Mrs Dalloway Novel by Virginia Woolf

Mrs Dalloway Novel by Virginia Woolf

Mrs. Dalloway is a novel by Virginia Woolf that explores the inner thoughts and experiences of Clarissa Dalloway, a high-society woman in post-World War I London. The narrative unfolds over a single day as Clarissa prepares for a party, weaving through her memories and relationships, particularly with Peter Walsh and her husband, Richard Dalloway. Themes of time, mental health, and the impact of war permeate the text, showcasing Woolf's stream-of-consciousness style. This edition is essential for readers interested in modernist literature and the complexities of human emotions.

Key Points

  • Explores Clarissa Dalloway's inner thoughts during a single day in London.
  • Examines themes of time, mental health, and post-war society.
  • Features Woolf's signature stream-of-consciousness narrative style.
  • Highlights significant relationships, particularly with Peter Walsh and Richard Dalloway.
, ,
  • newtopiccyclegrowin
105
/ 114
Mrs. Dalloway
By Virginia Woolf
Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and
markup by Students and Staff at the University of Virginia
- Title Page -
MRS. DALLOWAY
by
VIRGINIA WOOLF
New York
HARCOURT, BRACE & WORLD, INC.
Page 2
- 3 -
Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.
For Lucy had her work cut out for her. The doors would be taken off their hinges; Rumpelmayer’s men were
coming. And then, thought Clarissa Dalloway, what a morning—fresh as if issued to children on a beach.
What a lark! What a plunge! For so it had always seemed to her, when, with a little squeak of the hinges,
which she could hear now, she had burst open the French windows and plunged at Bourton into the open air.
How fresh, how calm, stiller than this of course, the air was in the early morning; like the flap of a wave;
the kiss of a wave; chill and sharp and yet (for a girl of eighteen as she then was) solemn, feeling as she did,
standing there at the open window, that something awful was about to happen; looking at the flowers, at the
trees with the smoke winding off them and the rooks rising, falling; standing and looking until Peter
- 4 -
Walsh said, “Musing among the vegetables?”—was that it?—“I prefer men to cauliflowers”—was that it?
He must have said it at breakfast one morning when she had gone out on to the terrace—Peter Walsh. He
would be back from India one of these days, June or July, she forgot which, for his letters were awfully dull;
it was his sayings one remembered; his eyes, his pocket-knife, his smile, his grumpiness and, when millions
of things had utterly vanished—how strange it was!—a few sayings like this about cabbages.
She stiffened a little on the kerb, waiting for Durtnall’s van to pass. A charming woman, Scrope Purvis
thought her (knowing her as one does know people who live next door to one in Westminster); a touch of
the bird about her, of the jay, blue-green, light, vivacious, though she was over fifty, and grown very white
since her illness. There she perched, never seeing him, waiting to cross, very upright.
For having lived in Westminster—how many years now? over twenty,—one feels even in the midst of the
traffic, or waking at night, Clarissa was positive, a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause; a
suspense (but that might be her heart, affected, they said, by influenza) before
- 5 -
Big Ben strikes. There! Out it boomed. First a warning, musical; then the hour, irrevocable. The leaden
circles dissolved in the air. Such fools we are, she thought, crossing Victoria Street. For Heaven only
knows why one loves it so, how one sees it so, making it up, building it round one, tumbling it, creating it
every moment afresh; but the veriest frumps, the most dejected of miseries sitting on doorsteps (drink their
downfall) do the same; can’t be dealt with, she felt positive, by Acts of Parliament for that very reason: they
love life. In people’s eyes, in the swing, tramp, and trudge; in the bellow and the uproar; the carriages, motor
cars, omnibuses, vans, sandwich men shuffling and swinging; brass bands; barrel organs; in the triumph and
the jingle and the strange high singing of some aeroplane overhead was what she loved; life; London; this
moment of June.
For it was the middle of June. The War was over, except for some one like Mrs. Foxcroft at the Embassy
last night eating her heart out because that nice boy was killed and now the old Manor House must go to
a cousin; or Lady Bexborough who opened a bazaar, they said, with the telegram in her hand, John, her
favourite, killed; but it was over; thank Heaven—over. It was June. The
- 6 -
Page 3
/ 114
End of Document
105
You May Also Like

FAQs of Mrs Dalloway Novel by Virginia Woolf

What is the main theme of Mrs. Dalloway?
The main theme of Mrs. Dalloway revolves around the passage of time and the impact of World War I on society. Woolf explores how the war has altered perceptions of life, love, and mental health. Clarissa Dalloway's reflections on her past and present illustrate the struggle to find meaning in a rapidly changing world. Additionally, the novel delves into the complexities of human relationships, particularly the tension between societal expectations and personal desires.
Who are the key characters in Mrs. Dalloway?
Key characters in Mrs. Dalloway include Clarissa Dalloway, the protagonist, who navigates her thoughts and memories while preparing for a party. Peter Walsh, her former lover, represents the past and the choices Clarissa made. Richard Dalloway, her husband, symbolizes stability and societal expectations. Septimus Warren Smith, a war veteran, embodies the psychological trauma of the war, contrasting with Clarissa's more privileged life. These characters intersect in ways that highlight themes of love, loss, and the search for identity.
How does Woolf use stream-of-consciousness in the novel?
Virginia Woolf employs stream-of-consciousness as a narrative technique in Mrs. Dalloway to provide readers with an intimate glimpse into the characters' thoughts and feelings. This method allows for fluid transitions between past and present, reflecting the characters' inner lives and their perceptions of time. Through this technique, Woolf captures the complexity of human emotions and the fragmented nature of memory, making the narrative feel immediate and immersive.
What role does mental health play in Mrs. Dalloway?
Mental health is a significant theme in Mrs. Dalloway, particularly through the character of Septimus Warren Smith, who suffers from shell shock after his experiences in World War I. His struggles illustrate the broader societal neglect of mental health issues during the time. Clarissa Dalloway also grapples with her own sense of existential dread and the pressures of societal expectations, reflecting the internal conflicts faced by many individuals in post-war society. Woolf's portrayal emphasizes the importance of understanding and compassion for those dealing with mental health challenges.

Related of Mrs Dalloway Novel by Virginia Woolf