Language In Clarissa, Evelina And Pride And Prejudice

decisions, decisions which ultimately lead to the demise
of the Harlowe family and estate.
Eaves and Kimpel point out that even a "selfish
brother" and an "envious sister" would not have been able
to accomplish anything had Mr. Harlowe been in control of
his family and defended Clarissa. Mr. Harlowe is the
only character in the novel "entirely inadequate for the
role he has to play, and the fact that he is present
largely in name only leaves a serious gap in the first
two volumes" (Eaves and Kimpel 250-251).
We must judge Mr. Harlowe, however, as a silent
character whose authority is compromised by the
disruptive nature of settlements made on estates. He is
tenant for life until James, Jr., marries and resettles
the Harlowe estate, at which time, James, Jr., will
bequeath the Harlowe estate to his future eldest son, and
like his father, will become tenant for life. Until
James, Jr.'s, own son comes of age and marries, allowing
the estate to come up for resettlement, James, Jr., not
his father, has control of the burgeoning Harlowe
estates. The estate was resettled and put under his
control at his majority and will again be resettled at
his marriage, as we know from the epilogue. The family,
however, should not be under the control of the younger