Modernism can be observed in literary works from the beginning of the 20th century, continuing a few years after World War 2 ended. A result of this is that many elements in the literature reflected the society during the war and its aftermath. A prime example of this kind of modernist literature can be found in Virginia Woolf's classic novel, Mrs. Dalloway. This novel is a testament to the post-war modernist literary era due to the themes it explores and the traits of modernism it is characterized by. Features like a stream of consciousness and alienation define this modernist piece of work.
Stream of consciousness is the element in which the language used steers in an incohesive manner, reflecting how human thoughts work. Usually, this is done by using colloquial language to indicate a conscious stream of thoughts. The approach taken in this novel is by using very few punctuations and show a flow where one stream of thought intersects with another. Along with this, Woolf sometimes introduces some flashbacks or ideas which, like a train of thought, diminishes abruptly and does not get picked up again. The disjointed language indicative of the stream of consciousness mirrors the modernist period as well as the disintegrated nature of society post-war. Although the war caused tremendous physical wounds, Woolf, through this novel, chooses to study and narrate the psychological destruction the war caused. When depicting a character such as Septimus Smith, who has post-traumatic stress disorder and spends his day rambling about the most minute of observations, Woolf manages to direct the readers through his mind, the thoughts once seeming erratic, now laid bare for everyone. By the stream of consciousness, Woolf picks apart the characters' minds, and thus all their thoughts within and reveals the novel in a somewhat psychological narrative.
Alienation is another modernist element prevalent in this novel, particularly in the relationships between each character. Septimus' experiences leave him unable to maintain his emotional distress, thereby making him socially unacceptable and, as a result alienating him from society. On the other hand, Mrs. Dalloway presents herself as an emotionally repressed socialite. She cannot express her emotions to the ones closest to her and constantly performs a charade for her social circle. This has her alienated from her husband, daughter, friends, and even herself. In the elderly lady who lives across Mrs. Dalloway, we observe a different form of alienation wherein the lady alienates herself from society by choice, and in return, the society doesn't invade into herself. This makes her a point of envy of Mrs. Dalloway, who leads a life in stark contrast to the lady. Another form of alienation we are introduced to is through Lucrezia, Septimus' wife, wherein she is forced into a life of alienation by society due to her support for her alienated husband. All the relationships Woolf introduces in her novel seem shallow with no actual connection between the characters, highlighting each of their yearnings for connection and isolation.
Some themes I admired in this novel were Virginia Woolf's depictions of social class and aristocracy concerning the trauma of war as well as homosexuality.
Through Mrs. Dalloway, the epitome of repression and denial who enjoys beautifying her world of pain and loneliness with things like flowers and Septimus Smith, the embodiment of pain and suffering unable to suppress them like society wants him to, Woolf reveals how the pre-war British society is collapsing from its position of power and superiority due to the devasting impact of the war.
The mass of people, including Clarissa, gathered around the mysterious car and that believe to be "within speaking distance of the majesty of England" are representative of the section of the society that is still in awe of the British Empire and its former reality. In the same car, Septimus sees an aristocracy that caused the deaths of thousands of soldiers who fought for the Great Britain Army.
The ruling class's obliviousness and adherence to conventional societal rules are displayed mainly through Clarissa Dalloway, Peter Walsh, and Richard Dalloway. Moreso, Dr. Holmes and Sir William Bradshaw's treatment of Septimus Smith indicates this sentiment of the upper- class aristocrats.
In Clarissa and Richard Dalloway, we observe the representation of the upper social classes who have been predominantly unaffected by the war. They depict the pride and superiority of England and the attempt of those unaffected to preserve their image of their Great Empire by trivializing the destruction the war caused. They maintain this emotional disconnect from the war, possibly since their only experience with it has been through second-hand accounts from those who have been directly affected. Other than a passing sentiment, they hardly acknowledge the effect of death on the survivors. Similarly, with Peter Walsh, we can correlate his lack of emotion towards the war to the time he spent in India, which probably resulted in him avoiding most of the direct effects of the war.
In complete opposition to the socialite, Clarissa's emotional repression, Woolf introduces a damaged war veteran who fails to contain his emotional distress. Septimus returns from war to find, despite the efforts of his wife and doctors, that he no longer has a place within society, considering his traumatic experiences make him unable to conform to society's ideals and expectations. While Septimus once put his life on the line for his country, he can no longer find purpose in the same war he fought for. Septimus, like most youth, has been influenced by the aristocracy to fight for a war that would leave him with nothing after it ends, perhaps why he comes to resent aristocracy and all its symbols.
Woolf's depiction of the aftermath of the war reflects a society struggling to regain its pride and superiority as an empire but simultaneously unable to escape the trauma of war that has wrecked their lives.
An interesting aspect of the story is Woolf's inclusion of homosexuality. It was refreshing to read a piece of literature, especially from a modernist literary period where I'm sure writing about homosexuality would seem unorthodox, that it was not used as a trope but rather a manner to explain the relationship between two characters. A novel written by a woman, talking about two women in a romantic space without including the societal stigma, except for their resignation into heterosexual marriages, is indicative of Virginia Woolf's bold views regarding sexuality that she displayed through her novel.
With the aid of these modernist elements and themes, Virginia Woolf introduces a story that symbolizes her own standard of modernist literature. Modernism is a literary period of constant critique of the traditional ways of writing wherein we can place Woolf as a pioneer of modernism as well as an unconventional writer in her own manner.
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