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‘MRS. DALLOWAY’ AND ‘THE HOURS’ Rubric • • • • •

Comparing texts Explore context (personal, social, historical, political and occupational) Values of societies and how these changes due to context The different forms or media (novel and film) Analysis of content, values and attitudes – must evaluate how language/ composer techniques reflect this

Context ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ • • • • • • • • • • • •

early nineteenth and early twentieth century Industrial Revolution, Science and technology Politics and political process – growth of democracy, discourse of nationalism- --Imperialism and Colonialism – affecting Asia, Africa, South America Religion – questioning of Darwin and Nietzsche Philosophy and psychology – Jung, Freud, Marx, Nietzsche Intellectual and artistic movements – the morality of art, Kant and the aesthetic movement - Mass popular culture and communication – radio, art, film Urbanisation Social structure shifting Feminism and gender issues – Mary Wollstonecraft, the Suffragettes World War 1 and its aftermath – disillusionment and escapism in the Jazz Age, Transport The rise of Nazi Germany – growing militarism in Germany, Nazi Party and onset of WW2

‘The Hours’ •

1920s, 50s and 00s

Similarities Differences Clarissa Vaughan Clarissa Vaughan, on the other hand, apparently enjoys every liberty: freedom to be a lesbian, to come and go and live as she likes. Yet she has ended up, in spite of her unusual way of life, as a fairly conventional wife and mother.

Virginia Woolf

Laura Brown

Virginia and Laura are Virginia and Laura are both, in a both, in a sense, prisoners sense, prisoners of their eras and of their eras and societies, societies, and both long for and both long for freedom freedom from this imprisonment. from this imprisonment.

Virginia’s madness is not accepted by society. She has to bear her mental condition alone, Clarissa and Sally are accepted she is not understood and forced as a lesbian couple by society. to reside in Richmond. The rose deathbed is a symbol of imprisonment.

Laura is isolated, suicidal and lonely because society does not allow her to be a lesbian. Instead, she is forced into marriage and motherhood because of the expectation of women.

Clarissa feel she has to throw the party to prove herself, but it all become too much, she wants everything to be perfect, but Richard won’t cooperate and she becomes overwhelmed when not everything is going to plan and feels isolated.

Laura feels she has failed the conventional role of ‘a perfect wife and mother’. These were the most important things for women in her time period. This is represented by the cake. As a result of their failure to comply with the contextual expectations, both Virginia and Laura become suicidal.

Virginia feels she is not a very good lady of the house. Her maids do not like her, and her sister turns up early when she is not prepared, and the ginger is not yet there. She also is unhappy that her sister is such a socialite while she is alone. As a result of their failure to comply with the contextual expectations, both Virginia and Laura become suicidal.

Comparison Contextual Connections ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ 1920s London: Chic, modern, bustling and desirable – the atmosphere of the city pervades the novel and shapes the action Clarissa’ train of thought often retreats to the more rural and idyllic landscape of her childhood Issues pertaining to social class and one’s position in the hierarchy are a frequent concern. The characters generally lead a conservative and aspirational lifestyle – even Sally Seton’s youthful rebellion ends when she

‘The Hours’

Significance and examples In London, daily life and hidden Virginia Woolf’s stories, Big Ben in central Richmond (her yearning Quick changes and repetition in for the metropolis is the film underscore similarities portrayed) Laura Brown – and differences “This is my right; insular suburban post-war it is the right of every human America being. I choose not the suffocating anaesthetic of the suburb, but the Clarissa Vaughan – late violent jolt of the Capital, that is twentieth century New my choice.” – Virginia, The York: urbanised, Hours Whilst Woolf is portrayed Name, Mrs. Dalloway, = insignia as privileged and leisured, of patriarchal power Laura Brown is frustrated Sir = upper class by the constraints of a Party = wealth, expectation of the middle- class marriage and hostess Sally represses lesbianism Clarissa Vaugh is shown to and conforms Vaughan free to be occupy an ambivalent place lesbian in the social hierarchy – seemingly upper middle

enters the aristocracy. Clarissa is viewed as a ‘snob’ by others

class, but also leading an alternative lifestyle as a lesbian

Some references to those Richard Brown is depicted who are impoverished and in a state of deterioration and decline, although this is struggling, such as Miss Kilman, although they are clearly due to illness Clarissa Vaughan is largely absent from the main concerns of the text portrayed in a benevolent, Septimus Smith is clearly in often patronising light in a state of decline, and his her relationship with him before his suicide wife is a foreigner who appears to exist apart from mainstream society

Clarissa’s emotions are frequently repressed to enable her to conform to society’s rigid expectations Septimus must repress his madness, as it is viewed as unmasculine and a sign of weakness

The effect of Laura’s emotional repression is evident in her eventual escape from her marriage, and Virginia must repress he own madness in her interactions with Leonard (which mirror Clarissa Vaughan and Richard’s relationship at times)

The decline of British Empire after WW1 led to massive changes is English society. The structure of society was changing, as were people’s belief and values

Laura live in post-war America, a period of changing values, and Clarissa Vaughan’s life in contemporary New York shows a relativist culture where values or moral

Laura looking after her husband “We’re baking a cake to show him that we love him.” – Laura “Clarissa used to think, to end in some awful tragedy; her death; her martyrdom; instead of which she had married, quite unexpectedly, a bald man with a large buttonhole who owned, it was said, cotton mills at Manchester. And she had five boys!” – Clarissa Dalloway on Sally Seton Social issues “The pleasure of eating was almost the only pure pleasure left her, and then to be baffled even in that!” – Miss Kilman “You do have good days still. You know you do.” – Clarissa Vaughan to Richard Brown

“The clock was striking – one, two, three: how sensible the sound was; compared with all this thumping and whispering; like Septimus himself.” - Lucrezia Both societies require the suppression of the individual to adhere to social standards “It was a silly, silly dream, being unhappy.” – Lucrezia on Septimus “Everywhere I am attended by doctors who inform me of my own interests.” – Virginia in The Hours Progress and time “And every profession is open to women of your generation.” – Miss Kilman to Elizabeth

beliefs are rarely discussed or defended openly “An indomitable Englishwoman, fretful if disturbed by the war, say, which dropped a bomb at her door.” – Clarissa about Miss Parry Social expectations on women People coming together – connecting “Oh Mrs. Dalloway...always giving parties to cover the noise.” – Richard Brown The Party Tension builds as Clarissa prepares for an elegant social affair – hosting a party where all the characters gather together Clarissa hears about the suicide of Septimus and reacts on is whilst at the party

Clarissa Vaughan prepares for a party to celebrate Richard’s literary award Richard commits suicide, and his mother, Laura, visits at the end. The visit brings characters from two of the narratives together

The opening scene I the film depicts Clarissa Vaughan shopping for flowers and visiting Richard

“They’re all here, aren’t they? All the ghosts... All the ghosts are assembling for the party.” – Julia

“She felt somehow like him – the young man who had killed himself. She felt glad that he had done it; thrown it away. The clock was striking. The leaden circles dissolved in the air. He made her feel the beauty; made her feel the fun. But she must go back. She must assemble.” – Clarissa Dalloway Life’s cycle is symbolised by the flower’s Daily life.Going against social constraints

Laura – yellow flowers – platonic love

Flowers and the flower motif Vaughan – red poppies – dead The novel opens as Clarissa This is juxtaposed with the and being replaced shops for flowers scenes of Virginia composing the opening to Virginia – blue flowers – her novel and Laura reading prosperity the novel

Final gathering – the party brings key individuals from Clarissa’s daughter, Julia, refers to her mother’s old Clarissa’s past together, friends as ‘all the ghosts’ and it becomes apparent that the promise of their

“I think I’ll buy the flowers myself.” – Both texts “The lustre had left her. Yet it was extraordinary to see her again, older, happier, less lovely.” – Clarissa Dalloway on Sally Seton

youth had failed and that when they gather for the their adult lives have been party comparatively mediocre Clarissa’s sudden outburst and monotonous of tears on the arrival of Richard’s ex-lover, Louis, reminds the audience that the characters have lost their youth forever and will never regain it

“I remember one morning getting up at dawn, there was such a sense of possibility. You know, that feeling? And I remember thinking to myself that this is the beginning of happiness. This is where it starts. And of course there will always be more. It never occurred to me that it wasn’t the beginning. It was happiness. It was that moment, right then.” – Clarissa Vaughan

Thematic Connections Theme

Mrs. Dalloway The Hours

TIME AND DEATH

Time, death and the importance of an individual moment. This is a recurring thematic motif within the novel, as the protagonist often returns to her re-creations on the past (in particular, her desire to return to an idealised Bourton.)

The idea of lost moments, the passage of time and the importance of living for one another are often mentioned in dialogue between the characters.

The fluid nature of sexuality Clarissa’s divided, and unlived dreams and repressed desires are SEXUALITY explored throughout the novel. Characters such as Sally Seton and unexplored paths.

Sexual ambivalence and identity are a paramount issue in the film, and the connections between the stories are heightened when each of the central female characters share a kiss with another woman.

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health issues relating to human psychology and mental health are examined through Septimus and his wife and doctors as they try to make him more ‘normal’ – a quest destined to end in despair.

Clarissa attempts to normalise Richards Brown’s behaviour to suit her expectations, just as Leonard attempts to make Virginia conform in the hope that she will be able to overcome her despair by going by doing so.

MEMORY

Clarissa Vaughan is preoccupied to her Clarissa’s memories shape the memories. story when minor characters are frequently introduced through

TRAUMA

SOCIAL MALAISE

brief flashbacks or references to the past event. Post war trauma. The aftermath of the First World War forms the background for the experienced by Septimus Smith – a trauma which renders him unable to act or behave in the masculine or restrained manner demanded of war veteran.

Richard’s insanity is attributed to AIDS, which is portrayed as a modern-day plague leading to deterioration trauma and despair. Abandoned by his mother during his childhood.

Laura Brown resents the repressive gender Clarissa reflects on the futility of stereotypes she is subjected to as a housewife. Reading Woolf’s novel is a social encounters at her party, and suffers from a sense of social catalyst for her spiralling despair, as she malaise and self- doubt about her appears to recognise parallels between her role in a changing society. She life and that of Clarissa Dalloway. In the film, Virginia is seen to resent social worries about how others perceive her in her role as a expectations, and Clarissa Vaughan’s party society wife. is portrayed as superficial and ultimately futile.

Analysis Syntactic analysis

• • • • • •

Stream of consciousness style - Encompasses a single day ‘The Hours’ tells the story of three women instead of one. This addition enhances the novel as it focuses on several aspects of a novel: the writing of the novel, the reading and reception of the novel and the afterlife of novels. “The Hours’ repeats events, such as planning parties, significant kisses, contemplation of suicide and actual suicide Laura Brown’s name comes from Woolf’s essay, ‘Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown’ Addition of new character and events by Daldry, “updated” the story ‘The Hours’ explores new points of view that arise from Laura’s LA and Clarissa’s NYC compared to London and the eras compared to the 1920s Daldry omits Clarissa’s party as Richard’s death means it is cancelled – Clarissa never gets to be the ‘perfect hostess’

Intertwined substitution of character: • • •

Clarissa Vaughan = Clarissa Dalloway Richard and Laura = Septimus Richard Dalloway = Sally and Richard

Semantic Analysis •

‘The Hours’ uses names and from ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ and other Woolf novels or essays, but also invented new names for new characters

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• •

Connotations that similarities between characters bring to the fore can either be constructive or deconstructive of the preceding novel Sally was the secret lover in ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ but in ‘The Hours’, Sally and Clarissa have a longstanding relationship and are open about their sexuality. Daldry givens creates a new Sally to give Clarissa the partner she longed for but could not have in the 1920s. Destructive: By giving Clarissa a lesbian relationship in ‘The Hours’, Mrs. Dalloway’s choice of marrying a man is questioned in the novel as she had feelings for a woman. Constructive: The choice to have Clarissa end up with Sally in ‘The Hours’ affirms Clarissa Dalloway’s feelings for Sally Seton, and it enables her to act upon these feeling without shame through Clarissa Vaughan

Pragmatic Analysis - ‘The Hours’ replicated three major events from ‘Mrs. Dalloway: •!Suicide •!Kiss •!Illness

Event Mrs. Dalloway Septimus suffers from shellshock, an affliction not recognised at the time Septimus violently throws himself out the window because he refuses to be taken away by Dr. Holmes – practical decision to avoid ‘treatment’ The tiresome, the troublesome, and rather melodramatic business of opening the window Suicide and throwing himself out Septimus believes Lucrezia will understand his suicide but is not entirely certain as he enjoys some aspects of life, such as the sun The people on the street outside witness his suicide and the ambulance comes, Rezia is sedated Profound reactions to the incident by the Bradshaws, Peter and Clarissa

The Hours Richard suffers from AIDS, a well-known but rather new disease Body is treated but mind deteriorates – hence, Clarissa helps him to prepare for the party

Evaluation The clearest similarity is that the poet throws himself out a window, no longer able to function properly in a society Both hear voices

The difference between the world they perceive, and the Richard fills the room world others perceive with light and became too marked explains to Clarissa that he no longer Pain of life derived from war wishes to live, despite trauma for Septimus and the medication and AIDS- induced psychosis for Clarissa’s care Richard Both conditions new in their context He tells her that he loves her and quote’s The fact that nobody sees Woolf’s suicide note : Richard fall except Clarissa I don’t think two expresses the increasingly people could be individualistic nature of our happier than we’ve society been

Slowly inches off the windowsill Nobody sees All three women reflect on a kiss: Virginia and Vanessa, Laura and Kitty, Clarissa and Richard

Kiss

Laura’s son witnesses Daldry introduces three the kiss and she variations of the kiss become flustered, between Mrs. Dalloway and Clarissa and Sally kiss at both her and Kitty Sally Seton None of the Bourton. The kiss is described pretend it did not kisses are shared with life as a present, wrapped up, which happen partners she uncovers, or the radiance All were shared in private burned through, the revelation, Laura enjoys the kiss but have significant impacts the religious feeling! Clarissa with Kitty but hates which make the women feels this was the most exquisite the queasy touch of rethink or evaluate their life moment of her whole life but her husband choices Laura and Virginia has to repress her excitement Richard and Clarissa treasure the kisses while and true feelings share two kisses: at 19 Clarissa Vaughan regrets not sharing the romance of the and when Clarissa leaves his apartment kiss with Richard Clarissa is reluctant and does not return the sweet reminiscence of their kiss in their youth Laura does not feel woman enough and expects more from life than her mundane, repressed and domestic existence

Septimus’ shell-shock had no name in the era The War Office Committee was of the opinion that the war was not responsible for the soldiers’ The Feminine Both Septimus and Laura do breakdowns and argues that the Mystique - all women not perform the roles that Illness men themselves were weak society imposes on men and were told that their women. Both afflictions role was to seek The affliction was looked upon fulfilment as wives were not recognised in their as a female malady – a man not and mothers instead of time being man enough in education and Veterans expected to be brave career Laura wants more and cannot find fulfilment in making the cake for Dan and is happy

when she leaves Richie with the babysitter and is free for a moment This was not understood in the era Characters in ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ Hugh Whitbread • • • • • • • • •

Symbolic of mental servility to plumed authority and of unnatural loyalties “He was almost too well dressed as always, but presumably had to be, with his little job at Court.” “Manner and breeding of English gentlemen” “Read nothing, thought nothing, feel nothing”, “a perfect specimen of the public school man”, “a great snob.” Possessive love and corrupt religiosity Religion serves as a means of escape from her gnawing anger and hatred “Bitter and burning...” Having teas with Elizabeth: “if she could grasp her...” Mackintosh, inimical to water, the closed condition of her mind that does not allow any rain of grace to reach parched heart

Dr. Holmes and Sir William Bradshaw • • • •

Symbols of compensatory neatness, proportion and order They stand for that aspect of human nature which Septimus thought was going to catch him: “For the truth is...”, “human nature is on you...” “Proportion and Conversion” Greyness, grey car, grey-haired, grey furs and silver grey rugs, grey room – symbolic of his insensitivity to human suffering

Peter, Sally and Septimus -

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The adventurous, the unconventional and the visionary in society Peter interested in ‘Wagner, Pope’s poetry, people’s characters eternally and the defects of her soul.” Sally read Morris, Plato and Shelley Septimus read Shakespeare and Dante – represent that class of educated men and women who made Dr. Bradshaw feel uncomfortable Peter able to see through Cla...