The First World War As A Crucial Issue in Virginia Woolf's Novel Mrs. Dalloway
Introduction
The First World War, also known
as the Great War, was fought from 1914 to 1918. It was a global conflict
involving major powers from Europe and other regions. The war was triggered by
a complex of political, economic, and territorial factors, including alliances
and rivalries between states.
The impact on people during the
First World War was enormous and far-reaching. Millions of soldiers and
civilians lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in
history. The war caused unprecedented devastation, causing the collapse of
empires, social disorder, and economic ruin. Families and communities suffered
as they lost loved ones and faced the challenges of rebuilding their lives
after the war.
On the home front, the war claimed significant civilian casualties as economies were mobilized for the war effort. Women played a key role in the workforce, filling the vacancies of men in the military. The war also brought advances in military technology and medicine, but also exposed the horrors of modern warfare, such as trench warfare and chemical weapons.
The First World War had a
profound impact on both literature and people. In literature, it led to a
significant shift in themes and styles. Many writers, such as Wilfred Owen and
Siegfried Sassoon, vividly depicted the horrors of war and its emotional toll,
ushering in a new era of war poetry. The war also influenced modernist writers
like T.S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf, who explored themes of disillusionment and
fragmentation. For people, the war caused immense suffering and loss, leading
to widespread trauma and changes in societal norms.
Soldiers who have lived through the horrors of the battlefield often suffer from conditions such as shell shock, anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders. Witnessing the loss of comrades and being in constant danger caused enormous psychological stress, causing long-term emotional distress and difficulty adjusting to civilian life after the war. In the novel, Septimus Warren Smith is one of the patient sufferings from shell shock. The impact of the war on civilians was also significant. The pervasive impact of war on daily life has left many feeling hopeless, sad, and anxious.
In addition, the aftermath of
the war brought economic hardship and social disruption, which contributed to
collective disillusionment and loss of faith in traditional values and
institutions. The war experience fundamentally changed people's worldview, which
led to a darker and more cynical view of life.
The psychological impact of war
extended beyond the immediate generation as it affected the upbringing and
values of children and future generations. The collective trauma of the First
World War set the stage for major social changes and shaped the way people
experienced subsequent conflicts and international relations. Overall, the
impact of World War I on the human psyche was profound, shaping the landscape
of mental health and influencing both individual and collective behaviors' for
years to come.
The war's impact on literature
and people highlights the lasting consequences of such conflicts and the way
they shape cultural and societal landscapes for generations to come.
Mrs. Dalloway, which takes place on one day in June 1923, shows how the
First World War continued to affect those who had lived through it, five years
after it ended. It highlights how the aftermath of the
First World War continues to have a profound impact on the characters and the
atmosphere. The trauma of the war remains fresh, and its devastating
consequences are still evident in the lives of those who lost relatives,
friends, and loved ones in the conflict. It emphasizes that the war affected
everyone, regardless of their social standing or background. The war has
engendered a shared sense of grief and loss that unites people across various
strata of society. It is a significant theme in the story, emphasizing that the
consequences of the war are far-reaching and deeply felt.
The novel portrays how
the war has left a lasting imprint on post-war society. Even seemingly ordinary
occurrences, like an aeroplane passing overhead, can trigger unease because it
evokes memories of the German planes that had attacked London during the war.
The anxieties and grief caused by the war are deeply embedded in the collective
consciousness of the people, and they continue to be haunted by the memories of
the unreturned soldiers.
Characters in the novel
are depicted as carrying the emotional burden of the war. Miss Kilman faced
discrimination during the conflict because of her German-sounding surname,
highlighting the pervasive impact of the war on individual lives.
As the grey car moves
through St. James's, Piccadilly, it passes by various onlookers, including
"orphans, widows, the War," symbolizing how the war's shadow still
looms over society. The mention of orphans and widows underscores the profound
human cost of the war, while the reference to "the War" personifies
the war as a presence that continues to haunt the people. Everyone on the
street sees the car driving slowly with "unexplored reserve", trying
to find out who could be inside it. Clarissa and other viewers believe it must
be the Queen, the Prime Minister, or the Royal Government. Septimus is the only
one who looks at the car with horror and fear, “as if some terror had almost
come. Appeared and was about to burst into flames”. Before the war there was a
permanent symbol of power and greatness, but after the war the symbol of
national superiority was hidden behind tinted windows.
"Mrs. Dalloway"
also serves as a commemorative text that memorializes the war dead. Throughout
the novel, various elements of post-war culture and rituals of remembrance are
evoked, and they are treated with reverence and dignity. One notable example is
the use of the fallen leaves’ imagery, which symbolizes the dead. The marching
boy soldiers are likened to a march past of the war dead, and the image of
falling leaves is associated with loss and remembrance.
Characters like Septimus
Warren Smith and the grief-stricken old woman in Regent's Park, and Ms. Kilman’s
visit to the ‘tomb of the unknown warrior’ in Westminster Abbey, to mourn for
her martyr brother further emphasize the theme of collective loss and mourning.
The 'giant figure' of the grey nurse in Regent's Park may allude to Edith
Cavell, the nurse executed by the Germans in October 1915 for aiding Allied
soldiers. The moment of silence at 11 a.m. in the novel mirrors the real-life
Remembrance Sunday ceremony, where a similar silence was observed annually in
November. This silence is not just about mourning but also serves to remind
people of their shared humanity and common experiences, echoing Woolf's purpose
in highlighting social integration amidst the divisions and inequalities
portrayed in the novel.
Septimus stands as a vivid example of what happens to
a person after they've experienced the horrors of war. His story highlights how
war's impact isn't confined to an individual; it reverberates through society,
leaving deep scars on both personal and collective identities. Suffering from a
condition similar to today's post-traumatic stress disorder, Septimus embodies
the emotional turmoil that soldiers often grapple with upon their return to a
society that expects them to seamlessly reintegrate. His anguish serves as a
stark reminder of the emotional devastation that many men faced during that
period. Septimus's pain transcends his own personal struggle; it symbolizes a
broader societal issue. The war, like a dark cavern filled with haunting
memories and trauma, casts a long shadow over his mind. The haunting visions of
his fallen comrade, Evans, are a testament to the psychological wounds
inflicted by the trauma of war. Yet, despite his obvious emotional turmoil, the
people around him remain oblivious to his suffering, lacking both sympathy and
understanding. Even Septimus's wife, Rezia, finds herself trapped within
societal norms and gender roles. Unable to grasp the depth of his inner
torment, she clings to conventional expectations of masculinity, dismissing his
thoughts of suicide as an affront to his manhood. This highlights the stark
dissonance between societal norms and the harsh reality of emotional suffering.
On the flip side of the narrative, Clarissa Dalloway
offers a response to this societal dissonance. Her appearance, almost spectral
due to her illness and pallor, symbolizes the lingering specters of war's
aftermath. Beneath her composed exterior, she conceals a maelstrom of emotional
turmoil, mirroring the inner struggles of those affected by the war.
Paradoxically, Clarissa chooses to align herself with the societal norm of
denial as a coping mechanism. She convinces herself that her pain is unreal,
adopting the collective veneer of societal avoidance. Clarissa's strategy for
averting suffering involves fostering unity among people. She orchestrates
gatherings to create a sense of belonging among like-minded individuals, hoping
to counter the isolation sown by war. However, when Dr. Bradshaw delivers the
news of Septimus's suicide at her party, Clarissa's reaction is not one of
empathy but discomfort. She chastises the Bradshaws for introducing the topic
of death into the carefully constructed space she designed to evade such
discussions.
Mrs. Dalloway also highlights the theme of the inevitability of time and death as a result of aftereffects of war. Woolf uses various symbols such as Big Ben and other clocks to emphasize the mortality of her characters. The First World War played an important role in creating a heightened awareness of the relationship between time and death in British society. This theme is exemplified by the character of Clarissa Dalloway. As she moves through London, the beating of Big Ben often reminds him of the passage of time, giving him a moment to reflect on the tolls of life. Peter Walsh returns to post-war England in 1923 after spending five years in India. During this time, he noticed important changes in the behavior of people and the content of newspapers. For example, issues that were considered socially impossible, such as open discussion of toilets in popular weeklies, are now presented more openly; women started touching up their makeup publicly, hence reflecting changes in social values.
Conclusion
"Mrs. Dalloway"
goes beyond condemning war and militarism; it becomes a memorial for the war
dead and a poignant exploration of collective grief and remembrance. Woolf skillfully
weaves elements of post-war culture and rituals throughout the narrative,
creating a multifaceted portrayal of the lasting impact of war on society and
individuals. Through her work we can
understand how life changed in post-war Britain. She explored various issues
related to Victorian beliefs that were challenged and changed by the aftermath
of the First World War. Some of these topics included acceptable behavior for
men, the status of women in society, the relationship of death to the post-war
period, class hierarchy and the meaning of the ruling class. Woolf subtly
criticizes the social system of the time, showing the thoughts and experiences
of her characters in everyday life. Her novel described changing social
dynamics without specifically mentioning them, implying that British society
was experiencing a sense of revolution and change.
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