Letter 9 Commentary

Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe

Clarissa plans to correspond clandestinely by hiding her letters in the wall by the chicken coop after her family forbids her to write any more letters.  She disobeys her family’s wishes and corresponds with her dear and trusted friend Miss Howe.  Clarissa refuses to be completely controlled by her family and goes against their wishes when she disobeys them.  Clarissa does not openly challenge her family, but instead secretly breaks the rules they have set for her.  She is a strong willed young woman who tests her boundaries with her family.  Clarissa values her freedom to write letters.  It is her way of expressing herself.  She also values her friend Miss Howe and what she has to say.  This is why exchanging letters is so important to Clarissa and it is why she disobeys her family.