58. This Is Not the Rake You are Looking for: or, the Cautionary Tale of Samuel Richardson’s CLARISSA (S5E3)
In Walks a WomanShow Notes
Please Note that this episode contains spoilers and discussion of sexual assault.
“You have to get through the first 500 pages, and then you can’t put it down,” said no one ever…except Sonja about CLARISSA, the longest novel in the English language.
In the mid 18th century, Samuel Richardson was living in a world that strongly believed a woman should marry the man who “ruined” her–even if the act was not consensual. CLARISSA: OR, THE HISTORY OF A YOUNG LADY is Richardson’s eloquent, impassioned, surprising response.
Even if you have no plans to read this enormous novel, tune in to hear Sonja’s how Richardson pushed his audience to question some of their firmly-held beliefs about virginity, rape, marriage, and the definition of virtue in his tragic and compelling story.
Along the way, Pamela Andrews and Clarissa Harlowe find themselves in a cage match, Sonja explains her vision for Clarissa-meets-Heated Rivalry fan fiction, and Vanessa parries with a link to Fifty Shades of Grey.
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Content Note: This episode discusses war, physical trauma and injury, PTSD, and suicide, as portrayed in the novel and in the historical record. Please take care while listening, and feel free to skip or pause as needed.