Mrs Dalloway By Virgina Woolf

Mrs Dalloway By Virginia Woolf

Mrs Dalloway, written by Virginia Woolf and first published in 1925, examines one day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class Londoner married to a member of Parliament. Through multiple stories, the novel addresses the nature of time in personal experience, particularly that of Clarissa as she prepares for and hosts a party, and that of World War I veteran Septimus Warren Smith, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The novel is widely regarded as a seminal work of twentieth-century literary fiction.

The story begins and ends with Clarissa, detailing a day in her life. Clarissa is a seemingly disillusioned socialite whose mood swings: at times she appears delighted, at others, she appears depressed. Her overall demeanour suggests that she is suffering from depression.

Mrs Dalloway begins with Clarissa's pre-event errand of purchasing flowers. Unexpected events occur, such as a car making an explosive noise or a plane writing in the sky and elicit varying reactions in different people. Peter, her former lover, arrives shortly after she returns home. They talk, and it's clear that they still have feelings for each other.