I have found out by my watchful spy almost as many of my charmer’s motions, as those of the rest of her relations. It delights me to think how the rascal is caressed by the uncles and nephew; and let into their secrets; yet it proceeds all the time by my line of direction. I have charged him, however, on forfeiture of his present weekly stipend, and my future favour, to take care, that neither my beloved, nor any of the family suspect him: I have told him that he may indeed watch her egresses and regresses; but that only keep off other servants from her paths; yet not to be seen by her himself. . . .
There never was a rogue, who had not a salvo to himself for being so.—What a praise to honesty, that every man pretends to it, even at the instant that he knows he is pursuing the methods that will perhaps prove him a knave to the whole world, as well as to his own conscience!
But what this stupid family can mean, to make all this necessary, I cannot imagine. My REVENGE and my LOVE are uppermost by turns. If the latter succeed not, the gratifying of the former will be my only consolation: and, by all that’s good, they shall feel it; although for it I become an exile from my native country for ever.
I will throw myself into my charmer’s presence. I have twice already attempted it in vain. I shall then see what I may depend upon from her favour. If I thought I had no prospect of that, I should be tempted to carry her off. That would be a rape worthy of Jupiter!
But all gentle shall be my movements: all respectful, even to reverence, my address to her—her hand shall be the only witness to the pressure of my lip—my trembling lip: I know it will tremble, if I do not bid it tremble. As soft my sighs, as the sighs of my gentle Rose-bud. By my humility will I invite her confidence: the loneliness of the place shall give me no advantage: to dissipate her fears, and engage her reliance upon my honour for the future, shall be my whole endeavour: but little will I complain of, not at all will I threaten, those who are continually threatening me. . . . .:
Do we learn more about Lovelace here?
I think this is one of the early moments where we get a glimpse into Lovelace’s true character, deepest desire: conquest at any cost.“I will throw myself into my charmer's presence. I have twice already attempted it in vain. I shall then see what I may depend upon from her favour. If I thought I had no prospect of that, I should be tempted to carry her off. That would be a rape worthy of Jupiter!”Lovelace tells Belford—commits it to writing—that the only reason he does not resort to kidnapping and raping Clarissa outright is that he is waiting to “win her over,” making her a greater conquest by choice than she would’ve been by force.I am trying to follow this throughout the novel (because it seems to last quite a while): the value of individual choice (considering the shift away from agrarian society and toward a middle class mentality). His choice to do as he wishes, despite his family’s wishes or those of Clarissa’s family or even Clarissa herself. And her choice to do as she wishes, despite her family’s desires, Anna’s own urgings, and the maze of deception laid out by Lovelace & co.
I absolutely agree with you Rachel. I like the way you framed Lovelace’s character as one who desires conquest. The quote you point to is particularly telling. The idea that Lovelace envies Jupiter and seeks to follow his lead in amorous encounters made me stop and take notice. His statement here leads me to believe that his intentions with Clarissa and other young women are much more devious than the thrill of pursuing a woman. He has moved from describing his intentions toward Clarissa as “a game” in letter 31 to “a rape worthy of Jupiter” in letter 35. It seems less and less that he would be satisfied with having Clarissa as a wife, even if those appear to be his plans from the perspectives of Clarissa, Anna, and the populace at large. I can almost believe that he really does love Clarissa and want what is best for her, but then these chapters come around, and I get incredibly nervous. I vaguely know what is coming in the rest of the novel, but these passages still make me worry for Clarissa and what she’ll be facing in the coming pages! In addition, I think the idea of individual choice is very interesting. I had thought about it a bit, but only in terms of Clarissa's wishes for marriage. No one listens to her, especially Solmes and Lovelace who she asks to stop their pursuit of her but who refuse.
It takes a lot of brass to compare yourself to Jupiter.
Megan said "I can almost believe that he really does love Clarissa and want what is best for her, but then these chapters come around, and I get incredibly nervous."I think we are made aware very early of the complexity (and inconsistency) of Lovelace's feelings for Clarissa.
I agree. I also think that his particular comment of "a rape worthy of Jupiter" highlights Lovelace's superiority complex and delusions of being some sort of tragic romantic hero. The only reason he spares his "Rosebud" is because her grandmother recognized his superiority by asking him to not corrupt her granddaughter. Clarissa's hesitance with him only adds to this superiority complex and his insistence that she is an angel. After all, why would he want such a base creature that would so easily comply with him? The revenge is an important factor, but it is just icing on the cake for him. The whole thing is a game for Lovelace. He is taking delight in the hunt as he waits for his prey.