Clarissa · Chapter
Letter 352: Miss Arabella Harlowe explained
Arabella Harlowe responds to Anna Howe's letter regarding Clarissa's illness, expressing the family's lack of sympathy and blaming Clarissa for her own misfortunes.
What happens
Arabella Harlowe responds to Anna Howe's letter regarding Clarissa's illness, expressing the family's lack of sympathy and blaming Clarissa for her own misfortunes. She rebukes Anna for criticizing the Harlowe family's stance.
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 Rising action.
- 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
Arabella's letter underscores the family's rigid stance against Clarissa's rebellion, viewing her suffering as just punishment.
- Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Arabella dismisses reports of Lovelace's remorse as unbelievable, highlighting the family's distrust of appearances.
Characters to notice
- Arabella Harlowe
Writes a cold reply to Anna Howe, dismissing Clarissa's suffering as deserved and defending the family's resentment.
- Anna Howe
Recipient of Arabella's letter; had notified the Harlowes of Clarissa's illness.
- Clarissa Harlowe
Referred to as 'the unhappy body' whose illness the family foretold and expected.
- Robert Lovelace
Mentioned as the one for whose sake Clarissa abandoned her family; Arabella doubts his remorse or willingness to marry her.
Key passages
“All that has happened to the unhappy body you mentioned, is what we foretold and expected.”
Everything that has befallen Clarissa is exactly what we predicted and anticipated.
Arabella expresses the family's lack of surprise or sympathy for Clarissa's illness.
“Let him, for whose sake she abandoned us, be her comfort.”
Let Lovelace, the man for whom she left us, be the one to comfort her.
Arabella coldly directs Clarissa to rely on Lovelace, not her family.
