewoman in Hampstead
- Mrs. Bevis: a lively widow in Hampstead
- Mrs. Sinclair: the pretended name of a private brothel keeper in London
- Sally Martin: assistant of, and partner with, Mrs. Sinclair
- Polly Horton: assistant of, and partner with, Mrs. Sinclair
- Joseph Leman: servant
- William Summers: servant
- Hannah Burton: servant
- Betty Barnes: servant
- Dorcas Wykes: servant
Television adaptations
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
adapted the novel as a television series
Clarissa (TV series)
Clarissa is a 1991 British period drama television series starring Sean Bean, Saskia Wickham and Lynsey Baxter. It aired on the BBC in three hour-long episodes between 27 November and 11 December 1991. It was based on the 1749 novel Clarissa by Samuel Richardson....
in 1991, starring Sean Bean
Sean Bean
Shaun Mark "Sean" Bean is an English film and stage actor. Bean is best known for playing Boromir in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and, previously, British Colonel Richard Sharpe in the ITV television series Sharpe...
and Saskia Wickham
Saskia Wickham
Saskia Wickham is a British actress best known for playing Dr. Erica Matthews in the ITV television drama series Peak Practice between 1996 and 1998.She is daughter of the British actor Jeffrey Wickham....
.
See also
- Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded
- Sir Charles Grandison
- Eneas Sweetland DallasEneas Sweetland DallasEneas Sweetland Dallas was a Scottish journalist and author.- Biography :E.S. Dallas was the elder son of John Dallas of Jamaica, a planter of Scottish parentage, and his wife Elizabeth , the daughter of the Rev. Angus McIntosh of Tain and sister of Rev. Caldor McIntosh...
(editor of a well-known 1868 abridged version of Clarissa.)
External links
- Japanese translation
- Clarissa at Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...
- A version currently in print ISBN 0140432159