LETTER 99 Commentary

Lovelace refers to Clarissa as both a goddess and a “foolish little rogue.”  He promises to tell his friend Belford as much detail as possible about his elaborate scheming.  Lovelace is clearly interested in dominance of Clarissa in this relationship.  He tends to see women as contradictory and since Clarissa is fairly consistent, Lovelace is driven mad.  His traits of dominance, obsession, and possession do not fall into Clarissa’s deal male figure who is intelligent, moral and protective.  Her naivety both helps and hurts Lovelace.  He is able to get Clarissa to believe things she doesn’t know better not to, but he is also frustrated at her lack of experience that causes her to not fit his general mold of other more-worldly women.-AD