Life & Death of the Soul
The life and death of the soul is an interconnected theme. Death is a very common theme which has been used from ancient times to modern times both in philosophy and literature. It reminds that we are alive and gives meaning to our lives because we know it won't last forever so the death makes it more meaningful. This theme is seen in many of the works of Virginia Woolf such as 'the lighthouse' as this book explores memory, time, and what it's like to be a person. It shows how the character thinks and feels inside, and how they think about time passing and the soul lasting forever. Another book is ‘The Waves’ which is a unique novel that takes us through the lives of six characters from childhood to old age. Instead of regular storytelling, the book shows their thoughts and feelings in a beautiful and musical way. This novel represents how the souls of individuals are connected to each other, how time passes, and how our life experiences influence and change our inner selves until the end of our lives.
Now in the novel ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ by
Virginia Woolf, the thought of death is always present in the mind of Clarissa
especially because she has experienced the loss of her family and lived through
World War 1. As we delve into the events gradually, we see that the character
grapples with their desires, pasts, inevitability and the regrets of mortality.
Through the character's thoughts, we explore the ideas of life and death. The
main character in the story is Clarissa Dalloway, and she seems to have a good
and comfortable life. But deep down she keeps on feeling empty and afraid of
growing old. Her inner thoughts and memories reveal
that she wishes for a more meaningful and connected existence.
The Essence of Time
In the novel Mrs.
Dalloway, there is a shift of time & the characters present in novel they
are shift from original timing to the real which presented in the novel
Clarissa has created her own world and she is escaping from the real world and
it’s timing so she created her own world and imagine high class people around
her she goes to the shopping. She goes for the bus drive and she is lost in her
own imaginary world she has no clue what is going around her and where she is
imagining people around her partying tension free. The novel shows us that the
characters have imaginary world but afterwards they realize the actually
situation and real time according to the novel this shows that how the
characters are so much involved in their selves and not having an idea what is
going through in the real world. This shows their irresponsibility towards the
society they lived their life in past & present they analyze about the past
then created their own imaginary world the importance of time in present they
didn’t value it and waste thinking about the past. There are some people in the
novel who are actually living in the present and not thinking about past
& criticizing it Septimus & Mrs. Dalloway are actually the people living
in present and working on it so the future can be bright for them. So there
focus is on the present rather then criticizing it and Clarissa, Peter, &
Rezia are living in past and thinking of correcting their mistakes they had
just waste time specifically Clarissa who is not ready to accept the reality
and escaping the reality & she is partying and ignoring the events which
takes place in reality.
Here we can see that
the characters of the novel have no idea about the time & events which are
happening around them they were constantly fluctuations takes place and the characters
realize the time & events are taking place but then they go into their
imagination, and they have lost themselves in that so intense that everything
is happening to their imagination. There is no clue what is happening what not
they are very deeply in the thought that world is working according to them.
They are just living in the imagination and they are controlling the world.
Novel shows that how careless these characters are and how time is flying away.
Eternal disturbance
Clarissa is frequently described as
frigid throughout the narrative, as though she lacked something that warmed
other humans. Clarissa is described as a prude in Peter’s memories because she
is repulsed by the idea of a woman being pregnant before marriage. Clarissa’s demeanor
toward Richard is also suggestive. She is eager to give Richard a maternal
instinct. Clarissa hastily ignores Peter’s awakening of a desire in her for
more serene, regulated emotions. The reminiscence also highlights Peter’s
overabundance of emotion, as he allows his emotions to govern him. He can
predict future events based on his intuition, such as his belief that Clarissa
and Richard would marry. Memory is also present. The flashback also depicts
Clarissa and Peter’s breakup, which plagues both characters throughout the
narrative. Clarissa is getting ready for the party she’ll be throwing that
evening. The florist was the first stop. It’s significant that Clarissa is
helping to put the party together rather than merely planning it. Her events are
very important to her, and she works very hard to make them flawless.
Clarissa’s party brings back memories for many of the people, and recollections
are constantly braided into the characters’ present-day thinking. each
character is affected differently by their past. Clarissa receives an
unannounced visit from her old suitor, Peter Walsh. During their brief
encounter, it is made plain that he is still very much in love with her.
Clarissa cherishes some memories, like being kissed by Sally Seton. These moments
are the most cherished of her life.
In Mrs. Dalloway, the past affects each
character differently. Clarissa’s old admirer, Peter Walsh, shows up
unannounced. They had a brief encounter during which it becomes evident that he
is far from past his feelings for her. Clarissa invites Peter to her party as
he rushes out the door after an embarrassing sob session (on Peter’s behalf).
Certain memories, like as receiving a kiss from Sally Seton, are highly vivid
(and considerably happy) for Clarissa. She remembers these times as the best of
her life. For Peter, the past is primarily painful: he still can’t get over his
love for Clarissa, so he goes to Bourton every summer to try to make sense of
what occurred. Memories are disturbing and sad for Septimus. He continues to
have hallucinations of Evans being slain, and memories of the conflict dominate
his mind. Though he attempts to find beauty, horrible memories of the past
disturb his present. Clarissa reflects on her life in London and marriage to
Richard Dalloway as she goes about her day. Her former suitor evokes further
recollections of the past, including her passionate encounter with Sally Seton
and her initial meeting with Richard. Clarissa lives in the future rather than
the past. Peter is preoccupied with the past because he is ashamed of who he
has become in the present.
The journey of soul
In the novel Mrs. Dalloway, we can see that there are
a lot of changes in the life of the characters due to one or the other reasons.
Here there are different souls in the novel and hence each of the souls has its
own journey. Today will be discussing the journey of Clarissa the female
protagonist of the novel, Peter who is the lover of Clarissa, Septimus who is a
soldier and also a man having shell shock syndrome. Let's talk about the
journey of these three characters in detail which have been mentioned below:
Clarissa Dalloway
The journey of Clarissa Dalloway in the book Mrs.
Dalloway is one of reflection, self-awareness, and acceptance. The story
follows Clarissa as she goes about her day getting ready for an event she's
giving that evening. Clarissa muses on the past, the relationships in her life,
and her own mortality as she goes about her daily activities. Although she
accepts that she has made mistakes in the past, she also acknowledges that she
has lived a full and meaningful life. Meeting Septimus Warren Smith, a shell-shocked
war veteran who is battling his own mental health, is one of Clarissa's most
significant turning points. Clarissa feels that Septimus reflects the upheaval
she is experiencing herself.
Clarissa has a new perspective on who she is and where
she fits in the world by the conclusion of the day. She understands that while
she is not perfect, she is not alone. She shares the experience of life with
others, both alive and deceased. The beauty of the world around her gives her
optimism despite the fact that she recognizes death as a fact of life.
The path of Clarissa is one that many people can
identify with. It is a path of understanding, acceptance, and optimism for
oneself. It is a voyage that serves as a reminder that light can always be
found even in the depths of darkness.
Peter Walsh
In Virginia Woolf's
novel Mrs. Dalloway, Peter Walsh is a complex and engaging character. He is a
past suitor of Clarissa Dalloway, and the narrative follows him on a day in
1923 as he travels across London.
The inner path of Peter is one of self-discovery and reconnection. Initially, he is filled with sorrow and hatred for the decisions he has made in his life. He believes he has squandered his potential and is plagued by the thought of Clarissa, whom he believes has always been out of reach.
As Peter wanders
throughout London, he has a sequence of epiphanies. He understands he has been
living in the past and has to start living in the present now.
He also recognizes
that he needs to forgive himself for his breakdowns and find a way to connect
with others on a deeper level.
Peter has gone a long
way on his spiritual journey by the end of the story. He still has questions
and insecurities, but he is more hopeful and optimistic about the future. He
has finally come to grips with his past and is ready to begin living a more
rewarding life.
Septimus
In Virginia Woolf's
novel Mrs. Dalloway, Septimus Warren Smith's soul journey is one of pain,
loneliness, and, ultimately, suicide. Septimus is a shell-shocked World War I
soldier plagued by wartime memories and the loss of his friend Evans. He is
unable to connect with the outside world, and he is becoming increasingly
isolated and alone.
Septimus' mental
state worsens as the narrative progresses. He starts hearing voices and becomes
increasingly paranoid and deluded. He also develops a strong desire to die,
feeling that it is the only way for him to be free of his misery.
Septimus eventually
kills himself by jumping from a building's roof. His death is a tragedy, but it
also serves a purpose.
Soul haunted by war
Even
though war is barely mentioned a few times, the First World War has a
significant impact on Mrs. Dalloway. The conflict has had a great impact on the
characters, both those who fought and those who did not. Septimus Warren Smith
is the most prominent example of the war's impact. He's a devastated veteran
with post-traumatic stress disorder. A psychiatrist diagnosed him with the
shell shock in which he had vision and thinks that he sees his friend Evans who
was killed during the war. He is tormented by wartime memories and has
difficulty distinguishing reality from his fantasy. As a result of his
incapacity to cope with the sorrow of his experiences, he eventually commits
suicide. Septimus is affected by the war throughout the narrative. He is
frequently perceived as being distant from reality, and he has difficulty
interacting with others. He is also prone to outbreaks of rage and has frequent
glimpses of the dead.
Septimus's relationship with his wife, Rezia, was one of the most fundamental ways in which the war affected him. Rezia is a caring and sensitive lady, yet she cannot fully comprehend Septimus's experiences. She tries to assist him, but she frequently feels frustrated and powerless.
The suicide of Septimus is a devastating
criticism of the war. It demonstrates the devastation that war can inflict on
individuals and families. It also emphasizes the significance of providing
sufficient care for soldiers suffering from PTSD
The
war had an impact on society in addition to its personal impact on Septimus.
The conflict destroyed the illusion of order and stability, leaving people
jaded and distrustful. The conflict also caused a fall in religious faith, as
individuals began to doubt the presence of a loving God.
Woolf depicts the devastation of war on individuals and society via the character of Septimus. She also looks at trauma, loss, and the challenge of moving on after a conflict.
Conclusion
The
idea of the soul's life and death is essential to Virginia Woolf's Mrs.
Dalloway. The novel investigates the various ways in which people experience
life and death, both literally and metaphorically.
Death
is a lurking presence that some characters, like as Clarissa Dalloway, can
never entirely escape. Clarissa is haunted by her late friend Sally Seton's memories,
and she frequently feels as if she is living in the shadow of death. She takes
solace, though, in the beauty of life, and she is resolved to enjoy each day to
the utmost.
Other
characters, such as Septimus Warren Smith, are painfully conscious of life's
transience. Septimus has been through a horrible battle experience and has come
to feel that death is the only way out of his pain. He eventually kills
himself, but his death is not meaningless. His suicide acts as a reminder of
the frailty of life, as well as a wake-up call to others about their own
mortality.
The
concept of the soul's life and death has influenced all of the novel's
characters in various ways. It has caused worry and anxiety in some people.
Others have found it to be a source of inspiration and encouragement. However,
it is a reality that all of the characters must face.
The novel implies that it is ultimately up to
us how we deal with the fact of death. We can either live in terror of it or
live in the present moment and appreciate the beauty of life.
REFERENCES
Primary Source:
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Secondary Sources:
1.Mrs DallowayWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org
› wiki › Mrs_Dalloway
2.Mrs.
Dalloway: ThemesSparkNoteshttps://www.sparknotes.com › lit › dalloway › themes
4.War and its
Aftereffects in Mrs. Dalloway - Jetir.orgJetir.orghttps://www.jetir.org ›
papers
👌👌👌
ReplyDelete👌👌👌
ReplyDelete