Mrs. Dalloway: A Study in Comparison, Essay Example

The article “Mrs. Dalloway: a study in comparison” by Wright evaluates the level and type of construction that exists in Virginia Woolf’s prolific story (351). The book is complex in that it conveys a number of multi-faceted approaches to address the characters within the story and emphasizes their ongoing journey. The book accurately conveys one of Woolf’s most important characteristics as a writer, her ability to be effective in her efforts to write a story that has meaning and significance for her readers. The story also supports an effective understanding of the issues that are most prevalent in Woolf’s thematic representations, which pose a series of questions that impact these characters and the analysis that is conducted (Wright 351). This story projects the importance of understanding the dynamic between the primary characters and not only how they interact, but also their emotional context in order to achieve an effective understanding of their motivation (Wright 351).

The article focuses on the lives of the characters that are represented in Mrs. Galloway and how they shape the story and Woolf’s perspective (Wright 351). There are several characters to consider that are described in the book, such as the Dalloways, Sally Seton, Peter Walsh, Septimus, and many others (Wright 351). The story conveys the importance of these characters and how they are influenced by their actions and their respective characters; however, Clarissa is clearly the protagonist of the story and is expressed throughout as a driving force of the novel (Wright 351). Furthermore, her relationship with Peter Walsh is significant to the story, as this relationship largely becomes the focus of Clarissa’s world and her experiences (Wright 351). This part of the story is represented by an exploration of Clarissa’s motivation for potentially ending her life, which is conveyed in the book as a means of understanding her own actions and relationships (Wright 352). Clarissa’s character is portrayed as a significant contributor to the book and provides greater evidence of her ability to achieve her own sense of self-awareness that runs rampant throughout the book in different ways (Wright 352). Throughout the story, Clarissa is instrumental in driving the story and in recognizing the importance of Woolf’s focus on her character as key to the story on many levels (Wright 352).

The story also conveys a number of important psychological themes, all of which represent different meanings (Wright 353). These themes include self-consciousness, as exhibited by Clarissa; memory, as exhibited by Peter Walsh through his different relationships in the novel; self-annihilation, as exhibited by Septimus in his actions; and nationalism, which is represented by the lords, ladies, and other members of English society in significant ways (Wright 353). In this context, these characters represent a challenge to the status quo in a society that they desperately support, thereby creating an environment that embraces change and progress (Wright 353). At the same time, the story represents specific periods of time in a manner that is consistent with a limited focus on chapters and a greater focus on time (Wright 355). The clock is a prominent component of the story, as it provides further evidence of the challenges associated with new directions in supporting growth and change that impact the lives of individuals within the story (Wright 355). This symbol supports an understanding of the issues that are most prevalent to the characters of the story and their overall influence on the passage of time and how it inadvertently impacts their lives (Wright 355). In this context, it is observed that timing means almost everything within the book, as it frames different stories and experiences in such a way that they are impacted by specific factors that are associated with personal growth and development within the story (Wright 356).

It is strongly evident that the story depicts a greater sense of discovery and analysis that influences the symbols set forth in the story and their impact on the psychological perspectives of these characters as they move throughout the story (Wright 356). This perspective supports the argument that there are significant patterns of thought and analysis that must be considered, as they support the development of new attitudes and perceptions of success that are framed in the book as a means of directing new approaches to better understand the intersection of time and how it heals people on a gradual basis (Wright 356). From this perspective, it is evident that the primary and secondary characters of the book undergo a transformation of sorts, as they recognize the importance of developing new perspectives and challenges that may have a significant impact on their health and wellbeing, while also considering other factors that support the transition to growth and change (Wright 356).

The story provides further evidence that the creation of an environment of change requires new directions and strategies that impact these characters in different ways, while also exploring other insights that might contribute to their growth and maturity throughout the novel (Wright 356). From this perspective, it may be argued that there are significant opportunities in the book to explore the lives of these characters and to recognize their value and contributions to the story as a whole (Wright 356). As a result, it is evident that the transitions that each character experiences in the novel is representative of his or her own experiences and level of self-awareness, all of which contributes to an effective approach to overcoming personal adversity, loneliness, and a host of other emotions that have a negative impact on these characters in different ways. It is important to identify with these perspectives, as they promote a greater sense of discovery of the issues that are most important from Woolf’s perspective and how they impact a greater sense of personal self-discovery and self-reflection that is imperative to the novel and the story that is told.

Works Cited

Benjamin, Anna S. “Towards an understanding of the meaning of Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway.”” Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature, 6.2(1965): 214-227.

Wright, Nathalia. “Mrs. Dalloway: A study in comparison.” College English, 5(7), 351-358.