Intern at ional Jo urna l of Mult idisciplinary Research and Dev elo pmen t

Volume: 2, Issue: 5, 270-273

May 2015 The “Symbolic Significance” and the "Stream of
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e-ISSN: 2349-4182 Consciousness" technique in Virginia Woolf's novel"
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Mrs. Dalloway"
Krishma Krishma
M. phil Scholar Dept. of
English, Chaudhary Devi Lal Abstract
University, Sirsa, Haryana, The Present research work deals with the "stream of consciousness" technique and the "symbolic
India significance" of Virginia woolf in the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" (1925). Virginia Woolf was born on 26
January 1882. The novel "Mrs. Dalloway" was published in 1925. This is her first great and remarkable
novel. This novel shows how remarkably the novelist has succeeded in adopting "the stream of
consciousness technique". There are only five major characters moving round each other in two
concentric circles, Clarissa, Peter Walsh and Richard Dalloway in the one and Septimus, Rezia Warren
Smith in the other. The entire action takes place in one day. It moves between Mrs. Dalloway's
preparation for her party in the morning and her presiding over it in the evening on the same day. The
theme of the novel is basically psychological. The "stream of consciousness" technique is remarkably
used by Mrs. Woolf in the novel. So, the present research work deals with the "stream of consciousness"
and the "symbolic significance" of the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" written by Virginia Woolf.

Keywords: Stream consciousness, symbolic significance, Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf

1. Introduction
Virginia Woolf was born in a high cultured and educated family in London on 26 January,
1882. Her father, Sir Leslie Stephen was a renowned critic, historian, scholar and author of a
large number of critical, biographical and philosophical essays. He was a great friend of
scholars and men of letters having remarkable influence. After her father's death her house
became famous as a locale of Bloombury group, a literary club founded by Virginia Woolf.
Her literary carrier began in 1905, when she started writing critical reviews in the "Times
Literary Supplement" and in some other periodicals. After her marriage with Leonard Woolf,
they started the "Hogarth Press" in 1917 which published the writings of eminent men of
letters of the day. She also liberally contributed to this Press. She is best known as a novelist
and some of her novels are undisputedly great works of art.
Mrs. Virginia Woolf is truthfully called "a tireless experimenter" in whose hands the novel
tends to become something different from a more fictional narrative of "Characters". Virginia
Woolf was totally dissatisfied with the current form of the novel of the Edwardions like
Benett, Wells and Galsworthy. According to her, in their novels life escapes because life is not
what they, especially Benett presents in their famous novels. Thus we find Virginia Woolf
setting herself to destroy the current form of the novel and then driven to invent one which
would express her own vision of life. Virginia Woolf was a great lover of beauty and this love
of beauty guides her in her selection and ordering of reality. According to David Cecil,
Virginia Woolf could find beauty "as much in a scrap of orange peel lying in the gutter as in
the Venus de Melo, as easily walking down the Euston Rood as within the consecrated portals
of the National Gallery."
Virginia Woolf is adequately conscious of the fratility of life and transience of beauty. This
fleeting and changing life makes her sad and melancholic. According to a critic:-
"The fact of beauty, on the other hand the fact of mutability, on the other."
Virginia Woolf conveys about her "stream of consciousness" technique:-
"There would be no plot, no comedy, no tragedy, and no love interest or catastrophic in the
Correspondence: accepted style." and the great task of novelist should be: - “to convey this varying, this
Krishma unknown and uncircumscribed spirit of man."
M. phil Scholar Dept. of ‘Mrs. Dalloway ' is a well known novel by Virginia Woolf. She gave a new meaning to the
English, Chaudhary Devi Lal stream of consciousness technique in novel. "Mrs. Dalloway" is a psychological study of the
University, Sirsa, Haryana,
lady of fifty who belongs to the upper class English society. The novel has certainly its serious
India
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and grim aspects. The outlook of the novelist is clearly They detest Dalloway for doing nothing and thinking nothing.
presented through the novel. The novel presents a picture not It is interesting to note that they have a considerably good
only of the character of Clarissa Dalloway but also of the understanding of human nature. Peter's failure is an ironic
contemporary western civilization. The novel is symbolical in comment on the modern civilization which doesn't promote
the sense that various characters represent different sections of the originality of ideas. In modern society second rate brain
society. “At a deeper level, the novel deals with the universal like Richard succeeds.
theme of life itself." The tragedy of Septimus Smith is again a critical comment on
According to David Daiches, "Mrs. Dalloway is the novel of the effects of war. The story of Smith and his wife constitute
time, death and personality and the relation of the three to the sub-plot of the novel. Septimus and Rezia were married
each other." Joan Benett remarks that 'Mrs. Dalloway' is four years ago and Rezia had left Italy for the sake of her
neither the story of Clarissa Dalloway nor of Septimus Smith, husband. Septimus was a young man full of passion, hope,
but of Human life itself. It presents the picture of life with all bravery and patriotic feelings. The war made him a nervous
colours and variety. Some critics, on the other hand, hold the wreck (mentally disturb). His friends Evans was killed before
opinion that the novel is a satirical presentation of the picture his own eyes in the war.
of contemporary society. They are of the opinion that the This and the general effect of the war had a shocking effect on
novel gives a picture of modern world with its faces of class his mind. Now, he suffers from hallucinations (imaginary
struggle, economic insecurity and war. The novel thus has a fear) due to the effects of the war. The world seems to him
number of interpretations and it conveys a serious philosophy very painful and horrible. The person, who was once full of
of life. energy and bravery, is now full of fear and anxiety. His wife
The central character of the novel is certainly Mrs. Clarissa also suffers greatly due to his mental illness. She is young and
Dalloway and the novel is basically about her life, personality beautiful but she is tied to a man who shouts time and again "I
and experiences. But at a deeper level, the novel deals with will kill myself."
the critical issue of life itself. The action of the novel takes Virginia Woolf had also made great use of nature symbols and
place within a single day in the month of June. It begins in the images in the novel. Calm and fresh morning air represents
morning with Clarissa buying flowers for the party and ends the youth of Clarissa. Flowers and green fields symbolise
in the evening with her presiding over the party. But by means peace and contentment. Rose is a symbol of love in the novel.
of contrasts she makes and the memories they invoke in her, These symbols reflect the inner feelings of various characters.
her life story from girlhood to her present age of fifty is Ultimately, the novel is about human life in all its colours.
revealed. The attention is mainly paid to her love experiences. The themes like Clarissa's isolation, her love for Peter, the
Her attitude towards life is presented through her experiences destructive effects of war and the superficiality of doctors like
of love. She loved Peter Walsh and it is interesting that she Holmes are skilfully woven together.
still loves him. But she is married to a rich and popular man
called Richard Dalloway. She rejected her lover because he Discussion
was too demanding and too assertive. Her life shows the Virginia Woolf occupies a position of high importance in 20th
tension between the self and social contacts. century fiction. According to her, proper stuff of a novel is not
The background of the novel is a picture of the English life what takes place outside or in the world. It is the inner reality
after First World War. Various characters of the novel of human beings. The modern novelists of England like James
represent various aspects of contemporary civilization. The Joyce, Virginia Woolf and Dorothy Richardson have made the
Dalloway's symbolise the pomp and show, outer glitter of the English novels truly psychological in nature. To Virginia
civilization that is suffering from spiritual barrenness. They Woolf, “life is a luminous halo, a semi transparent envelope
are rich and wealthy but they are also not comfortable from surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the
within. They are full of hypocrisy, vanity, pride and end." And according to her, the task of a novelist is “to
pretension. Miss Kilman is the symbol of the corrupting convey this varying, this unknown and uncircumscribed spirit,
influence of religion on humans. It is made clear that religion whatever aberration or complexity, it may display". The most
also has failed to bring the peace of mind. Then, there are Dr. important aspect of this type of psychological or stream of
Holmes and William Bradshaw who represent the evils of consciousness novel is that such novels have mainly as the
modern medical profession. They are completely insensitive subject matter the consciousness for one or more characters.
to the feelings of their patients. They want the patients to 'Mrs. Dalloway' is Woolf's first novel in which she has made a
follow their advice whether they are right or wrong. Virginia brilliant use of the stream of consciousness technique. In it,
Woolf has depicted Dr. Holmes in the most unfavourable the novelist has drawn her main attention on recording various
light. impressions which Clarissa receives in a single day. She is
Richard Dalloway is on the whole presented as a good man. mainly interested in interpreting the inner life of her character.
But he too suffers from certain faults of character which have She probes deeper and deeper into the inner consciousness of
ironically been depicted in the novel. Both Peter and Sally characters. 'Mrs. Dalloway' is a record of the backward and
express their views about Richard to be "a through good sort, forward movement of human consciousness.
a bit limited, a bit thick in the head but a through good sort Through, Virginia Woolf has not followed the pattern of
(type)." Sally thinks Richard to be just a sportsman who cares conventional novel, the incidents in 'Mrs. Dalloway' are not
only for dogs. She feels greatly surprised by Clarissa's incoherent or chaotic (confusing). She has evolved a new
decision of marrying Richard. Sally also believes that Richard technique that suits her purpose. The whole action of the
has a second rate brain even though he has a heart full of love novel takes place within the narrow framework of a single
for his daughter. day. It starts with Clarissa's preparing for the party in the
Peter Walsh on the other hand, is symbolic of knowledge and morning and ends with her presiding over it in the evening.
spirit of adventure. Peter Walsh and Sally Saton represent new The relation she has developed with various persons and her
ideas which stand against the orthodox views. They always associated memories to them is the fabric of the novel. The
look forward to challenge certain set conventions of society.

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major characters in the novel are no more than five. They Virginia Woolf: - “There would be no plot, no comedy, no
move around each other in two concentric circles. tragedy, no love interest or catastrophe in the accepted style"
The action of novel is limited to a single day in the life of the and the great task of the novelist should be "to convey this
chief character. R. L. chambers observe, "It is limited spatially varying this unknown and uncircumscribed spirit" of man.
to a single place, London and emotionally to the relations of So, the purpose of the novelist should be the rendering the
Mrs. Dalloway with some other people." These are skilful inner reality or psyche of its characters, the inner reality rather
association of the psychological time with the clock time. than the outer one. We may call it the stream of consciousness
Whenever the big ban strikes, there is a shift from past to technique and Mrs. Woolf has made brilliant use of this
present or from one personality to the other. There is a sudden technique.
transition in the narration from one character to the other The structure and construction of the novel is compact and
character. When Clarissa is at the market place, the author quite satisfactory. The main reason for the tight structure of
tells what is going on her mind. But suddenly the action shifts the novel is that the whole action is concentrated in the short
from Clarissa's mind to Peter Walsh. There is no continuity in time span of a single day. The novel presents a unity of
the sequence of the thoughts of the characters. "The whole impression because most of the happenings are closely
novel is constructed in two dimensions of space and time, interconnected with each other. Most of the action of the
remarks David Daiches." We either stand still in time or are novel takes place in the minds of the characters. The main
led to contemplate events in space or we stand still in space concentration of the novelist is on the exploration of the
and are allowed to move up and down in the consciousness of consciousness of various characters. It is interesting to note
the individual. that the thinking of each character is absolutely different from
Virginia Woolf has used the stream of consciousness the thinking of the other characters but certain links and
technique to throw light on nature and personality of various connections have been provided to produce the unity effect.
characters. The image of the characters become clear partly The whole story of the life of Clarissa is told to us through the
from their own thoughts and ideas are partly from the contexts she makes and the persons she meets. The movement
thoughts and ideas of others about them. Clarissa's character, of the novel is in the mind of Clarissa and a small group of
for example, is developed through the thoughts which pass characters. When Clarissa buying flowers at the market she
through her mind in the course of a single day at different goes back into the memories of her past life. She starts
times. Her memories about her past life and her lover Peter thinking of Peter Walsh who was her lover. As she thinks
Walsh throw much light on her character as well as the about Peter, she remembers many things about him like his
character of Peter Walsh. She recalls his eyes, his pocket and pocket knife, his eyes and his smile. She meets a number of
his knife. Similarly, Clarissa's character is revealed through people when she is passing through the streets of London. She
the thoughts in the mind of Peter Walsh. It becomes clear reaches the Bond streets and visits a flower shop, she moves
from his thoughts that Clarissa is worldly kind of woman who from one jar of flowers to another.
cares too much for the rank. However, Clarissa herself is one The next part of the action begins with Clarissa's arrival at
of the opinion that Peter is mistaken about her because what home; the servant informs her that Mr. Richard will take lunch
she likes is simply life. with lady Burton. Mrs. Dalloway feels bad because she was
The novelist has used some devices to give clarity and design not invited. She, then, takes out her dress and finds a hole in
to the novel. From the beginning till the end, big ban’s strike it. She suddenly hears the sound of the doorbell. As she opens
is heard. When we shift from one consciousness to another, the door, she finds Peter Walsh. There is a long conversation
the striking of the clock indicates the change. Similarly, the between Clarissa and Peter Walsh. They start remembering
back firing of the motor engine shifts the attention of the their past. Peter Walsh tells her that he is also going to marry
reader from Clarissa to Septimus Smith and his wife. Daisy, the wife of a major in India. As Peter goes out Clarissa
Septimus is not in his right mind and he keeps seeing asks him to remember her party.
hallucinations. He shouts time and again, “I will kill myself ". The attention of the reader is once again shifted to Septimus
Septimus insanity (madness) is conveyed through his own Smith and Lucrezia. Septimus is shown talking to Lucrezia
thoughts and also through the thoughts of Lucrezia. The and he is quite normal at this time. But suddenly he starts
horror of Septimus's madness is presented through Lucrezia's getting fits and hears the voices of the dead. Suddenly some
terror. voices are heard down stairs and Dr. Holmes is shown coming
The interior monologue is a device closely related to the to visit Mrs. Smith. Lucrezia tries to stop him but he pushes
stream of consciousness technique. This device is quite useful her aside to make his way upstairs. Mr. Smith has already
in revealing the mental wake up of the character. Virginia decided to free himself from the power of Dr. Holmes. He
Woolf has made an effective use of the technique of interior jumps down on the railing with the cry, “I will give it to you."
monologue. When Clarissa and Peter Walsh are talking to The next development in the action of the novel starts with the
each other, each of them is at the same time talking inwardly party of Mrs. Dalloway in the evening. Clarissa is busy with
also. Peter here reminds himself that how unhappy he had left the guests and she feels surprised to see Sally Setan at the
when Clarissa refused to marry him. Clarissa also inwardly party who was not invited. Mrs. Bradshaw is also there who
talks to herself when she looks at Peter who is playing with tells Clarissa that Septimus has killed himself. Clarissa feels
knife. She says, “what an extraordinary habit that was always annoyed at the talk of someone dead at her party. Then, she
playing with a knife." Lucrezia also talks inwardly to herself slips away from the party and goes into her little room in
at various occasions when she is with her husband. order to be alone. Peter feels surprise over Clarissa's absence
'Mrs. Dalloway' is not formless like other stream of from the party but Sally says that she must be attending her
consciousness novels. The novel has been printed in one piece guests. Peter and Sally start talking to each other. As Peter
from beginning till end without parts or chapters. The stream decides to leave the party, Clarissa comes and Peter finds her
of consciousness technique has no adverse effect on the purse, and adorable with all her faults and shortcomings. The
artistic beauty of the novel. Woolf has certainly made a novel comes to an end with this episode.
brilliant use of this technique in “Mrs. Dalloway.” So for

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Conclusion
It is concluded that all the themes of the novel have been
developed by the novelist through the portrayal of the thought
process of various characters. The novel, thus, presents a
picture of life in all its colours and varieties. Thus, the
structure of “Mrs. Dalloway" is quite compact. The novel is
successful in providing the unity of impression. The incidents
of the novel are successfully connected with each other. The
action of the novel takes place in the minds of various
characters. But the use of stream of consciousness technique
does not have any adverse effect on the structure of the novel.

References
1. Woolf Virginia, "Mrs. Dalloway.” Oxford University
Press, 2009 Print.
2. Dowling David, “Mrs. Dalloway: Mapping stream of
consciousness”. Twayne Publishers, 1991 Print.

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