Failure of Clarissa Dalloway’s Self in Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

Abstract

This thesis on Virginia Woolf‟s Mrs. Dalloway explores the causes of the failure of Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway‟s self from the perspective of socialist feminism. It studies in detail why she kills her feminine conscience, and quietly accepts the existing social code of conduct. Furthermore, it also analyzes the consequences of the suffocating tradition where women are being treated as commodity, which Clarissa also in the novel cannot rebel and is incapable of establishing her self identity breaking the norms and values of the contemporary society. Due to the phenomenon of self-repression Clarissa strongly feels the lack of identity and belongingness. Like a fly trapped in a cobweb she is also trapped and pressed beneath the burden of superficial notion. Clarissa is aware that she cannot conquer the circumstances of the then society but still accepts the challenge for the creation of her own world beyond male domination. The research has shown that Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway is characterized by the deadness of spirit. Due to self-repression, Clarissa strongly feels the lack of identity and belongingness. She has been compelled to repress her natural inclination, her wish to have a free space of her own. She cannot truly be Clarissa and cannot secure the space for her self as could cater to her fantasy. Thus, with the acknowledgement of reality, Clarissa concludes her life spiritually dead though physically she is alive which shows the failure of Clarissa‟s self.