I have seen a BBC adaptation of Clarissa a long time ago. I don't remember most of it, but I do remember Lovelace. Reading your review I cannot but wonder how agonizing it must be to follow Clarissa on her plight for freedom. But there's something in Richardson's book that still resonates today: 1) why must women go through such horrors (especially sexual violence) to learn about the world? Is there (and in some cases there has been proven to be) a fetish related to violence targeted at women? 2) Its a story that cautions women to protect themselves and never bothers to teach anything to its male readers. Its the same today. We are still telling women to be careful, but never mind telling men how to respect women and improve certain behaviours.
I have seen a BBC adaptation of Clarissa a long time ago. I don't remember most of it, but I do remember Lovelace. Reading your review I cannot but wonder how agonizing it must be to follow Clarissa on her plight for freedom. But there's something in Richardson's book that still resonates today: 1) why must women go through such horrors (especially sexual violence) to learn about the world? Is there (and in some cases there has been proven to be) a fetish related to violence targeted at women? 2) Its a story that cautions women to protect themselves and never bothers to teach anything to its male readers. Its the same today. We are still telling women to be careful, but never mind telling men how to respect women and improve certain behaviours.