Mrs Dalloway,published in 1925, is widely accepted as a major work of 20thcentury English literature, because it introduced new stylistic approaches to writing and set basic aesthetic standards for the further development of literary modernism, thereby establishing Virginia Woolf as its leading female representative. Besides, the novel offers a subtle insight into the atmosphere in postwar London society, which was characterized by a feeling of overall destabilization and increasing isolation. Due to various causes, Great Britain’s political, economic, and social spheres had undergone fundamental changes during the previous decades: the rapidly increasing industrialization had completely transformed the working sphere, caused high unemployment rates and further fragmented class divisions, which culminated waves of political and social unrest; revolutionary findings in the natural and medical sciences put the traditional view of man into question and brought about a crisis of faith; beyond, the recent experience of the First World War and its aftermaths added considerably to an ‘atmosphere of gloom and doom’ in Great Britain. Altogether, the loss of belief into progress, the rise of scientific knowledge and the decay of traditional moral values resulted in a ‘disenchanted’ world view; the individual suffered from the growing atmosphere of coldness in society; he was “more isolated than ever before because he [could not] come in under an umbrella of common social forms, and thus escape from his sense of isolation” (Marder 64). Victorian guiding lines offered no adequate solutions for the demands of modern society anymore, and Virginia Woolf “was in accord with many of her contemporaries in rejecting Victorian values. The social code, she felt, had degenerated in most cases into mere formalism. She regarded Victorian morality as unrealistic and suspected those who professed it of hypocrisy” (Marder 47). Furthermore, her living at “a time when the hard-won victories of the suffragettes and women war workers were slowly being translated into law and affecting social attitudes” (Dowling 105) made her particularly interested in the emancipation’s cause, and in many of her essays and articles, Virginia Woolf questioned the traditional, socially constructed gender roles.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Mrs Dalloway in Love
- 2.1. Romantic Love: Clarissa and Peter
- 2.1.1. 'Privacy Over Passion'
- 2.1.2. Peter Walsh in Love
- 2.2. Homoerotic Love: Clarissa and Sally
- 2.2.1. Female Friendship and Homoeroticism
- 2.2.2. Class-Consciousness versus Friendship
- 2.3. Matrimonial Love: Clarissa and Richard
- 2.3.1. 'Together and Apart'
- 2.3.2. Celibacy and (the Lack of) Feminine Warmth
- 2.4. Familiar Relations and Maternal Love
- 2.4.1. The Parry Family
- 2.4.2. Maternal Love: Clarissa and Elizabeth
- 2.1. Romantic Love: Clarissa and Peter
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the portrayal of love in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, exploring its various forms and impacts on the characters. It examines how Woolf uses the novel to explore themes of love within the context of post-war societal changes and the modernist literary movement.
- Different facets of love (romantic, homoerotic, marital, familial)
- The tension between personal desires and societal expectations
- The impact of the past on present relationships
- The role of class and social status in shaping relationships
- The exploration of inner lives and subjective experience in modernist literature
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the analysis of love in Mrs. Dalloway. It situates the novel within the broader context of 20th-century English literature and the modernist movement, highlighting Woolf's innovative stylistic approaches and her focus on the subjective experience of individuals in a rapidly changing post-war society. The chapter explores the societal upheaval in Britain at the time, emphasizing themes of disillusionment, isolation, and the breakdown of traditional values. This backdrop sets the stage for understanding the complexities of the relationships explored in the subsequent chapters. The introduction also lays out the focus of the paper – to analyze different forms of love portrayed in the novel through the lens of Clarissa Dalloway's relationships.
2. Mrs Dalloway in Love: This chapter provides an overview of the various love relationships within the novel, serving as a framework for the detailed analysis presented in the following sub-chapters. It introduces Clarissa Dalloway's key relationships – her romantic past with Peter Walsh, her complex friendship with Sally Seton, her marriage to Richard Dalloway, and her relationship with her daughter Elizabeth. This chapter highlights the central theme of the multiplicity of love and its diverse manifestations, setting the stage for examining each relationship individually in the subsequent sections.
Keywords
Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, Modernism, Love, Romantic Love, Homoerotic Love, Matrimonial Love, Familial Love, Post-War Society, Stream-of-Consciousness, Subjectivity, Psychological Realism, Social Class, Gender Roles.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Love in Virginia Woolf's *Mrs. Dalloway*
What is the overall focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the diverse portrayals of love in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, examining its various forms (romantic, homoerotic, marital, familial) and their impact on the characters. It explores how Woolf uses the novel to illustrate these themes within the context of post-war societal changes and the modernist literary movement.
What key themes are explored in the analysis of *Mrs. Dalloway*?
The analysis delves into several key themes: the different facets of love; the tension between personal desires and societal expectations; the impact of the past on present relationships; the role of class and social status in shaping relationships; and the exploration of inner lives and subjective experience in modernist literature.
What are the main relationships analyzed in the paper?
The paper focuses on Clarissa Dalloway's key relationships: her romantic past with Peter Walsh; her complex friendship with Sally Seton; her marriage to Richard Dalloway; and her relationship with her daughter Elizabeth. These relationships serve as case studies to explore the multifaceted nature of love.
How is the paper structured?
The paper is structured into chapters and sub-chapters. It begins with an introduction that sets the context, followed by a chapter dedicated to the various love relationships in *Mrs. Dalloway*. Subsequent sections provide in-depth analyses of specific relationships, exploring themes such as romantic love, homoerotic love, marital love, and familial love. Chapter summaries are also provided.
What is the significance of the time period in which *Mrs. Dalloway* is set?
The paper emphasizes the importance of the post-war societal context of *Mrs. Dalloway*. It highlights the themes of disillusionment, isolation, and the breakdown of traditional values that shaped the characters' experiences and relationships.
What literary techniques are considered in the analysis?
The analysis considers Woolf's innovative stylistic approaches, particularly her use of stream-of-consciousness narration and her focus on subjective experience. The paper also touches upon elements of psychological realism.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, Modernism, Love (Romantic Love, Homoerotic Love, Matrimonial Love, Familial Love), Post-War Society, Stream-of-Consciousness, Subjectivity, Psychological Realism, Social Class, Gender Roles.
What kind of information does the provided HTML include?
The HTML provides a comprehensive language preview, including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. This structured format allows for a clear understanding of the academic paper's scope and content.
- Quote paper
- Mieke Schüller (Author), 2005, "Mrs Dalloway" in Love, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/44868
