Mrs. Dalloway

Synopsis

This Norton Critical Edition includes:

• The 1925 first American edition text, introduced and annotated by Anne Fernald.
• A map of Mrs. Dalloway's London.
• An unusually rich selection of contextual materials, including diary entries and letters related to the composition of the novel, essays, short stories and biographical excerpts, and the only introduction that Virginia Woolf wrote to any of her novels. The voices of other writers are also included, allowing readers to consider the literary passages that influenced Woolf's art and historical moment.
• Eight reviews of Mrs. Dalloway, from publication to the present day.
• A chronology and a selected bibliography.
  

About the Series

Read by more than 12 million students over fifty-five years, Norton Critical Editions set the standard for apparatus that is right for undergraduate readers. The three-part format-annotated text, contexts and criticism-helps students to better understand, analyse and appreciate the literature, while opening a wide range of teaching possibilities for instructors. Whether in print or in digital format, Norton Critical Editions provide all the resources students need.

Summary

Chapter 1

* Clarissa Dalloway, a wealthy and elegant society lady, prepares for a party she is hosting that evening.
* She reflects on her past and realizes that she married Richard Dalloway for stability rather than passion.
* Clarissa encounters Peter Walsh, a former lover who still harbors feelings for her.

Example: Clarissa thinks of her friend Sally Seton, who she danced with passionately in the past. However, she now realizes that their connection was fleeting and that she can never go back to that youthful exuberance.

Chapter 2

* Septimus Warren Smith, a traumatized war veteran, struggles with mental illness and hallucinations.
* He is accompanied by his wife, Lucrezia, who is deeply concerned about his well-being.
* Septimus accidentally overhears a conversation and misinterprets it as a sign that he is destined to die.

Example: Septimus sees a doctor in the park, who seems to be observing him. He imagines that the doctor is a messenger from the government, sent to arrest him.

Chapter 3

* Clarissa attends a lunch party with her friends, including: Elizabeth Dalloway (her daughter), Peter Walsh, and Sally Seton.
* The guests discuss various topics, such as love, marriage, and the changing world.
* Clarissa becomes increasingly anxious about her party, fearing that it will not be up to par.

Example: Sally recalls a time when she and Clarissa were swimming naked in a river. Clarissa remembers this moment with nostalgia, but she also recognizes that their lives have moved in different directions.

Chapter 4

* Septimus wanders through the city, becoming increasingly disconnected from reality.
* He encounters a homeless man, Evans, who offers him shelter.
* Septimus's hallucinations intensify, and he begins to lose touch with the boundaries between his mind and the external world.

Example: Septimus sees the Big Ben clock as a symbol of time and death. He becomes preoccupied with the idea that he must escape from it.

Chapter 5

* Clarissa's party takes place, and guests begin to arrive.
* Peter Walsh confronts Clarissa about their past relationship, but she remains evasive.
* Septimus, unable to bear the noise and chaos of the party, decides to take his own life.

Example: Clarissa eagerly greets her guests, but she also feels a sense of emptiness. She realizes that her party is just a superficial attempt to fill the void in her life.