# Miss Patty Montague — Clarissa character guide

> Miss Patty Montague in Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Patty Montague, Patty, Martha Montague, Miss Martha Montague

**First appearance:** 0001-clarissa

## Snapshot

Lovelace's other cousin, another respectable Montague name he dangles before Clarissa whenever he needs the appearance of family sanction.

## Who they are

Patty Montague, sometimes called Martha, belongs to the same Montague household as Charlotte and shares her reputation for virtue. Lovelace invokes both cousins together when he wants Clarissa to believe that his family will receive her, and Clarissa's wary response — she cannot wish to see them, she says, even if they come to plead for him — shows how little weight those names actually carry with her. The Montague cousins matter less as individuals than as a measure of Lovelace's method: he surrounds himself with honorable women whose honor he can borrow without ever letting them near enough to interfere.

## In the story

### [Letter 88: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-88-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-miss-howe)

Considered as a possible companion but deemed too low-spirited and timorous by Lovelace.

### [Letter 285: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-285-mr-lovelace-to-john-belford-esq)

Also mentioned as a 'noble' relation, alongside Charlotte, in contrast to other relatives Lovelace distrusts.

### [Letter 321: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-321-mr-lovelace-to-john-belford-esq)

Lovelace's other cousin; present during the flirtatious exchange and also addressed by Lovelace.

### [Letter 322: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-322-mr-lovelace-to-john-belford-esq)

Lovelace's cousin Patty is mentioned alongside Charlotte as being late to breakfast.

### [Letter 323: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-323-mr-lovelace-to-john-belford-esq)

Shows soft emotion at Lovelace's apparent seriousness; her eyes glisten with pleasure.

### [Letter 327: Miss Howe, to Miss Clarissa Harlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-327-miss-howe-to-miss-clarissa-harlowe)

Accompanies her sister to Anna's house to present the family's offer.

### [Letter 332: Miss Montague, to Miss Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-332-miss-montague-to-miss-howe)

Co-signs the letter; described as Lovelace's favorite sister.

### [Letter 359: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss Howe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-359-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-miss-howe)

The other Miss Montague involved in the family's interposition on Lovelace's behalf.

### [Letter 373: Miss Howe, to the Two Misses Montague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-373-miss-howe-to-the-two-misses-montague)

Co-recipient of the letter, addressed along with her sister.

### [Letter 398: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Lord M. and to the Ladies of His House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-398-miss-clarissa-harlowe-to-lord-m-and-to-the-ladies-of-his-house)

Another lady of the house; Clarissa includes her in her address.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/characters/miss_patty_montague
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clarissa_se/characters