"(Sally was fifty-five, in body, she said, but her heart was like a girl's of twenty)".
This quote is a good solid representation of how people need to be more accepting of death. There is no point in getting caught up in age for death is a definite thing no matter how old you are. So, instead of worrying about how old you are, it is more important to live life freely and in the moment, and accept that one day your life will end.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Death&Time (Mrs. Dalloway)
"The young man had killed himself; but she did not pity him; with the clock striking the hour, one, two, three, she did not pity him, with all this going on." (186)
Death -
Death plays a major role in not only Mrs. Dalloway but in Virginia Woolf's life. Little everyday items is not all she includes from her life. She also includes her own personal thoughts about death. Woolf commits suicide and has a character do this in the novel as well. She also alludes to Othello a handful of times which is a story about suicide and death.
Time-
A major part of Mrs. Dalloway is time. Woolf links time along with death. Time is a fraction of being able to understand death. Other pieces such as happiness, a deeper meaning to life and accepting that we are only on this earth for a short time work together to achieve being able to accept death. Ironically, this novel that has so much to do with time that it was almost named The Hours.
Death -
Death plays a major role in not only Mrs. Dalloway but in Virginia Woolf's life. Little everyday items is not all she includes from her life. She also includes her own personal thoughts about death. Woolf commits suicide and has a character do this in the novel as well. She also alludes to Othello a handful of times which is a story about suicide and death.
Time-
A major part of Mrs. Dalloway is time. Woolf links time along with death. Time is a fraction of being able to understand death. Other pieces such as happiness, a deeper meaning to life and accepting that we are only on this earth for a short time work together to achieve being able to accept death. Ironically, this novel that has so much to do with time that it was almost named The Hours.
Fleet Street (Mrs. Dalloway)
"She looked up Fleet Street." (137)
Fleet Street is a place in England where there are a lot of shops. Not only does Woolf add more London character to the novel by mention this famous street, but she also makes a reference that is familiar to readers. In Heart of Darkness, (71) Marlow talks about walking down Fleet Street. By making a reference that is familiar to most readers, Woolf makes you feel as though you know exactly where she is talking about. She also enriches her text by adding other small touches of everyday life in London.
Fleet Street is a place in England where there are a lot of shops. Not only does Woolf add more London character to the novel by mention this famous street, but she also makes a reference that is familiar to readers. In Heart of Darkness, (71) Marlow talks about walking down Fleet Street. By making a reference that is familiar to most readers, Woolf makes you feel as though you know exactly where she is talking about. She also enriches her text by adding other small touches of everyday life in London.
Othello (Mrs. Dalloway)
"Her husband was very seriously ill, Sir William said. Did he threaten to kill himself?" (96)
Woolf uses Sir Williams to connect Mrs. Dalloway with Othello. Othello is a tale about a husband who is so jealous that ends up killing his wife, and later on ends up killing himself. Othello is another work by Shakespeare.
Woolf uses Sir Williams to connect Mrs. Dalloway with Othello. Othello is a tale about a husband who is so jealous that ends up killing his wife, and later on ends up killing himself. Othello is another work by Shakespeare.
Religious ecstasy (Mrs. Dalloway)
". . .and how she dressed, how she treated people who came to lunch she did not care a but, it being her experience that the religious ecstasy made people callous. . ." (12)
Religious ecstasy is a state that changes your mind and bodies perception on things. Many different things can induce this such as drugs, coffee and fasting. Woolf is an extremely interesting person and that may be why she includes this unique phrase in her novel.
Religious ecstasy is a state that changes your mind and bodies perception on things. Many different things can induce this such as drugs, coffee and fasting. Woolf is an extremely interesting person and that may be why she includes this unique phrase in her novel.
Soapy Sponge (Mrs. Dalloway)
"There were Soapy Sponge and Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs. . ." (10)
Soapy Sponge and Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs are also both literary works from London. Woolf includes Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs which is actually quite interesting. That piece of work used to be very controversial and was accused of not telling the truth. This book was in the new bazaar in town where women seemed to gather which reflects how women used to discuss Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs in real life.
Although in real life women gathered and talked about literature together, information they discussed was not always true. Stories got twisted and rumours were spread. Readers need to look deep int Mrs. Dalloway and distinguish the truth in this well crafted novel. Clarissa was not a truthful person and readers were able to learn this by reading about her thoughts. She was able to conceal her true feelings behind a fake smile and "delightful" party.
Soapy Sponge and Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs are also both literary works from London. Woolf includes Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs which is actually quite interesting. That piece of work used to be very controversial and was accused of not telling the truth. This book was in the new bazaar in town where women seemed to gather which reflects how women used to discuss Mrs. Asquith's Memoirs in real life.
Although in real life women gathered and talked about literature together, information they discussed was not always true. Stories got twisted and rumours were spread. Readers need to look deep int Mrs. Dalloway and distinguish the truth in this well crafted novel. Clarissa was not a truthful person and readers were able to learn this by reading about her thoughts. She was able to conceal her true feelings behind a fake smile and "delightful" party.
Jorrock's (Mrs. Dalloway)
"There were Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities." (10)
Jorrock's Jaunts and Jollities is simply a sports magazines from the 1830's. Woolf adds this minuscule detail in to enrich the text with common everyday life objects and ideas to make the novel seem more realistic.
Jorrock's Jaunts and Jollities is simply a sports magazines from the 1830's. Woolf adds this minuscule detail in to enrich the text with common everyday life objects and ideas to make the novel seem more realistic.
Shakespeare (Mrs. Dalloway)
"Fear no more the heat o' sun
Nor the furious winter's rages." (9)
Shakespeare is referenced numerous times throughout Mrs. Dalloway. The reason Woolf may have kept referencing Shakespeare is because a great deal of his work is about death. Mrs. Dalloway is about the fear of death as well as accepting it. This Shakespeare excerpt really captures the importance of accepting that life comes to an end. Shakespeare tells readers to no fear the heat of the sun nor the harsh winter - Woolf includes this specific quote to teach readers to be accepting of death rather than fearing it. She shares throughout the novel how she sees death as somewhat of an enlightening experience.
Nor the furious winter's rages." (9)
Shakespeare is referenced numerous times throughout Mrs. Dalloway. The reason Woolf may have kept referencing Shakespeare is because a great deal of his work is about death. Mrs. Dalloway is about the fear of death as well as accepting it. This Shakespeare excerpt really captures the importance of accepting that life comes to an end. Shakespeare tells readers to no fear the heat of the sun nor the harsh winter - Woolf includes this specific quote to teach readers to be accepting of death rather than fearing it. She shares throughout the novel how she sees death as somewhat of an enlightening experience.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Piccadilly (Mrs. Dalloway)
"She stood for a moment, looking st the omnibuses in Piccadilly." (8)
Located in Westminster, Piccadilly was merely the name of a street. Woolf includes lots of minuscule details from street names to the tiny shops of London because that is where she was from and lived her life. Throughout the whole story, she incorporates many of her own life experiences through the characters of Mrs. Dalloway.
Located in Westminster, Piccadilly was merely the name of a street. Woolf includes lots of minuscule details from street names to the tiny shops of London because that is where she was from and lived her life. Throughout the whole story, she incorporates many of her own life experiences through the characters of Mrs. Dalloway.
Prime Minister (Mrs. Dalloway)
"She would marry a Prime Minister. . ." (7)
Before World War I the figure of a Prime Minister was much more powerful and respected then during the aftermath of this life/history changing event. After the war, the Prime Minister and other head figures from different countries were minimizing in value to the people. Woolf has Peter tell Clarissa that she will marry a Prime Minister and become "the perfect hostess" (7) as an insult meaning that she is somewhat superficial and shallow. The position of the Prime Minister's wife can be seen as superficial because although you may be in the spotlight, you are there solely from a connection to someone famous.
Before World War I the figure of a Prime Minister was much more powerful and respected then during the aftermath of this life/history changing event. After the war, the Prime Minister and other head figures from different countries were minimizing in value to the people. Woolf has Peter tell Clarissa that she will marry a Prime Minister and become "the perfect hostess" (7) as an insult meaning that she is somewhat superficial and shallow. The position of the Prime Minister's wife can be seen as superficial because although you may be in the spotlight, you are there solely from a connection to someone famous.
Fleet & Admiralty (Mrs. Dalloway)
"Messages were passing from the Fleet to the Admiralty." (7)
The Admiralty used to be the ones responsible for the "Royal Navy" of the United kingdom. (The Royal Navy is the oldest of all of the armed forces.) In military terms, a fleet is the largest formation of an Navy organization and usually consists of a large number of warships. Woolf quickly makes a reference to the Navy in Mrs. Dalloway because the books setting is right around the time of World War I. This war had an effect on everyone who was alive during the time it took place and for many years after.
The Admiralty used to be the ones responsible for the "Royal Navy" of the United kingdom. (The Royal Navy is the oldest of all of the armed forces.) In military terms, a fleet is the largest formation of an Navy organization and usually consists of a large number of warships. Woolf quickly makes a reference to the Navy in Mrs. Dalloway because the books setting is right around the time of World War I. This war had an effect on everyone who was alive during the time it took place and for many years after.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Westminster (Mrs. Dalloway)
"For having living in Westminster--how many years now? (4)
Woolf makes the setting of Mrs. Dalloway in Westminster. This is just one of the first countless examples throughout the novel that relate to Woolf's life as she was born in London, England. Although readers may not like how the novel takes place in one day, they are enriched with facts and events that took place in the authors life.
Woolf makes the setting of Mrs. Dalloway in Westminster. This is just one of the first countless examples throughout the novel that relate to Woolf's life as she was born in London, England. Although readers may not like how the novel takes place in one day, they are enriched with facts and events that took place in the authors life.
Pocket-knife (Mrs. Dalloway)
". . . his eyes, his pocket-knife, his smile, his grumpiness and; when millions of things had utterly vanished--how strange it was!--a few sayings like this about cabbages." (4)
Peter Walsh is a man who can never seem to make up his mind. Woolf has Peter on the fence with a lot of different ideas and events that take place. Instead of straight out telling the reader this, Woolf has Peter play around with his pocket knife on numerous occasions: opening and closing it repeatedly. The pocket-knife never really being opened or closed, shows who Peter never really is sure about anything.
Peter Walsh is a man who can never seem to make up his mind. Woolf has Peter on the fence with a lot of different ideas and events that take place. Instead of straight out telling the reader this, Woolf has Peter play around with his pocket knife on numerous occasions: opening and closing it repeatedly. The pocket-knife never really being opened or closed, shows who Peter never really is sure about anything.
Waves (Mrs. Dalloway)
". . . like the flap of a wave; the kiss of a wave; chill and sharp. . ." (3)
Throughout Mrs. Dalloway, waves are used as representation for different concerns and issues. Virginia Woolf makes a connection between death and waves; Perhaps she makes that connection because waves bring up "old and lost" memories from the sea. Or because once each wave crashes up to shore, it is in a sense saying goodbye, for there will not be another one exactly like it. However, waves can also be seen as a new beginning, bringing those old washed up items back to life. Always full of energy, yet sometimes hiding what is deep inside.
Throughout Mrs. Dalloway, waves are used as representation for different concerns and issues. Virginia Woolf makes a connection between death and waves; Perhaps she makes that connection because waves bring up "old and lost" memories from the sea. Or because once each wave crashes up to shore, it is in a sense saying goodbye, for there will not be another one exactly like it. However, waves can also be seen as a new beginning, bringing those old washed up items back to life. Always full of energy, yet sometimes hiding what is deep inside.
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