Clarissa

Name: Clarissa
Author: Samuel Richardson

By Samuel Richardson

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About This Book

Told through letters, the narrative traces the ordeal of a virtuous young woman as family pressure and a determined seducer produce a prolonged moral and psychological struggle. Correspondence among relatives, friends, and adversaries records attempts at control, manipulation, failed alliances, and the heroine's anguished resistance, while the seducer pursues revenge and escalating immorality. The epistolary form creates close psychological realism and dramatic immediacy, allowing competing voices to reveal motives and consequences. Themes include personal autonomy, sexual politics, conscience, repentance, and the moral costs of pride and manipulation, culminating in a tragic resolution that emphasizes ethical reflection over neat reconciliation.

About the Author

Samuel Richardson

Samuel Richardson was an influential English novelist and a key figure in the development of the novel as a literary form. He is best known for his epistolary novels, which explore themes of virtue, morality, and social class. His most notable works include "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded," which tells the story of a young maid's struggle to maintain her virtue against the advances of her master, and "Clarissa," a complex narrative that delves into the life and trials of a young woman facing societal pressures. Richardson's writing is characterized by its psychological depth and intricate character development, making significant contributions to the literary heritage of the 18th century.