Shades of Modernism in Virginia Woolfe's Mrs. Dalloway
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Shades of Modernism in Virginia Woolfe's Mrs. Dalloway
Introduction
Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is a literature novel that is conceptualized and themed
on modernism. The novel was written in 1925 and this is part of a modernist period of literature.
It can be noted that the author uses the modernist procedure to construct the literature, to narrate,
to theme the novel and in its setting. The author tries to break the normal idea of thoughts that
were seen before the World War One as the aftermath of the war brought in new ways of
understanding the world. Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway addresses modernity in her treatment
of identity, in addressing the new city and its lifestyle and the on mental illness. This essay will
thereby analyze how the concept of modernism and modernity themes play out in the novel.
Discussion
Identity Treatment
The Novel on Mrs. Dalloway is a description of a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway in
post world war one, England. The novel uses the art of modernism to tap into the minds of the
characters as they look for their own identities. This means that modernism made individuals
move away from traditions and realism into enlightenment period which allowed individuals to
separate from normal customs and explore their own minds. For example Clarissa explores her
own conscious by thinking of the new modern world: “She would not say of anyone in the world
now that they were this or were that. She felt very young; at the same time unspeakably aged.
She sliced like a knife through everything; at the same time was outside, looking on. She had a
perpetual sense, she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day”
(2.1).
In the quest for her sexual identity she states, “She felt like a nun who has left the world
and feels fold round her the familiar veils and the response to old devolutions” (2.2). She said
this in response to modernism which had seen her married and with a child. This made her
suppress her sexual desires unlike when she was a young woman.
Modernity promoted the identification of sexuality by Miss Kilman. She identified
herself as a homosexual with irresistible attraction to Elizabeth. She felt, “She was about to split
asunder. The agony was terrific, if should grasp her, if she could clasp her, if she could make her
hers absolutely and forever and then die; that was all she wanted. But to sit there, unable to say
anything, to see Elizabeth turn against her: it was too much; she could not stand it” (5.71).
Modernity further promoted the identification of sexuality as Clarissa Dalloway felt a strong
attraction for Sally Seton at Bourton. Clarissa Dalloway has a consideration for the kiss they
shared thirty four years ago. She says that what she feels for Sally is what, “men feel” (5.72).
Modernity promoted sexuality identification because Septimus is troubled by Evan’s
image. Evans is his dear friend and his commanding officer. Evans is considered as
“undemonstrative in the company of women” (5.73). When Septimus and Evans are together
they are intimate and behave like, “two dogs playing on the hearth-rug” (5.73). The author
establishes that the two “had to be together, share with each other. Fight with each other and
quarrel with each other” (5.73).
Modernity is important as it helps in defining personal characteristic identity. For
example, to make himself feel better, Peter thinks of himself as a wild person. He is contented in
not being a member of the British High Society. He regards modernity as the cause of his nonconformity making him more interesting than people like Hugh. In the novel, the author states
that, “Peter is an adventurer, reckless, he thought, swift and daring. He was also seen as a
romantic buccaneer as was in the previous night after he had landed from India, he was
considered careless of all these damned proprieties, yellow dressing gowns, pipes, fishing rods,
in the shop window and respectability and evening parties and spruce old men wearing white
slips beneath their waistcoats” (3.13).
New City and its Lifestyle
The novel focuses on the London in yester years and London in the modern times. For
example Clarissa Dalloway compares the new London with that of her times. In the novel she
states, “I love walking in London” (1.7). She further states, “But it was her street, this, Clarissa’s;
cabs were rushing round the corner, like water round the piers of a bridge, drawn together, it
seemed to him because they bore people going to her party, Clarissa’s party” (2.50).
Modernity has been instrumental in changing people’s ways of living. For example
Clarissa reminisces about her life and how time and modernity have been influential in
determining and shaping her life into a party person she is. It can be quoted, “Clarissa while
crossing the dressing-table plunged into the very heart of the moment transfixed it, there – the
moment of this June morning on which was the pressure of all the other mornings, seeing the
glass, seeing the dressing table and all the bottles afresh, collecting the whole of her at one point.
As she looked inside the glass, she saw the delicate pink face of a woman who was in that very
night about to give a party, the face of Clarissa Dalloway, her own face” (2.24).
Modernity was also influential in promoting misery in people’s lives. For example in the
novel, the author notes the following about Clarissa, “then for the moment, she had seen an
illumination; a match burning in a crocus; an inner meaning almost expressed. But the close
withdrew the hard softened. It was over- the moment”. Against such moments, there contrasted
the bed and the Baron Marbot and the candle half-burnt (3.0). This statement showed that
Clarissa was happy when she was young, before the way, before modernity set in. Although she
had various special moments, they faded as soon as they arrived.
Although Clarissa is closely involved with the British society and their ways of living as
the author states, “she too, loving it as she did with an absurd and faithful passion, being part of
it, since her people were courtiers once in the time of the Georges (1.6).” She therefore contends
that modernity and new life forms are important processes in getting rid of past systems and
lifestyles and embracing new forms of living. Modernity in England gave way to the disposal of
old styles of ruling such as the monarchy. The author thereby notes that England failed to get rid
of the old system of ruling and this can be detrimental to the country. The author states, “The
king and Queen were at the palace. And everywhere, though it was still early, there was a
beating, a stirring of galloping ponies, tapping of cricket bats; Lords, Ascot, Ranelagh and all the
rest of it (1.6).” It is therefore important to abolish these form of living to realize modernity as
without the complete overhaul of the system, problems will be later realized.
The author sympathizes with the likes of Hugh who takes the British lifestyle to the
extreme with less regard for modernity. The author notes, “Hugh intimidating by a kind of pout
or swell of his very well-covered, manly, extremely handsome, perfectly upholstered body who
is always sharply dressed due to his job at the court” (1.9). Modernism may sweep the whole
British system and Hugh may be left out. The author identifies Miss Kilman among those left out
by the process of modernization. This is shown on how she is rejected by the society, considering
herself an outsider as she feels weak and unfortunate. The author says, “Year in year out Miss
Kilman wore that coat, she perspired, she was never in the room five minutes without making
you feel her superiority, your inferiority, how poor she was, how rich you were: how she lived in
the slums without a cushion or a bed or a rug or whatever it might be. All her soul rusted with
that grievance sticking in it, her dismissal from school during the war: poor disillusioned and
unfortunate creature” (1.21).
It can be noted that through modernity was a revolutionary activity; Clarissa was fearful
about the process. For example she was appreciative of the old London than the new modern
London. For example although modernism has changed the face of London, there is something
timeless left in the city. For example Clarissa visualizes that the busy streets disappear during the
night and appear as they were before the World War One. She states, “perhaps at midnight, when
all boundaries are lost, the country reverts to its ancient share, as the Romans saw it, lying
cloudy, when they landed, and the hills had no name and rivers wound they knew not where:
such was her darkness” (1.69). Lady Bruton represents the past of the British society away from
the world coupled with modernity. She can be labeled as old as her face wears time through
aging. The site of Lady Bruton by Clarissa frightens her as modernity is seen as a period which
marked her dwindling of life. The author thereby notes. “Clarissa feared time itself and read on
Lady Bruton’s face, as if it had been a dial cut in impassive stone, the dwindling of life, how year
after year her share was sliced”(2.8). She however cherished individual moments that were a
characteristic of the modern world. She notes that the cherished moments are never free as a
person must pay back to those who make the modern world a good place. She states, “One must
pay back from these secret deposit exquisite moments” (2.2).
Mental Illness
Modernity brought about the end of the World War One. Although world peace was
realized, the negative effects of the war had its toll effects to the people. For example Septimus
who fought in the war experienced hallucinations and constant shocks. Septimus would become
terrified when looking at an ordinary thing as a car as it brought in memories of war. In the novel
the author notes, “and there the motor car stood, with drawn blinds and upon them a curious
pattern like a tree, Septimus thought. This brought in together gradual drawing of everything
before his eyes as if some horror had come almost to the surface and was about to burst into
flames, terrified him” (1.33). It can further be established that Septimus experienced sheer
excitement as he saw the elm trees rising and falling with their leaves alight and the color
thinning and thickening in blue to the green of a hollow wave, like plumes on horses’ heads,
feathers on ladies. They rose and fell so proudly that they would have sent him mad (1.62). This
was considered as hallucinations brought about by war coupled with modernity.
Modernity brought with it mental afflictions as a result of the war. Septimus’ madness is
seen as he strives to communicate. The character vision of birds and airplane makes him think
that they try to signal him something. The character also strives to communicate through suicide.
According to the author, “So thought Septimus, looking up, they are signaling to me. Not indeed
in actual words that is he could not read the language yet, but it was plain enough, this beauty,
this exquisite beauty and tears filled his eyes as he looked at the smoke words languishing and
melting in the sky” (1.60).
It can be established that as modernity takes root in many parts of England so does the
level of Septimus madness. This makes it difficult for Lucrezia his wife to enjoy every day
modern living. It is stated, “Rezia cannot side beside Septimus when he stared so and did not see
her and made everything terrible including sky and tree, children playing, dragging carts,
blowing whistles, falling down: all were terrible”(1.66).
Modernity thereby immensely contributed to the madness by Septimus because,
modernity brought about innovations and technological advancements. The craziness of the
streets brought about vivid images of the World War One that drove him mad. In the streets,
vans roared past him; brutality blared out on placards, men were trapped in mines, while women
were burnt alive. Once a maimed file of lunatics being exercised or displayed for the diversion of
the populace who laughed aloud, ambled and nodded and grinned past him. In the Tottenham
Court Road easch half apologetically, yet triumphantly, inflicts his hopeless woes. And would he
go mad? (4.82).
Modernity therefore had remedies for the mental disorder common phenomena in those
modern times after the World War One. There were doctors who were specialized in handling
such cases for example Dr. Bradshaw and Dr. Holmes. However, Dr. Holmes was willing to
ignore the facts of the modern day disease. In the novel it is stated, that he could see the first
moment they came into the room, he was certain directly he saw the man. It was a case of
extreme gravity. It was a case of complete breakdown; complete physical and nervous
breakdown with every symptom in an advanced stage. Dr. Holmes diagnosed the condition in
two or three minutes, writing answers to questions, while he murmured discreetly on a pink card
(4.11). In the other hand, Dr. Bradshaw took care of his patients by denying that they are mad
and judging them as individuals with psychological problems. For example, But he was not mad,
was he? Sir William said that he never spoke of madness; he called it not having a sense of
proportion (4.12).
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the novel addresses modernity in the characters search for
identity, the modern city and its lifestyle and the mental illness and the treatment of Septimus.
The concept of Modernity is captured by the author as Clarissa, Miss Kilman and Septimus are
in search of their sexual identity as it is instrumental in defining it. The concept of modernity has
been instrumental in defining personal characteristic identity for example that of Peter.
Modernity has also been used to conceptualize London in post war period and its subsequent
lifestyle. A case in point is the hassle associated with the post-war London and the partying
lifestyle of Clarissa. Modernity has also been associated with the transformation of people’s
ways of living by shaping their lifestyles. It has also been associated with promoting misery in
comparison to pre-war times. Modernity has also been conceptualized as a factor promoting
mental illness. The case in point in this scenario is one that affects Septimus. This is because
modern facilities such as cars and the hassle of the city life remind Septimus of the World War
One making him mad. It creates in him hallucinations and is thus considered mad. Modernity has
also been at the forefront in promoting the psychological health through availability of doctors
and better treatment of the condition.
References
Hoff, M. (2007). Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway Invisible Presences. Retrieved from
<http://www.clemson.edu/cedp/cudp/pubs/hoff/hoff.pdf>
.