Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 132: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe explained
Anna Howe warns Clarissa that her brother James plans to find her, waylay her, and have her taken by ship to a remote house, while also pursuing a prosecution against Lovelace.
What happens
Anna Howe warns Clarissa that her brother James plans to find her, waylay her, and have her taken by ship to a remote house, while also pursuing a prosecution against Lovelace. Anna advises Clarissa to inform Lovelace of the plot but to keep Miss Lloyd's name secret. She also recounts a quarrel with her mother over the correspondence, during which her mother slapped her hands, and notes that Mr. Hickman has secretly sent money to Hannah Burton and supports the correspondence.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Clarissa, desp…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Family Obligation and Rebellion
Anna's defiance of her mother's command to end the correspondence highlights the tension between filial duty and personal loyalty to a friend.
- Friendship and Loyalty
Anna risks her mother's anger to maintain her correspondence with Clarissa, demonstrating steadfast friendship.
Characters to notice
- Anna Howe
Writes to warn Clarissa of her brother's plot; describes her conflict with her mother over the correspondence, including being slapped.
- Clarissa Harlowe
The recipient of the warning; Anna urges her to be cautious and to consider marrying Lovelace for safety.
- James Harlowe Jr.
Plans to find Clarissa, waylay her, and have her taken by ship to a remote house; also intends to prosecute Lovelace.
- Robert Lovelace
Target of the prosecution plot; Anna suggests Clarissa inform him of the danger but keep his temper.
- Mr. Hickman
Secretly sent two guineas to Hannah Burton; supports the correspondence between Anna and Clarissa; praised by Anna for his charity.
Key passages
“Your brother having been assured that you are not married, has taken a resolution to find you out, waylay you, and carry you off.”
Your brother, convinced you are still unmarried, has decided to track you down, ambush you, and abduct you.
Anna warns Clarissa of James's plan to forcibly take her.
“My mother thought fit to slap my hands to get from me a sheet of a letter she caught me writing to you; which I tore, because she should not read it, and burnt it before her face.”
My mother slapped my hands to seize a letter I was writing to you; I tore it up and burned it rather than let her read it.
Anna describes the physical altercation with her mother over the correspondence.
