Mrs. Dalloway
In her novel, Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf explores the theme of appearance versus reality and its effects through the perspective of her character Clarissa Dalloway. Clarissa continually appears to have a life of perfection and happiness to those who surround her. However, Woolf enters the inner thoughts of this character and reveals that Clarissa is unhappy and dissatisfied with the emptiness in her life. Clarissa's life exemplifies that by attempting to maintain an image on the exterior a person sinks into a state of loneliness and depression on the interior. It is evident from the lifestyle which Clarissa leads, that she is wealthy and can afford to indulge in anything she wishes to. Clarissa truly enjoys this wealth, and appreciates having the status of an upper middle class woman. However, Clarissa did not earn this wealth. In order to become a high member of society she marries Richard Dalloway. However, she feels she owes Richard because he "...was the foundation..." (29) of the life she has. Clarissa feels emptiness in her marriage, and believes that "...she had failed him" (31). Her feelings for her husband are not of passion and love. Clarissa begins to slip into deep thoughts about her relationship with h
As she walks by a mirror Clarissa thinks ". She has no real purpose in society, or at home. All of her guests are acquaintances and come to her parties to uphold their own social status. Appearances can be false and an image which may appear to be positive on the outside can often be different from what is inside of a person. When she learns of Septimus's suicide she does not pity him. The only real feeling which Clarissa holds is hate. "Sally it was who made her feel, for the first time, how sheltered the life at Bourton was" (33). Although Clarissa chooses to wear a dress which is elaborate enough to wear at Buckingham Palace, she is only attempting to hide the real her insecurities. She decides to wear her favorite dress made by Sally Parker. Clarissa takes the time to repair the dress because it will represent an image of perfection at the gathering.
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