In the novel Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, there is a reoccurring motif of nature, birds, and flowers. Each character has a unique attitude towards flowers and nature in general. Oftentimes, a specific type of bird or flower represents a character. Reiza, Clarissa, and Lady Bruton are prime examples of these motifs in the lives of the novel’s characters.
Reiza is an Italian woman who married Septimus. When Septimus comes back to England with post-traumatic stress disorder, Reiza cares for him and tries to help him regain his former mental health. Reiza is mild-tempered and amorous. Described as “a flowering tree…with all her petals about her,” (Woolf 148), Reiza gives life to Septimus. She is his “sanctuary,” (Woolf 148). Because Reiza …show more content…
She describes introductions as a “drip, drip,” a never-ending flow of expectations to meet (Woolf 152). These introductions are like a burden to Clarissa, who feels trapped by society’s standards, so much so that she can see London as a “submerged city,” drowned by the steady drip, drip of mores (Woolf 162). However, Clarissa is a happy participant in this society. She is a mermaid, floating in her element, riding the waves, and the repetitive cycles that society follows. Clarissa’s relationship to nature defines her …show more content…
She is rather awkward with the flowers, taking them with a “grim smile” and then “raising…(and) holding them rather stiffly,” (Woolf 104-105). Like other men in the novel, Lady Bruton doesn’t know what to do with the carnations from Hugh. Her role in the novel is to represent the stupidity to certain English customs. Her luncheon is mechanical; the table almost sets itself. Then, everyone must wait for Hugh to finish eating before moving on, even though Lady Bruton herself finds Hugh to be an ill bred, grating person. Not being as sentimental towards flowers as most female characters, she is like a man, very interested in politics, even more than people, and talking like a man (Woolf 105-108). However, her metaphorical counterpart is a field of clover, with bees flying around her and the yellow flowers. This is the field from her childhood, where she used to ride her pony and jump over the brooks. There she could hide behind the shrubbery, and be protected by the trees, dahlias, hollyhocks, and pampas grass (Woolf 111-112). This expresses Lady Bruton’s wish, to be herself. Like Richard said, Lady Bruton might have been a great general like her ancestors, if only she had been a man. She is trapped by society, forced to inquire after Clarissa, whom she does not like, and to ask Hugh to write editorials for her due to her lack of writing ability (Woolf). Lady Bruton wishes to jump over the brooks, and escape the ceaseless flow of social
Reiza is an Italian woman who married Septimus. When Septimus comes back to England with post-traumatic stress disorder, Reiza cares for him and tries to help him regain his former mental health. Reiza is mild-tempered and amorous. Described as “a flowering tree…with all her petals about her,” (Woolf 148), Reiza gives life to Septimus. She is his “sanctuary,” (Woolf 148). Because Reiza …show more content…
She describes introductions as a “drip, drip,” a never-ending flow of expectations to meet (Woolf 152). These introductions are like a burden to Clarissa, who feels trapped by society’s standards, so much so that she can see London as a “submerged city,” drowned by the steady drip, drip of mores (Woolf 162). However, Clarissa is a happy participant in this society. She is a mermaid, floating in her element, riding the waves, and the repetitive cycles that society follows. Clarissa’s relationship to nature defines her …show more content…
She is rather awkward with the flowers, taking them with a “grim smile” and then “raising…(and) holding them rather stiffly,” (Woolf 104-105). Like other men in the novel, Lady Bruton doesn’t know what to do with the carnations from Hugh. Her role in the novel is to represent the stupidity to certain English customs. Her luncheon is mechanical; the table almost sets itself. Then, everyone must wait for Hugh to finish eating before moving on, even though Lady Bruton herself finds Hugh to be an ill bred, grating person. Not being as sentimental towards flowers as most female characters, she is like a man, very interested in politics, even more than people, and talking like a man (Woolf 105-108). However, her metaphorical counterpart is a field of clover, with bees flying around her and the yellow flowers. This is the field from her childhood, where she used to ride her pony and jump over the brooks. There she could hide behind the shrubbery, and be protected by the trees, dahlias, hollyhocks, and pampas grass (Woolf 111-112). This expresses Lady Bruton’s wish, to be herself. Like Richard said, Lady Bruton might have been a great general like her ancestors, if only she had been a man. She is trapped by society, forced to inquire after Clarissa, whom she does not like, and to ask Hugh to write editorials for her due to her lack of writing ability (Woolf). Lady Bruton wishes to jump over the brooks, and escape the ceaseless flow of social