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Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'
Clarissa ; Or, The History of a Young Lady by Angus Ross, Samuel Richardson
3 reviews
chloe_hazel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death, Murder, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Clarissa is one of the longest novels written in the English language, and arguably one of the most important. I decided to read it this year when I saw a buddy read organised by the wonderful @nataliestendallwrites. It’s an epistolary novel and plan was to read the letters on the days they were written. I kept up with the schedule until late in September when the letters really petered out and I decided to finish up rather than string 30 pages out over 3 months.
Clarissa is in many ways a cautionary tale about what happens to a young woman who does not obey the wishes of her family. It’s also a cautionary tale about what happens to a family when they put control, obedience and concern with status above the wishes and well-being of a young woman. Its villain is one of the most entitled, self-absorbed, narcissistic, delusional men I’ve ever had the misfortune to encounter. Its heroine is held by all as the paragon of womanhood - so virtuous, so kind, so generous - surely too perfect to be true, or even a realistically attainable model for most women to attempt to emulate. The friendship between Clarissa and Anna is true friendship goals - genuine love, affection and respect coupled with forthright honesty. The plot itself is relatively straightforward - girl initially wants to marry boy who family disapproves of and instead require her to marry a man she can’t abide, girl is kidnapped by boy who resorts to vile methods to force her to marry him, she still refuses and unhappiness and tragedy ensues - but it’s telling is anything but. The plot unfolds via letters from a large number of friends, family and acquaintances as well as Clarissa and the evil Lovelace. The letters are so minutely detailed and frequently melodramatic - an eighteenth century soap opera if ever there was one, yet one that highlighted a very important issue - the lack of autonomy for women and the dangers this posed for them. Sometimes I found the reading tedious; at other times it was anything but - a real flurry of activity, sometimes salacious and with many people behaving badly. I was often left gob-smacked and enraged.
Overall I’m really glad to have read this classic
Clarissa is in many ways a cautionary tale about what happens to a young woman who does not obey the wishes of her family. It’s also a cautionary tale about what happens to a family when they put control, obedience and concern with status above the wishes and well-being of a young woman. Its villain is one of the most entitled, self-absorbed, narcissistic, delusional men I’ve ever had the misfortune to encounter. Its heroine is held by all as the paragon of womanhood - so virtuous, so kind, so generous - surely too perfect to be true, or even a realistically attainable model for most women to attempt to emulate. The friendship between Clarissa and Anna is true friendship goals - genuine love, affection and respect coupled with forthright honesty. The plot itself is relatively straightforward - girl initially wants to marry boy who family disapproves of and instead require her to marry a man she can’t abide, girl is kidnapped by boy who resorts to vile methods to force her to marry him, she still refuses and unhappiness and tragedy ensues - but it’s telling is anything but. The plot unfolds via letters from a large number of friends, family and acquaintances as well as Clarissa and the evil Lovelace. The letters are so minutely detailed and frequently melodramatic - an eighteenth century soap opera if ever there was one, yet one that highlighted a very important issue - the lack of autonomy for women and the dangers this posed for them. Sometimes I found the reading tedious; at other times it was anything but - a real flurry of activity, sometimes salacious and with many people behaving badly. I was often left gob-smacked and enraged.
Overall I’m really glad to have read this classic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape and Death
matthewmansell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape and Death
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