Clarissa Dalloway And Septimus Warren Smith

Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith

Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are two of the character is in the book Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith are unhappy with their lives.

Although, Clarissa and Septimus are both unhappy the basis for their unhappiness stems from different reasons and/or events that have happened in their lives. But the both fear the can not feel as others feel. Clarissa Dalloway, a middle aged upper class woman, is unhappy because of choices she has made in her life she also fears that she can not feel things as others do. Septimus Smith, a World War I veteran, is unhappy because of effects of the war. Septimus worries that when Evan's died he did not feel anything.

Clarissa Dalloway wanted to be a part of the upper class English society. That is the reason she married Richard Dalloway. Throughout the novel Clarissa looks back on her experiences with Peter Walsh. She wonders if she made the correct choice in marrying Richard and rejecting Peter. Clarissa point out in Ð'.... That one of the reason she didn't marry Peter is because he would ask her to feel too much. Richard does not ask her to feel things as Peter would. Clarissa didn't love Richard when she married him but has learned to love him. Although she believes she made the right decision in marrying Richard, she still wonders how things would have been if she married Peter instead.

Clarissa has a low self-confidence in her appearance as well as her skills as a hostess. "A ridiculous little face, beaked like a bird's" is how Clarissa describes herself. Clarissa goes on with the description saying she is "nothingÐ'....this being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa anymore; this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway." () Clarissa feels she is unimportant, that she has no self-identity, no purpose in life.

Clarissa believes one of her duties being Mrs. Richard Dalloway is to throw lavish parties. Although, Clarissa enjoys throwing these parties also feels unsuccessful as a hostess. Party planning consumes her entire life and then she constantly worries that the party will be disastrous.

Miss Kilman, Elizabeth's tutor, does not like Clarissa and the feeling is mutual for Clarissa. Clarissa feels inferior toward Miss Kidman this is noted by the line "she was never in the room five minutes without making you feel her superiority, your inferiorityÐ'..." (12) Clarissa feels like Miss Kilman is the enemy, like Miss Kilman is stealing Elizabeth from her. Clarissa is jealous because Miss Kilman seems to have a better relationship with her daughter than Clarissa does herself.

Clarissa Dalloway always wanted to be a high society wife. Now that she is Mrs. Richard Dalloway she is realizing that her life is not as happy as she thought it would be. Although, Clarissa believes she made the correct choice in marrying Richard she thinks about Peter quite a bit, she feels being Mrs. Richard Dalloway leaves her with no identity. Clarissa enjoys throwing parties but the planning of the party consumes her and she dwells on the outcome before the party has arrived. She has doubts in her standing is society as well as, her ability in throwing a fantastic party. Clarissa's relationship with her daughter is not what she would wish it to be. She feels that Miss Kilman is favored by Elizabeth. Although some of the issues are normal feelings Clarissa dwells on them until the parties consume all her energy. "I am unhappy."

Septimus Warren Smith is also an unhappy