Today is tomorrow’s yesterday. Each day is interwoven with past, present, and future. The past is filled with memories and lessons learned, while the future holds our dreams. The present cannot be successfully lived without a healthy balance of the past and the future. Many times, though, we get caught up in either in the choices of yesterday or in the worries of tomorrows. In her novel, Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf shows that living life without a good balance of past and future in the present brings pain through Peter Walsh 's imaginative life, Clarissa Dalloway’s constant disappointment, and Septimus Smith 's suicide.
Peter Walsh appears to have a pretty good life. He makes questionable choices, like being in love with a married woman and …show more content…
As Woolf’s protagonist, Clarissa carries the story, but so often retreats to regret or shame. It is not that she is not pleased with her present. She lived a life of luxury with a loving husband and daughter. It is more how she views her past, present, and future separately, instead of as a mix. The past is all could haves. Clarissa only views Peter and Sally for what they were. When she sees what they have become, she automatically regresses. The love and comradery the friends shared in their youth is not viewed with happiness because it did not turn out the way Clarissa hoped. When looking at Peter now, Clarissa jumps between judgement and adornment. She loves the Peter that she knew, but is not as pleased with the one standing in front of her. Letting her thoughts run free, she thinks of what could have been, as if it could still be: “Take me with you, Clarissa thought impulsively, as if he were starting directly upon some great voyage;” (1134) In this, she views the future and past, but leaves out the present. When looking at the future, Clarissa is filled with worry. She does not know if her party will be good enough or if the guest will enjoy it. As for her present, Clarissa sees herself only as her husband’s wife, not the person she use to be. There is no enjoyment, only completion. She must complete the tasks she sets, no looking forward, no …show more content…
As a returning war veteran, Septimus is struggling with mental illness. His past seems unbearable, so he shuts it out. Having fought in the war once was enough, he did not want to relive it. He also seemed to shut out his future. The only future topic in his mind was suicide. That thought seemed to penetrate his present as well. Despite his wife’s valiant attempts, Septimus blocked out life. He found brief moments of enjoyment, like being outside or making a hat. Some were simply inside his head. But these small moments do not outweigh the imbalanced life. The darkness in his mind took over, causing horrid thoughts: “The whole world was clamouring: Kill yourself, kill yourself, for our sake.” (1160) In the end, Septimus listened. The inability to see what he has been through and his refusal to see hope in the future draw Septimus to his final decision. The blocking out of the past and lack of positive perspective on the future lead Septimus to commit
Peter Walsh appears to have a pretty good life. He makes questionable choices, like being in love with a married woman and …show more content…
As Woolf’s protagonist, Clarissa carries the story, but so often retreats to regret or shame. It is not that she is not pleased with her present. She lived a life of luxury with a loving husband and daughter. It is more how she views her past, present, and future separately, instead of as a mix. The past is all could haves. Clarissa only views Peter and Sally for what they were. When she sees what they have become, she automatically regresses. The love and comradery the friends shared in their youth is not viewed with happiness because it did not turn out the way Clarissa hoped. When looking at Peter now, Clarissa jumps between judgement and adornment. She loves the Peter that she knew, but is not as pleased with the one standing in front of her. Letting her thoughts run free, she thinks of what could have been, as if it could still be: “Take me with you, Clarissa thought impulsively, as if he were starting directly upon some great voyage;” (1134) In this, she views the future and past, but leaves out the present. When looking at the future, Clarissa is filled with worry. She does not know if her party will be good enough or if the guest will enjoy it. As for her present, Clarissa sees herself only as her husband’s wife, not the person she use to be. There is no enjoyment, only completion. She must complete the tasks she sets, no looking forward, no …show more content…
As a returning war veteran, Septimus is struggling with mental illness. His past seems unbearable, so he shuts it out. Having fought in the war once was enough, he did not want to relive it. He also seemed to shut out his future. The only future topic in his mind was suicide. That thought seemed to penetrate his present as well. Despite his wife’s valiant attempts, Septimus blocked out life. He found brief moments of enjoyment, like being outside or making a hat. Some were simply inside his head. But these small moments do not outweigh the imbalanced life. The darkness in his mind took over, causing horrid thoughts: “The whole world was clamouring: Kill yourself, kill yourself, for our sake.” (1160) In the end, Septimus listened. The inability to see what he has been through and his refusal to see hope in the future draw Septimus to his final decision. The blocking out of the past and lack of positive perspective on the future lead Septimus to commit