the theme of madness in mrs dalloway

The compulsory heterosexuality is a large aspect of this theme, but is ultimately only a facet. Conformity and conversion are the basis for the novel’s main theme. Any character different in their youth--notably Sally Seton--becomes at least outwardly conventional by the time of the events of the book. Clarissa Dalloway has become no longer herself but an extension of her husband, she feels she is “not even Clarissa anymore, this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway” (14). Septimus sees the doctors as the force which pressures conformity, but they are merely a representation of society, which Septimus realizes when he equates Dr. Holmes to human nature. Human nature is in Sir William, too; while Holmes simply ignores any deviation and claims it doesn’t exist, Sir William recognizes the differences but seeks to correct them through proportion. Though it sounds a reasonable method, in effect it is more brutal, since “Proportion has a sister, less smiling, more formidable...Conversion is her name and she feasts on the wills of the weakly” (151), which Septimus recognizes. In this sense the contrast between Septimus and Clarissa reflects the concept that if a person does not make themselves fit in, society will do it for

Clarisse's allusion is important because it reflects her purpose and also reflects her own characteristics. Clarisse's name comes from the Latin word, Clarus, meaning "clearly", this reflects her characteristics because Clarisse's complexion is pale, and bright which can be referred to as "clear". In the novel, Bradbury writes in the novel,"Her face was slender and milk-white, and in it was a kind of gentle hunger that touched over everything with tireless curiosity. It was a look, almost, of pale surprise; the dark eyes were so fixed to the world that no move escaped them. Her dress was white and it whispered. He almost thought he heard the motion of her hands as she walked, and the infinitely small sound now, the white stir of her face."

Through this quote, the reader is able to see the way in which Septimus’ thoughts are portrayed. The thoughts of Septimus show him to be a helpless victim. When understanding the way Septimus is being treated by the doctor, the reader can not help but feel sympathy for him. Woolf’s use of stream of consciousness is that of cautiousness and delicacy.

Pieces of literary works often center around a particular theme. Characters represent this through the qualities they possess, but it can be presented in different ways. “The Yellow Wallpaper” focuses on a woman who goes insane because she isn’t treated correctly and “The Tell-Tale Heart” centers around a man who is already insane. During the Dark Romantic literary period, men and women reaching the point of insanity was explored; how they got to their breaking point and what happened thereafter usually differed.

Throughout her life, novelist Virginia Woolf suffered with mental illness, and she ultimately ended her life at age 59. As art often imitates life, it is not surprising that characters in Woolf’s works also struggle with mental illness. One of her novels, Mrs. Dalloway, recounts a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a high society woman living in London, and those who run in her circle. As the novel progresses the reader sees one of the characters, Septimus, struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by serving in war. At the end of the story, he commits suicide. While there is no explicit articulation of any other character suffering from mental illness in the novel, Septimus is not alone. Through her thoughts and actions, we can deduce that Clarissa also endures mental and emotional suffering. Though Clarissa does not actually attempt to end her life in the novel, her mental and emotional suffering lead her to exhibit suicidal tendencies. To prove this, I will examine Clarissa’s thoughts and actions from a psychological perspective.

“The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” each depict a personal viewpoint of mentally ill characters, who both differ and are alike in various aspects of “madness.” Edgar Allan Poe’s character denies a presence of madness entirely, yet blames a physical ailment instead. As deeply disturbed as the character seems because of the eye, he abruptly decides to eradicate what he believes is the primary issue rather than considering attempting to heal his own “disease.” Charlotte Gilman’s story differs in the sense that the character somewhat acknowledges her mental instability, but is similar in how she eventually attempts to act upon it. While the character acknowledges her mental problem, the progression of the story shows her problem worsening due to the conditions she is placed in because of her feeling of entrapment. Each character’s “madness” is fundamentally the same, but differs on the basis of how they accept it, and act upon it.

Sanity and insanity are two deeply intertwined concepts. Any observation made upon the nature of either conversely reshapes our understanding of the other. In Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, there is a power struggle in a psychiatric ward between two conflicting definitions of sanity and insanity and what behaviour can be categorized as such. Miss Ratched’s sanity is achieved through a rigid hierarchal network of rules that enforces uniformity and order while the patients’ revolutionary sanity achieved solely through rebelling from the rules that limit the individual’s freedom and sense of self. In detailing the tension between two opposite views on sanity, Kesey scrutinizes the way society forms its perceptions towards sanity and exposes the flaws in its narrow definition of sanity. The process of defining sanity is formed by rules that act as the model of sanity which is inherently unjust to non-conforming

The prevalence of the portrayal of insanity in nineteenth-century literature reflected the ongoing development of scientific and medical knowledge of insanity. In this era, it was seen as a social and medical problem for one to be ‘insane’; which is depicted through the setting of the novel ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. The majority of the book is set in a psychiatric institution which clearly highlights the theme of insanity. The ward of the institution that the novel

“One is very crazy when in love” (Freud). Freud made this statement nearly one hundred years ago. As one of the founders of modern psychology what would he have to say about the mad woman in the attic? Was she mad, in love, suffering from hysteria, or simply a product of nature versus nurture? Neither of which were very kind to her. In Jane Eyre we as the readers are presented with a singular perspective in nearly true to form autobiographical narrative. From Jane’s viewpoint and from a mid 19th century depiction of mental illness, the original Mrs. Rochester is hardly a person to sympathize with. Yet there is much more to this tale that is desperately begging

Clarissa and Septimus both feel trapped in their lives and oppressed by the people around them, which leads to them find ways in which they can escape the negative world around them. Clarissa is described to the reader as having “a perpetual sense, as she watched the taxi cabs, of being out, out, far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very dangerous to live even one day” (Woolf, 17). Even as Clarissa walks down a crowded street the sense of loneliness controls her mind. Societal oppression of loneliness makes her feel distant from the rest of society. She describes herself as, “no longer being Clarissa, but simply Mrs. Dalloway” (Woolf, 11). Clarissa has lost a sense of herself and feels as though she no longer fits in. However, her parties serve as an escape from the outside world, which helps to explain why she loves

  Clarissa Dalloway, the central character in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, is a complex figure whose relations with other women reveal as much about her personality as do her own musings. By focusing at length on several characters, all of whom are in some way connected to Clarissa, Woolf expertly portrays the ways females interact: sometimes drawing upon one another for things which they cannot get from men; other times, turning on each other out of jealousy and insecurity.

In many of her novels and especially in Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf tends to stray from directly attacking an issue such as social unjust by using symbolism. She often “detested what she called ‘preaching’ in fiction” and instead, strategically “scatters fragments of images for the readers to gather up and to piece together as to form [their] own, maybe individual, understanding of the character” in her stream-of-consciousness

In the book Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf, it is evident that the main character, Clarissa Dalloway, double persona is Septimus Smith. While Clarissa proves to be more rational, Septimus is irrational. Clarissa shows optimism with her life and finding her true identity while Septimus is someone who experiencing insanity and madness. Although she never meets him and their lives are vastly different, the two characters actually mirror each other. Clarissa and Septimus share many characteristics and think in similar manners. Septimus serves as a contrast between the veteran working class and upper class. Throughout the book, Septimus’ thoughts parallel Clarissa’s and can be seen as an echo in some ways. This illustrates how the line between sanity and insanity can become blurred. Both characters have similar experiences, but how they go about interpreting them and finding deeper meaning about it differ because of their different personalities and experiences.

Woolf says that Septimus is a spitting image of Clarissa as both share the same feelings about their history with the medical industry. The both share a dark side that cast out to the reader their personality from within. Even though Clarissa showed many similar qualities in regards to Septimus, she decided upon herself to live as she has things to take care of in her life. Like Septimus, Clarissa too suffers from the war. Even though they were both emotionally beaten to the bone, Clarissa decided to stay where she’s at while Septimus chose another route.

In her own writing on the novel Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf stated, "I want to give life and death, sanity and insanity; I want to criticize the social system, and to show it at work at its most intense…“ In this essay, I shall use this quote as a means to examine the theme of love and solitude in one of her most famous novels which follows a set of characters that go about their day. Virginia Wolf was able to illustrate the isolation one experiences within its own mind and the importance of one’s soul and ways in which souls connect through different memories and events. Even though independency is highly valued, the inability for people to communicate and build meaningful relationships is the most important aspect in the novel.