Sunday, March 24, 2013
Mrs. Dalloway- Louise
Throughout this novel, Woolf has explored several instances of contrasting outward and inward opinions: what society expects, versus what one accomplishes, and the way someone views someone else, versus how they view themselves. A few key examples of this disparity are found in the party beginning on page 165, continuing to the end of the reading assignment. On page 167, Peter Walsh remarks on Clarissa's insincerity, and states he regrets coming, and later on that same page, Clarissa notices Peter's criticism and feels that shame, only to continue to assert that it does really matter to her, on page 188. What are some other examples of this societal pressure/expectation, in this novel, and in other novels we've read? How does Woolf's unique narrative add to this contrast?
Another place that we see the contrast of outward/inward is earlier, with Septimus. When staying at the Inn, he felt he could not connect to his surroundings, that he was in some way isolated. Also, the doctor's advice is to focus on reality, and to really see his surroundings. Do you believe that the doctors advice is completely unfounded? How does the character of Septimus connect directly to other characters in Mrs. Dalloway, specifically Clarissa? What ideas expressly tie them together, and how are they different?
Finally, Woolf is making societal observations by including these differences between outside and inside feelings/characters. What do you think she is trying to say? Do you agree with her message?
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I think it's really interesting to contrast the two characters of Clarissa and Septimus when looking at inward and outward appearances. While the two characters outwardly behave very differently, it seems as though they share some of the same internal feelings. When Clarissa hears of Septimus' suicide, she feels a connection to him. "She felt somehow very like him - the young man who had killed himself. She felt glad that he had done it: thrown it away" (186). It's interesting to hear Clarissa's thoughts about this because it seems almost as though she envies the strength and courage that he had to kill himself. To answer your question about Woolf's societal observations, I do agree with her message. I think the style of this book is really unique and allows the readers to see both sides of people. What she shows in this book is true everywhere. People's external actions do not necessarily reflect their internal and real feelings. I think Woolf makes a really interesting point through this book about human interaction and how it is impossible to truly know what someone is thinking, which is one of the most interesting, but also one of the most challenging aspects of human interaction.
ReplyDeleteSeptimus is definitely a good example of contrasting inward and outward appearances. Dr Holmes and Sir Bradshaw both trivialize Septimus' trauma and think he should either buck up or be locked up so he is no longer a nuisance to society (or more specifically, to themselves). Yet inwardly, Septimus feels more wronged by the doctors who 'help' him than anything else. At one point he asks Lucrezia, "What right has Bradshaw to say 'must' to me?" (147). It is the doctors who hem Septimus in, and make him want to die. There may be some truth in the doctors' advice, however. When Septimus helps Lucrezia make a hat, he feels that the experience was "wonderful. Never had he done anything which made him so proud. It was so real, it was so substantial, Mrs. Peter's hat" (144). This moment is the happiest of the book, and it is also when Septimus is most grounded in reality. Thinking of the past may sometimes be a good escape for Septimus, but there is an equal chance that he will remember the war and feel horrible again. Overall though, there are so many forces working against Septimus that it seems unlikely he can truly live again. It was very interesting how Woolf justified his suicide, mainly through Lucrezia and Clarissa's voices. A suicide doesn't usually appear brave or logical, but in Septimus' case it seemed like the best action to take.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ellie that is very interesting when you compare Clarissa and Septimus. At first I believed the two to be polar opposites and did not recognize why Woolf added Septimus to the story, then as we read further into the book that conclusion became fictitious. Once I saw Clarissa's reaction it was very clear to me, Septimus was one of the most important characters because he is able to show us the real Clarissa Dalloway that once existed. Our assumptions of Clarissa were that she was stuck in her body unable to be escape. We never knew if these assumptions were true or not until the announcement of the suicide at the party. When I read Clarissa's reaction to the suicide I immediately saw the connection between the two characters; Septimus was as well truly melancholy and holding in his emotions. Lydia said in class something along the lines that, he would rather have a free soul then a suffocating body. I believe that his death is a wake up call to Clarissa and she feels somewhat the same, and is finally snapping back into reality. On page 186 after hearing of the suicide it is stated "She must find Sally and Peter." Clarissa does not try to escape to her husband or daughter but to the ones who bring her excitement joy; the ones who love her. Clarissa's answer is not suicide but in some way I feel as if the old her did escape and die, and she is now free. Before Septimus jumped he said that he did not want to die, but maybe that was the only way he knew of to escape, Clarissa just found another route. I think that by adding Septimus to the story Woolf is able to open up Mrs. Dalloway's true feelings and relieve her from the tight grip that society had on her.
ReplyDeleteI agree very much with Nina in that Septimus is the tool which thrusts Clarissa's mind out of her nostalgic daydreaming and to where she really wants to be. Comparing Septimus and Clarissa as Woolfe does is extremely important towards the theme of external vs internal character. For Septimus, his character blossoms in several stages, first in his love for shakespeare. This can be seen as his early attempt to express his external character, which he has the utmost trouble with. The bond Septimus created with Lieutenant Evans during the War was somewhat touched upon by this book, but the kind of internal character which developed and then was destroyed by Evans' death was most likely the tipping point for Evans relationship with Humanity's "nature". Finally, and most importantly, as Lydia notes, we see Septimus making hats with Rezia, fully enjoying himself in the moment and sharing something with his wife. For Clarissa, the struggles she has had with society have been subdued throughout her life. Clarissa loved being around the people who lived life (Peter and Sally) but believed she had something to play up to; that her character should be all external. Clarissa is mostly nostalgic and aware of the time passing (Big Ben). At her party do we truly understand that Clarissa is looking for more than just that external character. The death and ominous struggle of a man she never knew is more tangible for Clarissa than 90 percent of her relationships amongst Englands finest. Septimus most definitely brings out in Clarissa the intent so she may express her internal character. Woolfe is trying to say that our internal vs external character should not be defined by our society. By doing this she points out the British Empires most fatal weakness: the lack of support for the individual and his character.
ReplyDeleteI think that in terms of inward and outward appearances, Ellie said it best, the contrast between Clarissa and Septimus is fascinating. I found that their differences in the appearance of themselves had a lot to do with the class system, forcing people to conform to the regulations put in place. Clarissa, being of higher aristocracy, has found her muse in the form of parties, at least to the outside eye. While she does enjoy the interactions and flattery that comes with these get togethers, her anticipation and angst get the best of her, until she is able to see the enjoyment of others. Septimus, being apprehensive like Clarissa, is seen as a person that can be easily defined by society, but not truly understood. Septimus, fearing the suppression that comes with William Bradshaw and Dr. Holmes, saw that death, and every moment in his life leading up to his realization (of death being the answer) was all in order to deliver the message of “I’ll give it you!” (149). These last words, seen by Dr. Holmes as cowardish, have a greater impact on Rezia, a character once interpreted as narrow-minded to the suffering of Septimus. “she saw; she understood” his defying of society in order to save his soul from being taken (149). Although she never knew him or what changed him, Clarissa too grasped that “Death was defiance. Death was an attempt to communicate.” To Septimus, the only message his needed to communicate was that of breaking the societal barriers. Between the two of them, Septimus and Clarissa are seen as opposing sides of the spectrum. But by having the stream of consciousness view point, the inward appearances of characters are far different from the impression they give to others.
ReplyDeleteI think Septimus and Clarissa are contrast to each other in a way that Septimus is living for inner self while Clarissa seems to be hiding the unwanted part of her inward appearance and trying to portray a typical elegant upper-class wife on the outside. Probably because he has seen so many deaths during the war, Septimus no only cares about how other people looks at him, and instead, he follows his true self and considers issue from only his point of view. Doctor Bradshaw has also notice this because he "kindly" (98) suggested "try to think as little about yourself as possible". Septimus does not care about how other people think because of social status. He does not even talk to people during the day and even when he says something, it is mostly ignored (by Doctor Bradshaw as well as his wife). On the contrary, Clarissa is the perfect elegant wife of a government official, and during this given day she socializes with many people from the upper class. Clarissa enjoys to be in the spotlight but this is also stressful in a way that whatever she does will be judged by people. She tries to change her characteristics to fit into her social role but constantly recalls her past and examines her life. Woolf very well presented the different focus of men and women in different social classes. Maybe Septimus and Clarissa are in some way the extreme of their groups, but many other characters in the book make readers think who lives the kind of life they most want to live and how much they care about their peer's opinions.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite examples of disparity between inward and outward image is that of Hugh Whitbread. Plot-wise, Hugh is a member of the upper middle class of British society. Within this social group, however, he is inferior to other members such as the Dalloways. This inferiority seems to have bred in Hugh a tendency to reassure himself of his worth, the result of which is a bloated sense of importance and a tendency to do things which he feels demonstrate his perceived social standing. Hugh outlines his achievements at his “little job at court,” as though he has something to prove. Again, at Clarissa’s party, Hugh is found to act in a way which bolsters his self-image: he “intimating for all the world to see that he was privileged to say something, something private to Lady Bruton...”(173) To hear Hugh talk and to watch how he acts, one would think him to be an important, influential member of upper British society. This myth is exposed, however, when Hugh is seen by other characters. We as readers come to find out that Lady Bruton uses him only for his male name on a letter, and that Richard views him as an “intolerable ass”. Virginia Woolf’s modern style, with the point of view shifting smoothly from a character’s thoughts about him or herself to a character’s thoughts about others, to an omniscient narrator who shows the reader glimpses of characters’ most sequestered thoughts and perceptions, is integral in the expression of the difference between internal images of self and external realities or perceptions by other characters. Whereas other modes of story-telling might be restricted to communicating self-reflection or showing judgment of others, Mrs. Dalloway’s style allows for deep understanding of both sides of the coin. This characteristic of the novel allows for Woolf’s sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant satire of the upper echelon of British society. This social group in Woolf’s eyes was perhaps best represented by fat old Hugh, who dresses in fine garb and dithers around all day in a worthless position, simultaneously reassuring himself of his worth and demonstrating his total lack thereof. To Woolf, as to Peter Walsh, the rich are simply unproductive, showy people whose consumption is disproportional to their productivity. This is evident in Peter's judgment of the Prime Minister, when, with words dripping with sarcasm, he thinks about how he loves “dressing up in gold lace and doing homage” (172). Woolf’s style serves as the mode by which these judgments can be compared with the self-evaluation of the characters.
ReplyDeleteLouise points out this idea of society's expectations, which we've seen in all the books we've read so far this year. In Mrs Dalloway, I think we get the clearest picture of how the expectations effect the characters, because of the structure of the book. In every situation of the book we have the perspective of a narrator figure but we'd also have the inner thoughts of a character allowing us to see what the experience meant to them. A good example is when Richard and Hugh go to Lady Burton's for lunch, because before that point we hadn't actually seen the those characters we'd only had other people's opinions of them, so from that point we were able to contrast and compare other's opinions with who the characters actually are. I think the difference between Mrs Dalloway's characters versus Clockwork or Heart of Darkness is that the characters in Mrs. Dalloway try their best to give an outward appearance of being perfectly inline with society's expectations, while Alex and Marlow didn't pretend to conform to the rules of their society's and ending up being black sheep of their societies.
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