description Clarissa Overview
Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady is a 1748 epistolary novel by English author Samuel Richardson. Told through letters between characters, the novel explores the story of Clarissa Harlowe, a virtuous young woman from a middle-class family who is pursued and eventually violated by Robert Lovelace. At approximately 969,000 words, it is one of the longest novels in English literature and is considered a masterpiece of early psychological realism. The novel's detailed exploration of moral virtue, family obligation, and gender roles in 18th-century England influenced many later writers including Jane Austen and the Romantic poets.
help Clarissa FAQ
Why does Clarissa refuse to marry Roger Solmes?
The Harlowe family pressures Clarissa to accept Solmes because the match would strengthen its property and social ambitions. Her refusal deepens the conflict that makes her vulnerable to Robert Lovelace's manipulation.
Who writes the letters in Clarissa?
The principal correspondents are Clarissa Harlowe, her friend Anna Howe, Lovelace and his friend John Belford. Their competing letters let readers compare claims, motives and self-deceptions without a single neutral narrator.
Why is Samuel Richardson's Clarissa so long?
Richardson tells the story through an extensive exchange of letters that records events and psychological reactions almost as they occur. The novel was published in volumes in 1747 and 1748 and is among the longest major novels in English.
Does Clarissa marry Lovelace after leaving her family?
No, Lovelace confines, deceives and ultimately rapes Clarissa, destroying any prospect of reconciliation. Her refusal to legitimize his violence through marriage is central to the novel's moral and psychological conflict.
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