Septimus and Clarissa: What does it mean to be "successful'?
In my previous post, I was almost half way through the book, and was very interested in knowing how Woolf would tie these two almost opposite story lines of Septimus and Clarissa together. Now that I'm done with the book, I can see many subtle ways Woolf ties these characters into central ideas. But there was an idea that really struck me during our little table-huddle discussion (Kate, Solo, and Nathalie- you guys gave me a lot of insight!). Something Nathalie said really struck me. Both Clarissa and Septimus were supposed to be "success" stories.
Septimus was the typical young man in England. He loved Shakespeare (Clarissa does too- yet another connection!) and enjoyed poetry, even pretty talented himself in writing. He is eager to go out and fight in the war and prove himself the man he is. Yet, things fall apart. The war ruins him, and leaves him shell-shocked, and questioning what war is really about and his trust in his country. His marriage isn't going very well as a result, and the reader is left with his tragic end, just as he and his wife share that last beautiful connection.
Clarissa was the typical woman born into a rich and elite family. She is learned, and loves Shakespeare. She grows up to marry the wealthy, stable, and supportive Richard Dalloway who serves in politics, and has one beautiful girl, Elizabeth. On the outside, she is Mrs.Richard Dalloway, hosting parties for the elite and being the "perfect hostess". Although she doesn't break on the outside like Septimus, we can read her thoughts through Woolf's style of writing pretty deeply. She doesn't hate her life as it is and actually enjoys it. But is she really satisfied? Did she want to explore the edges of society, but was too scared to step out? She wasn't even satisfied with the party that much either, and had some pretty deep clarifications on Septimus' suicide.
I found it interesting how Woolf puts these two characters side by side. Is Woolf trying to say that people aren't going to always fit into that perfect mold in society, and won't necessarily be happy? That reality doesn't work that way, and it's a lot more complicated to be satisfied in life than just simply following societal ideals? Will these success stories break you and trap you instead?
Septimus was the typical young man in England. He loved Shakespeare (Clarissa does too- yet another connection!) and enjoyed poetry, even pretty talented himself in writing. He is eager to go out and fight in the war and prove himself the man he is. Yet, things fall apart. The war ruins him, and leaves him shell-shocked, and questioning what war is really about and his trust in his country. His marriage isn't going very well as a result, and the reader is left with his tragic end, just as he and his wife share that last beautiful connection.
Clarissa was the typical woman born into a rich and elite family. She is learned, and loves Shakespeare. She grows up to marry the wealthy, stable, and supportive Richard Dalloway who serves in politics, and has one beautiful girl, Elizabeth. On the outside, she is Mrs.Richard Dalloway, hosting parties for the elite and being the "perfect hostess". Although she doesn't break on the outside like Septimus, we can read her thoughts through Woolf's style of writing pretty deeply. She doesn't hate her life as it is and actually enjoys it. But is she really satisfied? Did she want to explore the edges of society, but was too scared to step out? She wasn't even satisfied with the party that much either, and had some pretty deep clarifications on Septimus' suicide.
I found it interesting how Woolf puts these two characters side by side. Is Woolf trying to say that people aren't going to always fit into that perfect mold in society, and won't necessarily be happy? That reality doesn't work that way, and it's a lot more complicated to be satisfied in life than just simply following societal ideals? Will these success stories break you and trap you instead?
I'd like to add that another part of Septimus's success story is that he became "manly" during the war. He was so successful that he didn't even react to his best friend's death.
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