Obliquities
- indirectness or deliberate obscurity of speech or conduct
Perusal
– to consider with attention and in detail
Approbation
– approval, commendation
Premeditated
– Clarissa refuses to claim to be in a marriage if it a false claim. In this manner, Clarissa recognizes that
Lovelace had plotted and schemed to make Lovelace and herself appear
married. However, it is unclear if Clarissa
understands the full extent to which Lovelace went to create the illusion of
marriage.
Veracity
– devotion to the truth
Women…you
and me – Clarissa is often described as self-righteous and pretentious. Clarissa does classify herself into a
particular plateau of the social hierarchy, yet many critics debate if Clarissa
is self-righteous or just a product of her social class and situation.
Take
place – This is another failed attempt on the part of Lovelace to get Clarissa
to marry him. Lovelace tries appealing
to Clarissa’s sympathies, implying that if she should marry him, there might be
a better chance of reconciling with her family.
Avoid
it – Many individuals believe that Clarissa is very vain. This statement would support this belief.
Dishonorable
view – Honor is another key issue that runs throughout the text. There are many
different angles and perspectives in which to examine the theme of honor in Clarissa. One could examine Clarissa’s idea of honor,
the pride of her brother James, Lovelace’s pride, Bedford’s reactions to
Lovelace’s plots, or the actions of some of the minor characters of the story.
Made
a friend – Clarissa believes Tomlinson to be good and virtuous. Unfortunately, Clarissa is deceived, as she
does not yet know his true character.
More
proper name – Lovelace’s character and the depth and magnitude of his schemes
are again revealed in a letter to Bedford.
Satiety
- the quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity. Lovelace reveals that he will be overly
satisfied once he has finally achieved his goal of conquering Clarissa. The underlying conflict of conquest versus
love is present throughout the text, shaping the character of Lovelace.
Scheme
– Lovelace realizes that Clarissa and Anna Howe are plotting for Clarissa’s
escape, enhancing Lovelace’s mistrust of Anna Howe.
Dead
yet – Lord M, Lovelace’s uncle who is gravely ill. Lord M. wishes Lovelace to marry and become an honest man.
Wisdom of nations – this term is currently associated with business
and economic management, government, language, and even proverbs. Gideon Wurdz, in his preface to The
Foolish Dictionary states, “In this age of the arduous pursuit of peace,
prosperity and pleasure, the smallest contribution to the gaiety, if not to the
wisdom, of nations can scarcely be unwelcome.”
Richardson’s meaning is unclear, as the phrase has multiple meanings,
allowing the reader to formulate his own ideas.
F.R.
Leavis – A comment on Richardson and Clarissa from Leavis’s The Great
Tradition
“Richardson’s
strength in the analysis of emotional and moral states is in any case a matter
or common acceptance; and Clarissa is a really impressive work. But it’s no use pretending that Richardson
can ever be a current classic again.
The substance of interest that he has to offer is in its own way
extremely limited in range and variety and the demand he makes on the reader’s
time is in proportion – and absolutely- so immense as to be found, in general,
prohibitive.