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CoverLetter
RevisingLitExhasbeenareallyexhaustingexperience,butIthinkultimatelythrough
myworkithasbecomebetter.Iwrestledalotwithhowtoextendandsynthesizewithoutbeing
repetitiveandwithoutbreakingthepagelimit.Ithink,originally,mydraftwasmoreexploratory
whereallthepuzzlepiecesfittogetherattheend,butnowitsmorecohesiveandmypointis
muchmoreinfocusatleast,Ihopeitis.Someeditsweresuperficialthoughtimeconsuming,
likeawkwardphrasing,quoteblending,andtransitions,buttheydefinitelypolishedmyessay
overallandmadeitmoreprofessional.IfIcouldgobackandchangethings,Iwouldworktocut
downonmypages.However,Irecognizethatextendingandsynthesizingrequiredmetowrite
more,andIendedupnotfindingalotofplacesIcouldreallycutdown.UltimatelyIthinkmy
finaldraftismuchmoreclearandfocused.Itsaneasiertounderstandpaper,whichIthinkisa
fairtradeofffortheextrapageorso.Ifeelproudofmyselfforthefinishedproduct,especially
sincetheeditsImadewerenotsuperficial.Thechangesreallyaddtothedepthofthinkingand
theclarity,aswellasultimatelyshiftingtheessayfromamoreexploratorystyletoamuchmore
grounded,cohesiveessayarguingthethesistimeandtimeagain.Istruggledwithsounding
redundant,butifIsacrificerepetitiveforthesakeofclarity,Isupposethatisgoodenough.

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JacquelineCope
Mrs.Herzog
A.P.EnglishLiteratureandComposition
November10,2014
Past,PresentandDistortedHopeinMrs.Dalloway
Timepastandtimefuture
Allowbutalittleconsciousness.
Tobeconsciousisnottobeintime
Butonlyintimecanthemomentintherosegarden,
Themomentinthearbourwheretherainbeat,
Themomentinthedraughtychurchatsmokefall
Berememberedinvolvedwithpastandfuture.
Onlythroughtimetimeisconquered.
T.S.Eliot,BurntNorton

Thoughbyanystandard,VirginiaWoolfslifeanddeathwasmarredbytragedy,her
writingisreflectiveofboththeharshdespairandanequallypassionatejoy.Theemotional
intensityofWoolfsworklives,inpart,becauseofthefocusonminutedetailsofordinarylives,
andtheattentiontoonesinnerconsciousness.ThroughVirginiaWoolfsuseoftimethrough
intertwiningpast,present,andfuture,andthefoilbetweenthelivesofSeptimusandClarissa,
Mrs.Dallowayconveysthedualityoflife,whereregretisinescapable,butitisthatsameregret
thatrequiresonetoembracethemomentarypleasures,creatingasenseofdisfiguredoptimismin
herwork.
Mrs.Dallowaysuseoftimeasacyclicalconceptthroughstreamofconsciousnessprose,
ultimatelyshowstheinescapabilityofthepast,butalsothepleasureofthepresentmoment.The
flowing,extensivenarrativetakesplaceinbothClarissasexperienceduringasingledayofher
life,butalsofluidlytransitionsbetweenherpresentandpast,suchasherrejectionofPeterWalsh

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decadesago.Thisstylisticallycreatesacontinuityofpast,present,andfutureinwhichthereis
nodividingline(Benjamin).Byseamlesslyintertwiningtheevents,itservesapurposeof
showingtheeffectthepasthasonthepresent.Theinfluenceofthepastisalwaysthere,and
thoughrememberedeventsmaybepainful,theyalsoservetocontrastthecontentmentfoundin
livingwithinthenow.Thepainofthepastispalpable,butalsothejoyofthepresentmoment,
eveninthemostordinaryoftypicaldays.Themonotonousritualofeverydaybecomes
extraordinarywiththepresenceofapassionateloveoflife:
Allthesame,thatonedayshouldfollowanotherWednesday,Thursday,Friday,
SaturdayThatoneshouldwakeupinthemorningseetheskywalkintheparkthen
suddenlyincamePeterthentheserosesitwasenough.Afterthat,howunbelievable
deathwas!thatitmustendandnooneinthewholeworldwouldknowhowshehad
loveditallhoweveryinstant(122).
Withinthisexcerpt,itbecomesobviousthedailyritualsofaseeminglymundaneLondonwomen
aremeaningfulinanunexpectedway.Thereisaclearsenseofpassionandgratitudeforbeing
aliveandexperiencinghertypicalday,forsheloveditall,andapassionforeachmoment
withinlife.Thestreamofconsciousnessstyle,intheformofthelistingtheperhapstypical
eventssuchasthedayoftheweekorwalksinthepark,clearlycommunicatesthatthoughwhat
appearstobeordinaryanduneventfulisactuallyasourceofjoytoClarissa,becauseeventhe
mundanewasextraordinary,andfleeting.Clarissamusesitmustendbutshelovedevery
instance,includingthemomentswithPeterandherrejectionofhim,aswellasthemoments
choosingflowers.Boththedualityofthesmall,tediousmomentsinlifeandthemorepressing,
largermoments,aresourcesofpleasureforClarissa,foritishavingbothgoodandbadtimesthat

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makesherfeelalive.Thedisjointedending,whereeveryinstantisnotacompletedthought
andinsteadhastheellipsis,servesagaintoshowthecontinuousnatureoftime,aswellashow
Clarissaisreflectingonthesorrowsandpleasuresoflife.Thereisasenseofabsolute
exuberanceandalmostholyexaltationoflifeineachofitspassingmoments,asevenhermusing
isasingularmomentthatends,butcontinuesintotherestofherlife.Thethoughtpasses,andthe
momentpasses,butlifecontinues,showingClarissasreverenceforbothbeautyandugliness,
painandelation.
However,thepurposeofthesurrealtransitioningofpresentandpastbecomesmurkier
asthepastsometimestaintsthepresentmoment,andmakesitmorepainful,wherethedarker,
hauntingmemoriescauseextremeemotionalturmoil,asisthecaseforSeptimusSmithandhis
PostTraumaticStressDisorder.Hissenseoftime,andhisrelivingofit,becomeshisdownfall:
Thewordtimesplititshuskfromhislipsfelllikeshells,likeshavingsfromaplane.
ThedeadwereinThessaly,andnowthedead,nowEvanshimselfdead,(70).Thepastasan
elementoftimeseemstobeoneofnegativityandofregret,whereSeptimusassociatesthemere
mentionofItistimeasatriggertorecollecthistraumaasasoldierinWorldWarII.The
metaphorshowsthateventhewordtimeremindshimofabombandotherviolentimagery.
Specifically,shellssuggestshrapnel,orgrenades,andfromtherehisconsciousnesstakeshim
towitnessingthedeaths..ItisinterestingtonotetheuseofnowshowingSeptimussintense
involvementinrelivingthepast,wherenowshowsthatheisrelivingtheexperienceentirely,
andfeelingasifhisfellowsoldiersdeathsareoccurringalloverforhim,inthatveryinstance.
HeisalmosttransportedfromthecurrenttimeandisphysicallyrelivingtheeventsinThessaly
thepainofthepastisinescapableinthepresentmoment.Thisexperienceoftimeclearlyshows

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theintensityofregretandnegativeexperiences,astheycanhauntandcorruptthepresent
moment.
Thefluidityandinescapabilityofthepastwithinthemomentisaconceptportrayedin
TheHours,wherememoriesofthepastsculptClarissaVaughnsultimateappreciationfor
everydaymoments.Vaughnrecallsamomentofpleasureofherpast,Iremembergettingup
onemorningatdawn,andthinkingthiswasthebeginning.Itneveroccurredtomeitwasright
then.Itwashappiness.Itwasthemoment.Herexperienceistwingedwithahintofregretthat
therewasnorealizationorappreciationfortheperfectionofasingularmoment.Admittingher
lackofappreciationshowsasaddersenseofnostalgia,aregretfornotrealizingitwasthen,
thatperfectionandcontentmentofapassingmomentatdawn.However,thisultimatelyleadsto
herappreciatingpresentlifeevenmore,becauseshecontraststhelackofgratitudeshefeltfor
thesenseofcontentmentonthatonemorningatdawn.Thepasthasdifferingeffectson
ClarissaVaughnassherealizesshedidntappreciatethemomentasitwashappening.In
contrast,SeptimusSmithspasttraumatizeshim,andhecannotseparateitfromthemoment.
Eitherway,neithercharactercompletelylivesinthemomentandappreciateswhatishappening
asitisoccurringrather,theylookbackonthepastasasourceofemotionalturmoil,andfailto
acknowledgeemotionsotherthanpainandregret.Clarissa,eventually,willrealizethe
importanceofperhapsunimportantsourcesofpleasure,andthefleetingmomentsofthepresent
asasourceofjoy,despitetheinescapablepainthatoccurredinlife,suchasSeptimuss
experienceinwarandherexperienceinrejectingPeterWalsh.
Contrastingpainandjoywithinthepastandthepresentbecomesathematicelementin
TheHours,butalsowithintheoriginalMrs.Dallowayfromwhichthefilmisadapted,anditis

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thatcontrastthatcausesClarissasultimateembracewiththepassing,meaninglessjoysoflife.
Thenegativityexperiencedinthepastmightbetheexactmotivationtoenjoythepresents
positivity.InTheHours,VirginiaWoolfisportrayedduringherwritingtheinitialdraftofMrs.
Dalloway,andisshown(historicallyaccurately)tohaveconsideredClarissakillingherselfasthe
completionofthenovel.Whenquestionedwhyacharactermustdie,sheresponds,Someone
hastodieinorderthattherestofusshouldvaluelifemore(TheHours).Bykillingone
character,itcreatesasenseofmortalityintheothers,andallowsthemtovaluelifemoreforit
cansoeasilybetakenaway.Thesameideacanbeappliedtothepastandthepresentmoment,
wherethepainofthepastandtheultimate,nihilisticchaosoftheworldcanbetheverycatalyst
toenjoythemoment.SeptimusSmithspainallowsforClarissasjoy,forthewartraumatized
himandledhimtosuicide,whereashisdeathallowedforClarissatolearntoenjoythepresent
momentandletgoofthepast.InTheHours,likewise,thedeathallowsforarebirth,andthepast
actsasthepaintoenhancethejoy.
ThemeanstoenjoyingthepresentmomentcomesintheformofClarissasparties,which
shespendsthemajorityofthebookpreparingfor,inordertocreateasimple,meaningless
pleasureofthemoment.Arguably,shespendssomuchofthenovelpreparingtrivialitiesforthe
partytheinfamousflowersinordertosecurefulfillmentthroughbeingasuccessful
hostess...ascomingtorestbyconfidinganddispersingoneselfamongothers,(Philipson).
EssentiallyClarissaisthrowingapartytobeapartofsomethinggreaterthanherself,andto
pleaseothersandfeelasenseofbelonging.However,toanextent,herpartiesaremeaningless,
andthereisameaningwithinthatsheisthrowingapartynotforanyparticularreason,but
simplybecauseshecananditfeelsgood.Thelackofmeaningactuallyservesasthemeaning,

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becauseitissimplyaboutpleasureandenjoyingthemoment,ratherthanallowingthepastto
taintthepresentasisthecasewithSeptimusSmith.
Clarissaspartiesareultimatelyprofoundintheirlackoflogicaldesiretheyareacallto
enjoylifeandthemereprocessofliving,asthereispainanddestructioninescapablefromthe
past,thatonemightaswellenjoythepresent.Clarissaspartiesareasenseofinstant
gratificationofthemomentequivalenttoeatingchocolatecakeapleasurethatissimply
donefornoreasonotherthanitisenjoyable.transClarissanotesthatRichardfoundherparties
frivolous,andPeterfoundthemsnobbish,butBothwerequitewrong.Whatshelikedwas
simplylife.ThatswhatIdoitfor,shesaid,speakingaloud,tolife(121).Clarissahasher
partiessimplytohavethem.Sherealizestheinsignificanceandsuperficiality,buthastheparties
anyway,merelybecauseshewishesto.Itsanembraceoflife,andofchaos.Despiteinfact,
becauseofthepainofthepast,shechoosestoembracethepresent.Thisblasattitudestresses
theimportanceofsimplylifeforlifessake.Itsacelebrationofnothingness,butalsoof
everythingshesfindingjoyinavoidofpurposelessness.Thereasontoliveissimplytolive
thereisalackofrationalitybehindherpartiesthatmakesbothillogicalandmoresatisfying,
especiallyinaworldthatseemtaintedwiththedespairofthepast,likeSeptimussexperiencein
thewar.
AnotherlayerfoundinMrs.Dallowaysparadoxicalcritiqueandpraiseoflifeisthe
senseofinsignificanceofthehumancondition,foundinthetreatmentofminorcharactersin
relationtoClarissa.Throughoutthetravelsoftheday,individualminorcharactersare
constantlycrossingthepaths[ofClarissa]but,withoutalteringtheircourses,theyimmediately
passfromsight(Wright).Thesignificancelieswithintheirinsignificance.Onehundredand

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sixteennamedminorcharactersarepresentwithinMrs.Dalloway,yetnonearedelvedintowith
muchdepth,thusleadingthereadertoquestiontheirinclusion.Theirnamingandtheirinclusion
ultimatelyshowsthattheyareeachassignificantasClarissaslife,thoughtheyarenotfocused
upon,creatingasenseofmeaninglessnessofherlifeasanymoreimportantthantheminor
characters.TheinclusionofsomanyminorcharactersshowsClarissatobeaminisculefigurein
theseaofotherhumanlives,asasinglefacewithinacrowd,yetitisherstorythatisbeingtold.
ThisrevealsthatClarissaisessentiallyinterchangeabletoalltheminorcharacters,aseachof
themhaveasuniqueandintricatealifeasshedoes.However,herstorybeingtheonethatistold,
showsthatdespitethemeaninglessnessofhumanlife,joyandimportancecanstillbefound
withintheinsignificance.Infact,counterintuitively,theinsignificancecausesthesignificance,in
thesamewaythatSeptimusspainallowsforClarissasjoy.Hersisastoryofembracingthe
chaos,thepain,andtheinsignificanceoflife,throughpassingpleasuresofthemomentsuchas
herfrivolousparties.
TheideaoftheinsignificanceofhumanlifeisalsoprevalentinTheHours,wherethere
issenseofthecontinuationofthehumancondition.Thecharactersallsharenameswiththosein
VirginiaWoolfsnovel,thoughexistingindifferentperiods,furtheringtheargumentthatthe
pasthasadirecteffectwithinthemoment.Thecyclicalnatureoftimeshowingonesettingin
2001,anotherinthemid1950s,andathirdofVirginiaWoolfinthe1920sshowsthe
perseveranceofthenovelsinfluencepastitsprintedwords.Morespecifically,thescenewhere
Woolfsniecefindsadeadbirdshowstheinsignificanceoflife.VirginiaWoolfandthesmall
childareholdingasmallfuneral,andlayingflowersuponthebirdsgravewhentheniece
commentsonthesizeofthebird,sayingShelooksverysmall,towhichVirginiaWoolf

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responds,Yesthathappens.Welooksmaller(TheHours).Duringdeath,humanlifebecomes
smaller,showingittobelessimportantandlesssignificant.Thisideacorrelatestotheideaof
contrast,wherethelossandpainofothers,whetheradeadcharacterorthepainofthepast,
servesasacalltoactiontoenjoylifespassingpleasuresbecauseultimatelylifeismeaningless.
However,thatmeaninglessnessprovidesthemeaning,becauseitisthatcontrastanddualitythat
createstheappreciationforthemoment.Byseeinglifesbrevityandfeelingthepainofthepast,
Clarissaisultimatelyabletoenjoythemomentandseekoutpleasureforherself,asultimately
despitetheinevitabledeath,orpain,lifeshouldbeembracedinitspassingjoys.
ThefoilthecharactersSeptimusSmithandClarissaDallowayalsoservestoillustratethe
interchangeabilityandmeaninglessnessofhumanlife,wheretheirliveswhethertragicor
upliftingareseeminglyreasonless.Ratherthanthiscreatinganihilistic,hopelessoutcome,it
insteadimpressesuponthereadertoenjoyeverymoment,meaninglessasitmightbe.trans
WhenClarissalearnsSeptimuscommittedsuicide,Shefeltgladthathehaddoneit...Hemade
herfeelthebeautymadeherfeelthefun(186).Thecontrastbetweenhisdeathandherlife
allowshertoappreciatelivingagaintheuseofmadeimpliesasenseofforce,thatshewas
madetowakeupandrealizethatdespiteherlifenotbeingimportant,anddespitethedeathand
painthatispresent,itisstillfullofbeautyandfun.Again,thecontrastbetweenpainand
pleasureallowsarealizationthatdespitelifenotbeingprofound,itisstillenjoyablein
momentaryglimpses.Itsilluminating,forexample,thatSeptimusSmithsactualbirthcoincides
withtheyearClarissarejectsPeterWalsh,andhisdeathcoincideswiththerealizationofthe
pleasurepresentinlife(Benjamin).Heissculptedasthecontrastneededtoseethroughthe
corruption,lies,andchatterthatsodisfigureMrs.DallowayslifewithherhusbandRichard

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(186).Clarissasdissatisfactionwithherlifedoesnotnecessarilyend,butherappreciation
definitelyappearswhensheismadetoseepasttheinevitablepainanddarknessoflife,from
theregretofherrejectiontothedysfunctionalityofhermarriage.Clarissaslifebecomesa
duality,wherethedeathofSeptimiusimploreshertoreevaluateherownlifeasbothpainand
pleasure,regretandhope.Thereisadistortedgleethatshefeelsbecauseultimatelyeverythingis
temporarysmallandinsignificantasabirdsheultimatelydecidestoenjoylifeforwhatitis,
fullofmeaningless,passingbliss.
WithinMrs.Dalloway,thereisbothintensesadnessandequallypresentjoy,throughthe
useoftimeasaninescapableforcewherethepastspainalwaysaffectsthepresentmoment,and
theinsignificanceoflifeisshownthroughtheuseofminorcharactersandSeptimusSmith.
DespitethedissatisfactionofClarissa,whereshepondershermarriageandregretsherdecision
torejectPeterWalshsmarriageproposal,intheend,sheultimatelyexudeshope.Becauseofthe
lackofhope,thereishope.BecauseofthepainSeptimusexperiences,joyexistsforClarissa.
Thoughlifemaybeinescapable,fullofinevitablepainfulmemoriesofthepast,andultimately
meaninglessinthegranderscopeoftheuniverse,thereisstillbeautyandwonderandgloriously
fleetingmoments,likeapassingmorningatdawn.Thereisalwaysbothpainandpleasure.
Perhapsiflifeistrulymeaningless,thatsmallamountoffleetingjoyinchoosingflowers,or
walkingalongLondonstreets,orthrowingapartyforthesakeofaparty,isenoughmeaningin
itself.

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WorksCited
Benjamin,Anna."TowardsanUnderstandingoftheMeaningofVirginiaWoolf's"Mrs.
Dalloway""
WisconsinStudiesinContemporaryLiterature6.2(1965):21427.JSTOR.Web.1Nov.
2014.
Eliot,T.S.BurntNorton.London:FaberandFaber,1941.Print.
Philipson,Morris.""Mrs.Dalloway,""What'stheSenseofYourParties?""CriticalInquiry1.1
(1974):12348.JSTOR.Web.1Sept.2014.
TheHours.ParamountPictures,2002.DVD.
Woolf,Virginia.Mrs.Dalloway.NewYork:Harcourt,BraceandCo,1925.Print.
Wright,Natalia."Mrs.Dalloway:AStudyinComposition."CollegeEnglish5.7(1944):
351158.
JSTOR.Web.1Nov.2014.

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