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Clarissa · Character

Mrs. Harlowe

Clarissa's mother, a woman whose genuine tenderness for her daughter is slowly crushed beneath the family's collective rage and her own fear of scandal.

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Harlowe, Harlowe, Madam

First appearance: clarissa

As a supporting figure in Clarissa, Mrs. Harlowe is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mother of Clarissa and Arabella; Lovelace is noted to have been more solicitous of her opinion than of Arabella's.
In the storyLetter 2: Miss Clarissa Harlowe, to Miss HoweOpen this moment free

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Mrs. Harlowe once defended Clarissa, saying no fortune could make Solmes worthy of her, yet she has been 'brought over' to the family's coercive plan. In her letter to Mrs. Norton she admits she must 'sail with the…

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The fuller portrait of Mrs. Harlowe sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

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Character Web

53 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Harlowe sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

CHClarissa HarloweMTMrs. TownsendMLMrs. LeesonMTMr. TomkinsMFMrs. FretchvilleMHMrs. Harlowe

Relationship types

  • Family
  • Other

Character groups

  • Major characters and antagonists
  • Protagonist
  • Minor characters and background figures

+48 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • 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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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Mrs. Harlowe appears across 56 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mrs. Harlowe in clarissa