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Character Analysis Of Clarissa Dalloway

Decent Essays

A.
Character’s action The protagonist, Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway, grows in her actions throughout the story. The flashbacks to the present day show her growth more than things happening during the day of the party. Clarissa grows as an ambitious woman by denying Peter Walsh's marriage proposal. He is the man of her dreams, at first. As she realizes that that’s not what’s best for her she denies him and moves on. “Peter… had no heart, no brain, nothing but the manners and breeding of an English gentleman.” (pg. 7) She has too many aspirations to settle for a man not up to her standards.
Character’s appearance
Clarissa Dalloway is not beautiful. “Not that she was striking; not beautiful at all; there was nothing picturesque about her…” (pg. 76) This is why her insecurities are so prominent. She questions everything she does. However, she dresses like a respectable lady. Therefore despite her bland face, her clothes and gloves are well done. She uses these to disguise how she really feels, which is inadequate. Clarissa always feels as though she needs her gloves, while her daughter Elizabeth who is beautiful, never wears them. Elizabeth doesn’t need them. Clarissa does. Clarissa is obsessed with how people feel about her, which goes to show how insecure she is.
Character’s thoughts
Her thoughts are very sexually confused. This is one trait that could go deeper than talked about on the surface. She has an experience where another woman kisses her and she has a very big crush

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