Clarissa Harlowe

Clarissa Harlowe is the protagonist, an eighteen-year-old young lady, who is renowned for her virtue, prudence and piety. About half the story is told through her correspondence with her best friend, Miss Howe. Clarissa is the youngest child of the Harlowes and is a favorite with her parents and uncles. Her grandfather also favored her and left her his entire estate in his will, provoking the jealousy of her brother and older sister. This jealousy is the cause of the misfortunes that befall Clarissa throughout this work. Clarissa is very intelligent and has been raised and taught much by her nurse, Mrs. Norton. Clarissa has refused several suitors before this novel begins and would prefer to live single upon her estate with Mrs. Norton, if her family would permit it. She enjoys writing and spends all her free time in correspondence and in writing meditations, particularly of...