Ramblings about Reunions in Mrs. Dalloway
After reading Mrs. Dalloway, I've been thinking about how the characters introduce themselves to each other and what that tells us about their character.
For example, one thing that struck me when I was reading Mrs. Dalloway was Sally Seton's talk with Clarissa when they were reunited at the party. After they both saw each other and greeted each other, the first line of dialogue Virginia Woolf writes is "'I have five enormous boys,' said Sally" (pg. 167). Sally mentions her five children to Peter again on page 82. The fact that Sally Seton said this twice might mean there is some significance to the phrase. Instead of talking about what she has recently done or interesting things that have happened to her, Sally mentions her sons. In addition, I don't have a really concrete idea of what Sally has been doing ever since she left Bourton. Peter went to India, Richard worked in politics, Hugh has a job at court, but Sally? Well, she got married, I guess. A lot of we know Sally has recently done has been rooted around other people. Sally Seton's name now is Lady Rosseter, a name that comes from her husband. Perhaps Sally Seton's identity as Lady Rosseter is rooted in other people, specifically the men in her life.
Another example is when Peter reunites with Clarissa. Peter, in his typical fashion, barges into Clarissa's home when she is having a moment of solitude. Right from the start, Peter has "cut" through Clarissa quiet moment. Indeed Peter has a tendency to barge into many things such as when he interrupted Clarissa and Sally Seton's kiss. Going off on a bit of a tangent, on page 163, when Clarissa says "How delightful to see you!", Peter thinks about how she says that to everyone. Peter thinks Clarissa was "effusive [and] insincere". With that thought in mind, I reexamined, Peter and Clarissa's reunion. When Clarissa and Peter reunite, at first most of their discussion is small talk and Clarissa could easily say the same things to different people. Clarissa says things like, "How heavenly it is to see you again!" and "But it's so extraordinary that you should have come this morning!". However, to a certain extent it's normal to have some "filler" conversation. However, from our position as a reader, we can see that Clarissa has specific thoughts about Peter that she wouldn't have about anyone else. As readers, we are aware of Clarissa and Peter's inner thoughts and yet the dialogue between Peter and Clarissa seems a bit one dimensional compared to their thoughts. Perhaps Peter would like it better, that after knowing Clarissa for a number of years, if Clarissa presents a bit of her inner thoughts? I'm unsure. I also looked at their topics of conversation. Clarissa brings up memories of their time at Bourton, which seems like a typical thing to do when you reunite with someone you haven't met with in a long time. Although, from their inner dialogues, we get a sense of Bourton's importance to each of them yet we don't know if they expressed those feelings to each other.
I wonder how characters would perceive each other if they could hear each other's inner thoughts like the reader. Perhaps Peter would not describe Clarissa as cold or perhaps Peter would still think Clarissa was a snob.
For example, one thing that struck me when I was reading Mrs. Dalloway was Sally Seton's talk with Clarissa when they were reunited at the party. After they both saw each other and greeted each other, the first line of dialogue Virginia Woolf writes is "'I have five enormous boys,' said Sally" (pg. 167). Sally mentions her five children to Peter again on page 82. The fact that Sally Seton said this twice might mean there is some significance to the phrase. Instead of talking about what she has recently done or interesting things that have happened to her, Sally mentions her sons. In addition, I don't have a really concrete idea of what Sally has been doing ever since she left Bourton. Peter went to India, Richard worked in politics, Hugh has a job at court, but Sally? Well, she got married, I guess. A lot of we know Sally has recently done has been rooted around other people. Sally Seton's name now is Lady Rosseter, a name that comes from her husband. Perhaps Sally Seton's identity as Lady Rosseter is rooted in other people, specifically the men in her life.
Another example is when Peter reunites with Clarissa. Peter, in his typical fashion, barges into Clarissa's home when she is having a moment of solitude. Right from the start, Peter has "cut" through Clarissa quiet moment. Indeed Peter has a tendency to barge into many things such as when he interrupted Clarissa and Sally Seton's kiss. Going off on a bit of a tangent, on page 163, when Clarissa says "How delightful to see you!", Peter thinks about how she says that to everyone. Peter thinks Clarissa was "effusive [and] insincere". With that thought in mind, I reexamined, Peter and Clarissa's reunion. When Clarissa and Peter reunite, at first most of their discussion is small talk and Clarissa could easily say the same things to different people. Clarissa says things like, "How heavenly it is to see you again!" and "But it's so extraordinary that you should have come this morning!". However, to a certain extent it's normal to have some "filler" conversation. However, from our position as a reader, we can see that Clarissa has specific thoughts about Peter that she wouldn't have about anyone else. As readers, we are aware of Clarissa and Peter's inner thoughts and yet the dialogue between Peter and Clarissa seems a bit one dimensional compared to their thoughts. Perhaps Peter would like it better, that after knowing Clarissa for a number of years, if Clarissa presents a bit of her inner thoughts? I'm unsure. I also looked at their topics of conversation. Clarissa brings up memories of their time at Bourton, which seems like a typical thing to do when you reunite with someone you haven't met with in a long time. Although, from their inner dialogues, we get a sense of Bourton's importance to each of them yet we don't know if they expressed those feelings to each other.
I wonder how characters would perceive each other if they could hear each other's inner thoughts like the reader. Perhaps Peter would not describe Clarissa as cold or perhaps Peter would still think Clarissa was a snob.
I agree it is very funny to imagine how the characters would react had they known each others thoughts. I think the same question could be applied to modern time. Still now a days you have know clue what the other person is thinking of you especially if it is someone you used to know long ago. It is interesting how Virginia Woolf illustrated this anxious feeling of how other people's opinions of you are so unknown and something we think a lot about. As well as how it still applies today.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Woolf way of writing really shows how her characters think and feel during almost any scene, but they don't really express everything to each other. As you said, it would be one funny fanfic if someone would write down the experiences if thoughts were all spoken out. Its interesting to see how the endings might be different and especially how the assumptions of peter would change. Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteThe problem with them saying everything on their mind to each other is that it would expose Clarissa little mischievous adventure and probably would also ruin her marriage. I mean she thought it herself, she doesn't feel very strongly about Richard.
ReplyDeleteI do think it would be rather interesting if Peter and Clarissa did not have a communication barrier between them, but I am actually glad that the barrier exists. Woolf's novel makes great use of intersubjectivity, and the Peter/Clarissa interactions are pretty much the best examples of it.
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