Clarissa · Character
James Harlowe Jr.
Clarissa's elder brother, whose jealousy of her talents and resentment of Lovelace harden into the family's most relentless campaign against her.
supporting
Also known as Mr. James Harlowe, James, James Harlowe, Brother, Son James
First appearance: Clarissa
As a supporting figure in Clarissa, James Harlowe Jr. is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Clarissa's brother, who aggressively pressures her to marry Solmes to advance the family's fortunes.
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James is the son and heir who cannot bear being outshone, and his grudge against Lovelace becomes a grudge against the sister who once drew his rival's attention. He leads the charge at her return, accusing her of…
James is the son and heir who cannot bear being outshone, and his grudge against Lovelace becomes a grudge against the sister who once drew his rival's attention. He leads the charge at her return, accusing her of disobedience and pushing the family toward the Solmes match as a matter of control. His mother's letter fears he may 'come to some harm' — a sign of how much the household's violence runs through him.
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- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Clarissa, desp…
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James Harlowe Jr. appears across 111 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Clarissa
- Letter 1: Miss Anna Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
- Letter 3: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
- Letter 4: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
- Letter 5: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
- Letter 6: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
- Letter 7: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
- Letter 8: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
- +103 more
Clarissa
Clarissa's brother, who aggressively pressures her to marry Solmes to advance the family's fortunes.
Letter 1: Miss Anna Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Clarissa's brother, wounded in a duel with Lovelace; described as having a fierce and uncontrollable temper.
Letter 3: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Expresses strong dislike of Lovelace in a letter to his father, influencing Mr. Harlowe's hesitation.
Letter 4: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Returns from Scotland and expresses strong disapproval of Lovelace, reigniting family tensions.
Letter 5: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Described as haughty, ill-tempered, and caballing with Arabella against Clarissa.
Letter 6: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Still resentful over his injury, he rudely interrupts and insists Clarissa must not see Lovelace, showing his controlling nature.
Letter 7: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Leads the attack against Clarissa, accusing her of encouraging Lovelace and pushing for Solmes.
Letter 8: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's brother who enforces the family's will, delivers the prohibition on correspondence, and treats Clarissa with scorn.
Letter 9: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's brother; she blames him for manipulating their father and for the family's harsh measures.
Letter 10: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Anna criticizes his arrogance and temper, noting that his pride has made him intolerable.
Letter 12: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Mentioned as setting spies on Lovelace and plotting against him.
Letter 13: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's brother, who opposes Lovelace to protect his inheritance and ambitions for a peerage.
Letter 14: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Has confederated the family against Clarissa and is pushing the Solmes match.
Letter 15: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Described as having an ascendant influence over the family and being a slave to his own interest, working to ruin Clarissa.
Letter 16: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Displays insulting airs and orchestrates the family pressure by leaving Clarissa alone with Solmes.
Letter 17: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa blames her brother's 'grasping views' for the family's insistence on Solmes, and he is noted for his rancour and defiance toward Lovelace.
Letter 18: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Referenced as the architect of the plan against Clarissa, which she has tried but failed to obtain a copy of.
Letter 19: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's brother, whose ambition drives the push for her marriage to Solmes.
Letter 20: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
James is mentioned as an instigator, driving the family's pressure on Clarissa through his ambitions and influence.
Letter 21: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Mentioned as having returned with Clarissa's father; he is part of the family council that decides Clarissa's fate.
Letter 22: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Assumes control over Clarissa, denying her request to attend church and writing a contemptuous reply.
Letter 24: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Writes the letter of confinement by command of their parents, asserting his influence over Clarissa's punishment.
Letter 25: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Implied as the instigator behind the family's harsh measures; Clarissa blames him for her troubles.
Letter 29: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa writes him a letter of expostulation; he replies harshly, accusing her of being in love with Lovelace and threatening to be neither friend nor brother.
Letter 31: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Clarissa's brother; Lovelace blames him for introducing Solmes and plots revenge against him.
Letter 32: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa criticizes his behavior, noting he has not treated her in a brotherly manner and should not be entitled to more than civility.
Letter 33: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Writes a scathing letter to Clarissa, blaming her for the family conflict and vowing to prevent her marriage to Lovelace.
Letter 36: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Blamed by Lovelace for inflaming the family against Clarissa and for the scheme to force her into marriage.
Letter 37: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Referenced as part of Clarissa's 'wise relations' and persecutors, along with her sister.
Letter 39: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
James is the primary antagonist in this letter, dominating the family's强硬 stance, insulting Mrs. Norton, and insisting on Clarissa's absolute submission.
Letter 41: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Advises turning Clarissa out of the house and seeks control over her management.
Letter 42: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Sends a harsh letter rejecting Clarissa's proposals, threatening to retire to Scotland if his plans are not carried out.
Letter 45: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Blamed by Clarissa for forcing the marriage measure and for his furious temper.
Letter 47: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Described as an insolent bully and a coward among men; Anna criticizes his treatment of Clarissa and his arrogance.
Letter 50: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Writes the letter conveying the family's resolution; uses pedantic and insulting language; Clarissa accuses him of instigating the harsh treatment.
Letter 51: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Writes a more moderate letter to Clarissa at the family's behest, but she accuses him of misrepresenting her and undermining her position.
Letter 52: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Author of the harsh letter to Clarissa, accusing her of artfulness and demanding her submission.
Letter 53: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Overheard laughing with Solmes and Arabella; receives Clarissa's challenging letter and is said to have written a 'choke-pear' letter to her.
Letter 55: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Mentioned as having ascendancy over the family and as the target of Lovelace's threats; Clarissa reproaches Anna for severe reflections on him.
Letter 57: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's brother; she references his unkindness and insolent questions.
Letter 61: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Sends a harsh, dismissive letter to Clarissa, commanding her to prepare to go to their uncle Antony's, and mocking her proposal as unworthy of a particular answer.
Letter 64: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Blamed by Clarissa for the family conflict, described as ambitious and violent.
Letter 69: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Implied as a source of envy and pressure, contributing to Clarissa's 'foaming billows'.
Letter 75: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Walks arm-in-arm with Arabella in the garden, displaying good humor and asking for poultry for Scotland.
Letter 77: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's brother, whom she accuses of orchestrating the family's manipulation against her.
Letter 78: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Aggressively supports Solmes and berates Clarissa, showing his manipulative and controlling nature.
Letter 79: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Forces Clarissa into a room with Solmes and physically restrains her when she tries to leave.
Letter 80: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Explicitly given authority over Clarissa by her father; part of the plot to force her to marry Solmes.
Letter 82: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
James is blamed as the instigating brother who, along with Arabella, has driven Clarissa into her current misery.
Letter 83: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Gloats with Arabella about the plot to trap Clarissa, saying 'The villain is caught in his own trap!'
Letter 85: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Cruelly remarks that cold cannot hurt Clarissa and that obstinacy will defend her, showing his hostility.
Letter 86: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Mentioned as having said 'cold is a bracer' regarding the Ivy Summerhouse.
Letter 91: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Criticized by Clarissa for his cunning and pride; she suspects he is behind the family's surveillance.
Letter 93: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Mentioned as having his ends achieved by Clarissa's elopement.
Letter 102: To Miss Arabella Harlowe
Mentioned as the brother who precipitated Clarissa's actions.
Letter 103: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Mentioned as part of the family that continues to rage and persecute Clarissa.
Letter 106: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Described as having a face that shows fear; Lovelace imagines his cowardice.
Letter 113: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Identified as one of the employers who originally bribed Leman to spy on Lovelace.
Letter 114: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Lovelace had threatened him, but now claims it was only pleasantry.
Letter 115: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Mentioned as 'this foolish brother' and as a target of Lovelace's menaces.
Letter 129: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa's hard-hearted brother, whom she blames for her uncle's cruel insinuations.
Letter 132: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Plans to find Clarissa, waylay her, and have her taken by ship to a remote house; also intends to prosecute Lovelace.
Letter 135: Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Mentioned as likely to triumph over Clarissa if she returns home.
Letter 137: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Devises a scheme to kidnap Clarissa using Captain Singleton.
Letter 139: To Robert Lovelace, Esq. His Honner
Reported by Leman to be plotting revenge with Captain Singleton, using violent language against Lovelace.
Letter 140: Mr. Lovelace, to Joseph Leman
Mentioned as having 'black, pitch-like blood' and being vengeful; Lovelace plans to use Singleton to exploit James's desire for revenge.
Letter 142: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Mentioned as plotting against Clarissa and Lovelace; Anna mocks his half-witted schemes.
Letter 145: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Clarissa suspects her brother orchestrated the harsh method of presenting her to assembled friends to force her submission.
Letter 147: To Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Vows revenge upon Lovelace and declares he will treat Clarissa like a common creature.
Letter 151: From Miss Howe
Alarmed by the prospect of a change in measures, he and Arabella resolved to push Clarissa into an inexcusable step.
Letter 152: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
His Singleton plot is abandoned by family request, but Lovelace considers using it for his own ends.
Letter 158: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe
Mentioned as the pretext for Lovelace's return, with his 'projects' used as an excuse.
Letter 164: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Mentioned as being absent and possibly involved with Singleton; his 'wise project' is uncertain.
Letter 177: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Anna reports that Clarissa's brother has not abandoned his foolish plot, as evidenced by a sailor-like fellow seeking access to Clarissa under the pretense of Captain Singleton's service.
Letter 189: Mr. Belford, to Robert Lovelace, Esq.
Mentioned as Lovelace's inveterate enemy, whose purposes Lovelace unwittingly serves.
Letter 191: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Called a 'vile instrument' by Lovelace, who vows to see him and his sister undone.
Letter 204: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Implied as the possible source of the inquiry about Lovelace and Clarissa.
Letter 216: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Mentioned as a potential threat who seeks to keep the family breach open and get Clarissa out of Lovelace's hands.
Letter 221: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Mentioned as continuing to plot against Lovelace, seeking to find where they are living.
Letter 233: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Described as furious and uncontrollable, opposing any reconciliation with Clarissa without general consent.
Letter 300: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Mrs. Judith Norton
Clarissa inquires about a possible journey of her brother with Captain Singleton and Mr. Solmes.
Letter 301: Mrs. Norton
Mentioned as possibly setting out for his northern estates, but no recent confirmation.
Letter 376: Mrs. Harlowe, to Mrs. Judith Norton
Mentioned as a potential threat to seek out Lovelace if Mrs. Harlowe opposes the family's stance.
Letter 378: Miss Ar. Harlowe, to Miss Cl. Harlowe
Sent to Edinburgh by his father to prevent a confrontation with Lovelace.
Letter 382: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Mrs. Norton
Mentioned as being in Edinburgh; Clarissa suspects he renewed the family's confederacy against her.
Letter 406: Mr. Antony Harlowe, to Miss Cl. Harlowe
Mentioned as having gone to Edinburgh and having prognosticated that Clarissa would apply to the family when she knew not how to help it.
Letter 407: Miss Cl. Harlowe, to Antony Harlowe, Esq.
Mentioned as Clarissa's brother; she prays for God to forgive him and protect him from his violent temper.
Letter 427: The Rev. Dr. Lewen, to Miss Cl. Harlowe
Mentioned as a potential participant in violence with Lovelace if Clarissa does not prosecute.
Letter 428: Miss Cl. Harlowe, to the Rev. Dr. Lewen
Referenced as part of the family whose inveteracy against Lovelace would have been heightened by a trial.
Letter 432: Mrs. Norton, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Blamed for forming an abominable league that prevents the family from reconciling with Clarissa.
Letter 459: Mrs. Norton, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Opposes reconciliation, insults Mrs. Norton, and provokes Colonel Morden into leaving.
Letter 472: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Mentioned as part of the confederacy against Clarissa, intended to disgrace and keep her down.
Letter 483: Mrs. Norton, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Among the foremost to seek reconciliation, but declares he will never call Lovelace brother.
Letter 485: To His Dear Niece, Miss Clarissa Harlowe
Mentioned as one of the family members who now talk of seeing Clarissa in town.
Letter 486: Mr. Belford, to Robert Lovelace, Esq.
Recipient of Colonel Morden's letter about Clarissa's death and burial request.
Letter 489: To the Ever-Honoured Mrs. Harlowe
Mentioned alongside Arabella as one whose future marriage may bring satisfaction to their parents.
Letter 490: To James Harlowe, Jun. Esq.
Addressee of the letter; Clarissa appeals to him to forgive her, avoid revenge against Lovelace, and control his violent temper.
Letter 494: Mr. Belford, to Robert Lovelace, Esq.
Writes a letter to Colonel Morden expressing the family's grief and confusion, and requesting Clarissa's body be sent home.
Letter 500: Colonel Morden, to John Belford, Esq.
Shows remorse and is subdued by guilt; blamed by others for keeping up resentment.
Letter 501: Colonel Morden
Expresses bitterness and vows revenge on Lovelace; opposes Belford as executor.
Letter 502: Colonel Morden
Mentioned as having spoken with Colonel Morden about what passed between them.
Letter 504: Colonel Morden
Attends the funeral but does not descend into the vault.
Letter 505: Mr. Belford, to William Morden, Esq.
Mentioned as someone Belford intends to convince of his resolve to execute the will fully.
Letter 506: Mr. James Harlowe, to John Belford, Esq.
Writes to Belford, pressing him to give up the executorship of Clarissa's will to the family.
Letter 507: Mr. Belford, to Mr. James Harlowe, Jun. Esq.
Recipient of the letter; brother of Clarissa.
Letter 508: Colonel Morden, to John Belford, Esq.
Looks down during the reading; reproached by his father; shows himself a 'true will disputant' by grudging bequests.
Letter 517: Mr. Belford, to Colonel Morden
Mentioned as recipient of one of Clarissa's posthumous letters, which Belford sends to Morden.
Letter 518: To Col. Morden
Clarissa's brother, mentioned as one she hopes will be reconciled to her.
Letter 519: Colonel Morden, to John Belford, Esq.
Mentioned as the son whose fierce temper makes him unfit to confront Lovelace, though he resolves to do so if Morden does not.
Letter 534: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.
Lovelace instructs Belford to inform him of his planned return to England.
Conclusion
Marries a woman with a lawsuit; lives miserably, attributes his misfortunes to his cruel treatment of Clarissa, and annually mourns her on September 7th.
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