Looking Clarissa Right in The Eye

American post-war and contemporary artist Gelah Penn continues her abstract contemplation on Samuel Richardson's 18th-century epistolary novel with the second installment of "Notes on Clarissa"  opening at Cornwall Library in Cornwall, Conn., on Saturday, Sept. 16. Each piece corresponds to a letter in the novel.

"Clarissa, or, The History of a Young Lady" was Richardson's follow-up to his smash-hit "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded," a publication  whose significance can't be understated. Considered to be the first modern English novel (and the first novel printed in America), the unfolding saga was read by clergymen and rural countrymen alike, transfixed by its suspense, its psychological love story, and its instruction on maintaining defined gender roles within marriage and English society at large.

While "Pamela" ends in what is considered to be a triumph in the marriage plot novel — the maid weds the master of the house — the 1,500 pages of letters that make up the story of Clarissa Harlowe are ripe with tragedy. Beautiful Clarissa, aged eighteen, becomes the object of pursuit by the charming yet emotionally corrupt Lovelace, a wealthy libertine whose seductive words entice her to elope. Although she swiftly recognizes her error, her family disowns her, and in Lovelace's grasp, exhausted by attempts to manipulate her into truly loving him, he rapes her. The profound emotional distress that ensues leads to her untimely demise.

Dark sexuality and a battles of wills in a treacherous game of morality ensnared audiences then, and the weighty tome is still considered to be Richardson's opus. It's bleakness is its appeal, as Clarissa realizes what a dangerous time it is to be a girl in the world.

'II XXV' by Gelah Penn Cornwall Library

Latest News

Wastewater Committee defers wastewater project

Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.

Photo by John Coston

The Wastewater Committee elected officers and discussed priorities for the coming year at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Unanimously re-elected to serve as chairman was Charlie Miller and John Stewart was re-elected to the position of Secretary.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rondout defeats Millbrook at season-end home game

The Millbrook girls varsity basketball squad put up a solid fight against Rondout in the first three quarters of the Wednesday, Feb. 19, game at Millbrook High School. The score was close until the last quarter when Rondout put up 18 points to win 37-23.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLBROOK — The Millbrook varsity girls basketball squad hosted Rondout High School Wednesday, Feb. 19, for the final home game of the regular basketball season.

The at-once competitive match ended in a Rondout blowout of 37-23 after the Rondout girls went on an impressive scoring run in the final quarter.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donna Aakjar

CANAAN — Donna Aakjar passed away peacefully on Feb. 20, 2025 at Noble Horizons. Born on Dec. 14, 1941, at Geer Hospital in Canaan to Maybelle Voorhees and Louis Peder Aakjar, Donna’s life was a testament to education, service and a deep love of the arts.

She attended North Canaan Elementary School and the Housatonic Valley Regional high before graduating from Southern Connecticut State College. Donna began her career teaching fifth grade at Sharon CenterSchool. While teaching, she earned a master’s degree in Library Science and became the first librarian in the newly renovated basement library. Later, the library was relocated upstairs and, several yearsthereafter, was completely redesigned under her guidance.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East Board discusses drafted zoning definitions

North East Town Hall on Maple Avenue in Millerton.

Photo by John Coston

MILLERTON — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Town of North East held a special meeting with Town Board members and Zoning Board of Appeals chair Edith Greenwood to discuss some definition adjustments on the drafted zoning amendments.

The board members went through a handful of the defined terms to be changed, added or fully eliminated. A few examples of changes that were made varied from swapping out the expression “maid” to “housekeeping” and deleting “sanitarium” and “sanatorium.”

Keep ReadingShow less