In Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf explores the whole notion of marriage. She leaves the reader with the question of what it really is - marriage or misery? Marriage is explored through the unions of Clarissa and Richard as well as Lacrezia and Septimus. Both marriages are held together “for better or for worst” whether it was to uphold social status or simply out of sincerity and loyalty. This is symbolic as marriage in a typical Victorian society was very much encouraged and important. This significance was also depicted in the story of Florence Nightingale which we studied earlier in class. A woman was expected to get married and take care of her husband and household.
In the case of marriage between Clarissa and Richard, Woolf gave an insight into Clarissa’s thoughts to reveal her views on the matter. “She had the oddest sense of being herself invisible, unseen; un-known; there being no more marrying, no more having of children now...this being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any more; this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway”. Through this, we see that Clarissa feels like no one could see her. She had lost her identity as a result of her marriage. It was as if when she looked into the mirror, she no longer saw a reflection of herself or her desires. Instead, she saw her husband and what he desired of her. She understood that the world saw her as her husband’s wife. This was symbolic of her submission to her husband and his authority over her which was typical in a Victorian society.
As Peter put it, “With twice his wits, she had to see things through his eyes-one of the tragedies of marred life." For example, all of the parties Clarissa so eloquently hosted were all for her husband. “Behind it all was that network of visiting, leaving cards, being kind to people; running about with bunches of flowers, little presents...a real drain on her strength; all that interminable traffic that women of her sort keep up; but she did it genuinely, from a natural instinct.” This depicts the normal everyday life of a classic Victorian woman. She is expected to do such things under the morals instilled by the Victorian society. Even if she wanted more from life, she realized that this was all that she would get and therefore focused on survival rather than sorrow.
Woolf also explored marriage through the union of Lacrezia and Septimus. In the following excerpt, Woolf gave Lacrezia’s thoughts on the matter. "She could stand it no longer…Far rather would she that he were dead! She could not sit beside him when he stared so and did not see her and made everything terrible...To love makes one solitary, she thought...Septimus had fought, he was brave; he was not Septimus now. She put on her lace collar. She put on her new hat and he never noticed; and he was happy without her. Nothing could make her happy without him! Nothing! He was selfish…Her wedding ring slipped-she had grown so thin. It was she who suffered-but she had nobody to tell." Through this we see that Lacrezia also felt invisible. Septimus had grown so cold and bitter that he sat beside his wife but did not even notice or acknowledge her presence. This left Lacrezia very miserable to the point where she began to lose weight. The imagery of portrayed through the slipping of her wedding ring is symbolic of the instability of her marriage. However, just like Clarissa, Lacrezia was loyal to her husband. "She had a right to his arm, though it was without feeling”.
All in all, Woolf portrays marriage as seen through the eyes of a typical Victorian: a wife surrendering to her husband under the patriarchal authority imposed by the Victorian society. Clarissa and Lacrezia gave up their identity, whether by force or by choice, and submitted to their husbands. This was done all for the sake of marriage. You decide - marriage or misery? I think it is a bit of both...
In the case of marriage between Clarissa and Richard, Woolf gave an insight into Clarissa’s thoughts to reveal her views on the matter. “She had the oddest sense of being herself invisible, unseen; un-known; there being no more marrying, no more having of children now...this being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any more; this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway”. Through this, we see that Clarissa feels like no one could see her. She had lost her identity as a result of her marriage. It was as if when she looked into the mirror, she no longer saw a reflection of herself or her desires. Instead, she saw her husband and what he desired of her. She understood that the world saw her as her husband’s wife. This was symbolic of her submission to her husband and his authority over her which was typical in a Victorian society.
As Peter put it, “With twice his wits, she had to see things through his eyes-one of the tragedies of marred life." For example, all of the parties Clarissa so eloquently hosted were all for her husband. “Behind it all was that network of visiting, leaving cards, being kind to people; running about with bunches of flowers, little presents...a real drain on her strength; all that interminable traffic that women of her sort keep up; but she did it genuinely, from a natural instinct.” This depicts the normal everyday life of a classic Victorian woman. She is expected to do such things under the morals instilled by the Victorian society. Even if she wanted more from life, she realized that this was all that she would get and therefore focused on survival rather than sorrow.
Woolf also explored marriage through the union of Lacrezia and Septimus. In the following excerpt, Woolf gave Lacrezia’s thoughts on the matter. "She could stand it no longer…Far rather would she that he were dead! She could not sit beside him when he stared so and did not see her and made everything terrible...To love makes one solitary, she thought...Septimus had fought, he was brave; he was not Septimus now. She put on her lace collar. She put on her new hat and he never noticed; and he was happy without her. Nothing could make her happy without him! Nothing! He was selfish…Her wedding ring slipped-she had grown so thin. It was she who suffered-but she had nobody to tell." Through this we see that Lacrezia also felt invisible. Septimus had grown so cold and bitter that he sat beside his wife but did not even notice or acknowledge her presence. This left Lacrezia very miserable to the point where she began to lose weight. The imagery of portrayed through the slipping of her wedding ring is symbolic of the instability of her marriage. However, just like Clarissa, Lacrezia was loyal to her husband. "She had a right to his arm, though it was without feeling”.
All in all, Woolf portrays marriage as seen through the eyes of a typical Victorian: a wife surrendering to her husband under the patriarchal authority imposed by the Victorian society. Clarissa and Lacrezia gave up their identity, whether by force or by choice, and submitted to their husbands. This was done all for the sake of marriage. You decide - marriage or misery? I think it is a bit of both...
