Clarissa, or, The History of a Young Lady

Pressured by her unscrupulous family to marry a wealthy man she detests, the young Clarissa Harlowe is tricked into fleeing with the witty and debonair Robert Lovelace and places herself under his protection. Lovelace, however, proves himself to be an untrustworthy rake whose vague promises of marriage are accompanied by unwelcome and increasingly brutal sexual advances.

Clarissa, or, The History of a Young Lady is an epistolary novel by Samuel Richardson, first published in 1747–1748. One of the longest novels in the English language, it tells the tragic story of Clarissa Harlowe, a virtuous young woman whose pursuit of autonomy and true happiness clashes with the oppressive and controlling desires of her family.

Clarissa's family attempts to force her into a marriage with a wealthy man she despises, pushing her toward the manipulative and charming libertine, Robert Lovelace. Despite initially appearing as a possible escape from her family's constraints, Lovelace reveals himself as a ruthless and morally corrupt figure, leading Clarissa into a spiral of exploitation and abuse. Through its intricate portrayal of psychological manipulation, sexual violence, and social power dynamics, the novel explores themes of virtue, gender roles, individual agency, and moral redemption.

Richardson's use of letters as the narrative form gives readers direct insight into the thoughts, emotions, and motives of each character, making it a powerful, intimate, and emotionally intense reading experience. Clarissa is considered one of the greatest works of English literature and a landmark in the development of the novel form.

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