Remarks on Clarissa (1749)
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intimately acquainted with all the _Harlows_, as if I had known themfrom my Infancy; and if I was to receive a Letter from any one of them,I am sure I should not want the Name to assist me in assigning it to theproper Person. Tho', upon the whole, I don't know but there may be someExuberances that might have been spared, as they stop the Progress ofthe Story, and keep us in anxious doubt concerning _Clarissa's_ Fate,altho' the scattered Observations have generally the Recommendation ofNovelty to amuse the Curious, Depth to engage the Attention of theConsiderate, and Sprightliness to entertain the Lively; and Story isconsidered by the Author, as he says in his Preface, but as the Vehicleto convey the more necessary Instruction. And _Clarissa_ says to Miss_How_;
_You will always have me give you minute Descriptions, nor suffer me to pass by the Air and Manner in which Things are spoken, that are to be taken notice of; rightly observing, that Air and Manner often express more than the accompanying Words._
"If this Observation is just, and Air and Manner can be placed before aReader's View by writing, I am sure minute Descriptions are necessary;and I could point out several Places in _Clarissa_, where we may see thevery Look of the Eyes, and Turn of the Countenance of the Personsmentioned, and hear the Tone of the Voice of the Person speaking."
The next Objection was raised by Mr. _Dobson_, to Mrs. _Harlowe's_Character, which he said, "It was plain you did not intend as a bad one,by her Meekness, Submission to her Husband, and her hitherto trulymaternal Care of her Family; and yet, when she joins with violentoverbearing Spirits, to oppress and persecute such a Daughter as_Clarissa_, because she steadily adhered to a Resolution of refusingsolemnly to vow at the Altar Love and Obedience to such a Wretch as_Solmes_, what was this but Tameness and Folly instead of Meekness?"
Totally to justify Mrs. _Harlowe_ was not attempted; on the contrary, itwas unanimously agreed, that she was to blame: But Miss _Gibson_ desired"Mrs. _Harlow's_ Faults might not be thrown on the Author, unless itcould be proved that he himself intended her Conduct should deserve noCensure. However, (continued she) to preserve any Charity in censuringher, I think it should be considered, how much a Woman must beembarassed, who has for many Years accustomed herself to obey the veryLooks of another, where a Point is peremptorily insisted on, which, tocomply with, must gall her to the Heart. Mrs. _Harlowe_ might indeedhave suffered with _Clarissa_, but could not have preserved her from herFather's Fury, irritated and inflamed by her ambitious violent Brother:And perhaps she flatter'd herself, that she might gain more Influence byseeming to comply, than if she had attempted absolutely to resist theStorm gathering in her Family. And this I think, the many Hints shegives, that if she was left to herself, it would be otherwise, is a fullProof of."
A young Lady, who had hitherto been silent, looked pleased at Miss_Gibson's_ Remarks, and said;
"I think _Clarissa_ herself has made very good Observations on herMamma's Meekness, and the Effects of it, in one of her Letters to Miss_Howe_, where she says--In my Mamma's Case, your Observation isverifyed, that those who will bear much, shall have much to bear. Andhow true is her farther Observation, where she says, that she fears herMamma has lost that very Peace which she has sacrificed so much toobtain."
"Your Remark, Madam, said Miss _Gibson_, is very just, and from thisCharacter of Mrs. _Harlowe_, we may draw a noble and most useful Moral;for as in the Body, too rich Blood occasions many Diseases, so in theMind, the very Virtues themselves, if not carefully watched, may producevery hurtful Maladies. Meekness therefore, and a long Habit ofSubmission, is often accompanied by a want of Resolution, even whereResolution is commendable. To be all Softness, Gentleness and Meekness,and at the same time to be steadily fixed in every Point 'tis improperto give up, is peculiar to _Clarissa_ herself, and a Disposition of Mindjudiciously reserved by the Author for his Heroine alone."
An old Gentleman who sat in the Corner, and often made wry Faces at thesudden Attack of Rheumatick Pains, with which he was often afflicted,objected strongly to Mr. _Harlowe's_ arbitrary Usage of such a Wife, asbeing very unnatural. "Nay, Sir, (said Miss _Gibson_) I think _Clarissa_gives a very good Account of Mr. _Harlowe's_ Behaviour, in a Letter toher Friend, when she says;
_But my Father was soured by the cruel Distemper I have named, which seized him all at once, in the very prime of Life, in so violent a Manner, as to take from the most active Mind, as HIS was, all Power of Activity, and that in all Appearance for Life.--It imprison'd, as I may say, his lively Spirits in himself and turned the Edge of them against his own Peace, his extraordinary Prosperity adding but to his Impatiency._
"And methinks, it is very easy to imagine, Mr. _Harlowe's_ Pains, andMrs. _Harlowe's_ tender Concern for these Pains increasing together: herAttention to him, and earnest Endeavours to soften and alleviate theExtremity of his Torments becoming all her Care; till, his Ill-temperdaily growing stronger by the Force of his bodily Disorders, he at lasthabituated himself to vent it on the Person who most patientlysubmitted, tho' her Heart was most nearly touched and affected by it.And I appeal to the common Experience of any Persons who have accustomedthemselves to make Observations on the Scenes before them, if they havenot often seen heart-breaking Harshness burst forth on those whostrongest feel the Strokes, and yet submit to them without complaining;and this practised even by Persons who would take it much amiss to bethought peculiarly ill-natured."
The old Gentleman, without answering Miss _Gibson_, insisted on what hehad said before; and then turning to his Daughter, in a rough Voice,accompanied with a fierce Look, bid her not sit so idly, but ring theBell, that the Servant might get a Coach, for he would go home. Theyoung Lady, who was as submissive a Daughter as Mrs. _Harlow_ was aWife, immediately obeyed his Commands, tho' it might be read in herCountenance, that she could have wished that he would have injoined themin a milder Manner; on which her Father observed, that the Girl wasalways out of Humour and sullen when she was employed. Indeed, Sir,said the young Lady, I love to be honoured with your Commands; I wasonly afraid you was angry with me. A Tear stole without her Consent fromher Eyes, and at the same Time she looked at her Father with asupplicating, instead of a sullen Countenance.
As soon as the Coach came, the old Gentleman, with great Roughness,commanded his Daughter to attend him, and left us; and we could not helpremarking, how much the Gentleman's Behaviour had added Weight to theForce of his Criticism.
The next Objection was raised by Mr. _Dellincourt_, who found greatFault with the Liberties you have taken with the _English_ Language, andsaid, you had coined new Words, and printed others as if you was writinga Spelling-book, instead of relating a Story. We were all silent for afew Moments, and then Miss _Gibson_ said;
"Indeed, Sir, I do not pretend to be any Judge of the Accuracy of Stile,but I beg to know, if in the writing familiar Letters, many Libertiesare not allowable, which in other kinds of writing might perhaps bejustly condemned: And as to the printing some of the Words with Breaksbetween the Syllables, it certainly makes the Painting the stronger;however, I submit this entirely to the Judgment of others. But supposingthis to be a failing, surely it is a trifling one, to censure a Bookseverely for, in which there are so many striking Beauties to be found.But to illustrate my Thoughts on this Head, I will tell you a Story thatis really true.
"A Gentleman shewed a Friend of his a Picture of a favourite Horse,drawn by the celebrated Mr. _Wooten_. The Horse was unexceptionablybeautiful, and the Picture excellently drawn. His Friend regarded itfor some Time with great Attention: When the Gentleman (who was a Loverof Pictures, and who delighted to share his Pleasures with others)earnestly asked his Friend's Opinion of the Piece he was viewing; who,after much Consideration, with a significant Shrug of his Shoulders, anda contemptuous Toss of his Hand, said, _I don't like the Skirts of theSaddle_."
The Application of this Story was so very plain, that the whole Companywere diverted with it; and thus, Sir, I think I have sumed up all theCritisism I heard either against or in favour of your _Clarissa_, on thePublication
of the two first Volumes.
The next Scene of Criticism (if I may so call it) on _Clarissa_ that Iwas present at, was on the Publication of the two succeeding Volumes.
The same Company met, with the Addition only of one Gentleman, whom Ishall call _Bellario_; his known Taste and Impartiality made all thosewho wished Reason instead of Prejudice might judge of the Subject beforethem, rejoice at his Presence. The Objections now arose so fast, it wasimpossible to guess where they would end. _Clarissa_ herself was aPrude--a Coquet--all the Contradictions mentioned some Time ago in aprinted Paper, with the Addition of many more, were laid to her Charge.She was an undutiful Daughter--too strict in her Principles of Obedienceto such Parents--too fond of a Rake and a Libertine--her Heart was asimpenitrable and unsusceptible of Affection, as the hardest Marble. Inshort, the