Virginia Woolf’s most famous novel was published on the 14th of May, 1925. The work sprang from two short stories: ‘Mrs Dalloway in Bond Street’ and ‘The Prime Minister’, which Woolf never completed.
Background of Mrs Dalloway
The Dalloways made their original appearance in Virginia Woolf’s fiction in the author’s first novel, The Voyage Out, in which they are minor characters. They also appear in four other short stories by Woolf: ‘The New Dress’, ‘Together and Apart’, ‘The Man Who Loved His Kind’ and ‘A Summing Up’. All of the above contain parties hosted by Mrs Dalloway.
Style of the Novel
Mrs Dalloway is written in the form of a stream of consciousness, which allows the reader to access the characters’ thoughts and emotions in a way that would otherwise be impossible. Woolf’s work is said to be the literary equivalent of the cubist art movement.
Indeed, Mrs Dalloway is a novel in which the lines between thought and speech are blurred. It is undoubtedly a novel that requires the reader to spend time delving into its complexities.
Synopsis
Ostensibly, the novel charts the events of one day in the life of Mrs Dalloway, while she prepares for a party. However, this is mixed with flashbacks of a summer some thirty years previously. She reminisces about meeting her husband, Richard and the exciting rival for her affections, Peter Walsh.
Mrs Dalloway also illustrates the aftermath of the First World War. Septimus Smith is a veteran of the war, whose story is told in tandem with Mrs Dalloway's. Septimus suffers from shell-shock and experiences frightening hallucinations. He is also vehemently against the assistance of doctors.
Women in Mrs Dalloway
Mrs Dalloway can be interpreted as a comment on 1920s society, where women were repressed sexually and economically. The role of women was to be ‘The Angel in The House’. Mrs Dalloway represents the typical social expectations of women. Even Sally Seton, who had been a rebellious young woman has become a respectable housewife and mother to five boys.
Virginia Woolf suggests a homosexual relationship between Clarissa Dalloway and Sally Seton. The reader is told that Mrs Dalloway feels “as men feel” towards women. In addition, as young women the pair shared a passionate kiss, a moment that Clarissa considers to be one of the happiest of her life.
Doctors and Mental Illness
Septimus Smith’s mental malaise can be seen as a criticism of the treatment of mental illness. In fact, the many voices of the novel are united on one point: The ineffectiveness of doctors. Woolf’s own battle with bouts of depression and mania are clearly present within the text.
Adaptations of The Novel
The passing of time is a fundamental element of the novel, illustrated by the repeated chiming of the clock. Originally, Woolf entitled the story The Hours. A title which was later used by Michael Cunningham for his novel, in which Mrs Dalloway featured.
Mrs Dalloway was adapted for the big screen in the 1997 film, directed by Marleen Gorris, and starring Vanessa Redgrave and Rupert Graves. The novel was adapted by actress and screenwriter Eileen Atkins, upon the suggestion of Vanessa Redgrave.
Samantha Markham - Samantha Markham is a professional freelance writer with a particular passion for literary and theatrical subjects.
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