"Was he not like Keats?...a taste of Antony and Cleopatra...and the Waterloo Road" (85).
Antony and Cleopatra is a tale of Romeo and Juliet; both lovers want to be together, but they cannot find a way to be. In the end, they both end up committing suicide in one form or another. Virginia Woolf includes this tale in her novel to explain how Rezia feels toward her husband Septimus. He appears lifeless since he has returned from the war and Virginia Woolf shows Rezia's personality by saying that she would give him Antony and Cleopatra. It gives the impression that Rezia wanted him to feel towards her like he used to; get back to his loving old self again. Woolf depicts the scenario between Rezia and Septimus perfectly by using the reference to Antony and Cleopatra to emphasize her thought of how love can be so determined and true love never truly surrenders but works harder to fight through the obstacles, which is exactly what Rezia is trying to do.
"Antony and Cleopatra." Sparknotes. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/antony/
Saturday, October 24, 2009
6. Mrs. Dalloway
"That was her feeling--Othello's feeling...as strongly as Shakespeare meant Othello to feel it...to meet Sally Seton!" (35).
Othello is a famous play written by William Shakespeare, which consists of a tangled web of lies throughout the whole story line. Othello is the main character within the play and is married to a wife whom he adores. He is forever faithful, but chooses to kill her when he finds out, under false circumstances, that his wife was supposedly committing adultery. When he discovers the truth, he is completely heart broken and regrets his feelings. Othello reacts through emotion and not with a clear mind. Virginia Woolf included Othello in her novel, Mrs. Dalloway to emphasize how strong Clarissa's feelings are towards Sally. Othello's feelings had been so strong that he ended up killing the one woman he loved with all his heart. Clarissa and Sally, in their younger days, portray the same kind of love towards each other and appear to possess the same depth that Othello had. Within the quote there is also a mention of Clarissa's white frock and the color white often implies innocence, youth, or purity. Given the circumstance, Virginia Woolf may have included all of these descriptions to depict to the reader the innocent emotions held between Sally and Clarissa during their youth. A theme of remembrance is also apparent in the fact that Clarissa has this flashback of Sally numerous times in addition to this one. The past never leaves humankind, but people either choose to forget about it, or linger over it continuously wishing it back.
"Othello." Sparknotes. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/summary.html
5. Mrs. Dalloway
"The ideas were Sally's...read Plato in bed...read Shelley by the hour" (33).
Virginia Woolf includes Plato and Shelley into her novel to depict the free-spirit and intellect of Clarissa's friend, Sally. Sally is described as knowing a lot about everything, or at least more than Clarissa. Plato lived from 429 till 347 B.C.E. He was an Athenian citizen and held a high status. He is a well known philosopher of his time, and even today. When Virginia Woolf references Shelley, she could either be speaking of Mary Shelley, or her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. They are both very influential and powerful writers of their time. Percy wrote romantic poems, while Mary wrote intriguing stories. The words they use in their creations behold many messages and important themes. By using Plato and Shelley, Woolf was trying to express the intelligence of Sally. She is a very bright girl and gained her knowledge from some of the best people recorded in history. Plato and Shelley are also both very influential writers so Virginia Woolf may have included them in her novel to describe how strong willed Sally is throughout the book.
"Plato." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 26 September 2009. 19 September 2009.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato/
"Percy Bysshe Shelley." The Literature Network. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.online-literature.com/shelley_percy/
Virginia Woolf includes Plato and Shelley into her novel to depict the free-spirit and intellect of Clarissa's friend, Sally. Sally is described as knowing a lot about everything, or at least more than Clarissa. Plato lived from 429 till 347 B.C.E. He was an Athenian citizen and held a high status. He is a well known philosopher of his time, and even today. When Virginia Woolf references Shelley, she could either be speaking of Mary Shelley, or her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. They are both very influential and powerful writers of their time. Percy wrote romantic poems, while Mary wrote intriguing stories. The words they use in their creations behold many messages and important themes. By using Plato and Shelley, Woolf was trying to express the intelligence of Sally. She is a very bright girl and gained her knowledge from some of the best people recorded in history. Plato and Shelley are also both very influential writers so Virginia Woolf may have included them in her novel to describe how strong willed Sally is throughout the book.
"Plato." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 26 September 2009. 19 September 2009.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato/
"Percy Bysshe Shelley." The Literature Network. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.online-literature.com/shelley_percy/
4. Mrs. Dalloway
"Then while a seedy-looking nondescript man...flew the aeroplane over the Ludgate Circus" (28).
The Ludgate Circus is a hill located in London. The hill is where St. Paul's Cathedral is located, and it is said to have also been the site of a Roman temple of the Goddess Diana. Virginia Woolf made the reference to Ludgate Circus because she had been speaking of St. Paul's Cathedral, and of its high ranking men who now lay there to rest. The Cathedral on the hill is a symbol in Virginia Woolf's eyes of how mankind will strive to accomplish great things throughout their lives to get recognition for it later. All of the men buried in the tombs underneath St. Paul's are famous, which makes other people look at them as superior; as their idles.
"Ludgate Hill." Absolute Astronomy. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Ludgate_Hill#encyclopedia
The Ludgate Circus is a hill located in London. The hill is where St. Paul's Cathedral is located, and it is said to have also been the site of a Roman temple of the Goddess Diana. Virginia Woolf made the reference to Ludgate Circus because she had been speaking of St. Paul's Cathedral, and of its high ranking men who now lay there to rest. The Cathedral on the hill is a symbol in Virginia Woolf's eyes of how mankind will strive to accomplish great things throughout their lives to get recognition for it later. All of the men buried in the tombs underneath St. Paul's are famous, which makes other people look at them as superior; as their idles.
"Ludgate Hill." Absolute Astronomy. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Ludgate_Hill#encyclopedia
3. Mrs. Dalloway
"Away and away the aeroplane shot...Einstein, speculation, mathematics, the Mendelian theory...aeroplane shot" (28).
A very peculiar thought is processed through this quote as the reader reads it from start to finish. Einstein is a well known man who had a strong determination to accomplish great things. He viewed his accomplishments as "mere stepping stones for the next advance" (Nobel Lectures). The Mendelian Theory is named after Greg Mendel and it consists of the first law of segregation. Virginia Woolf may have included these two famous people in her writing for many reasons. The way this quote is worded creates an amazing image in the mind; the light from the aeroplane is compared to a man's soul, and then Einstein and the Mendelian Theory come in. By Woolf comparing an aeroplane to numerous things, the point she is trying to make is that from a strong determination to achieve ones goals, the aeroplane was born. Mr. Bentley is standing there staring at the plane as it flies overhead, and Virginia Woolf has him thinking about everything that relates to the desire to create something so amazing.
"Albert Einstein." Nobelprize.org. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/einstein-bio.html
"Mendel's First Law." Mendelian Genetics. 26 September 2009. 2000.
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/mcclean/plsc431/mendel/mendel1.htm
Photo Credit: http://th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/~jr/gif/phys/einst_6.jpg
2. Mrs. Dalloway
"I am alone...by the fountain in Regent's Park...never tell that he was mad" (24).
Regent's Park is a royal park that can be found in London. Henry VIII initiated the production, and it was designed by John Nash. Virginia Woolf included Regent's Park in her novel to add the touch of Royalty into her plot line. Throughout the entire story she speaks of the higher class and she portrays herself as someone who would fully enjoy everyone staring at her as she walks by. Regent Park is a place that was created by royalty for hunting and enjoying nature. At first it was privately owned, but later opened up to the public. Virginia Woolf is describing how Clarissa Dalloway would love to live her life like the upper class and wealthy citizens. She also may have used Regent's Park as a setting in her story because it is a real place, which connects the reader to reality and makes the story more believable.
"The Regent's Park." The Royal Parks. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/regents_park/history.cfm
Regent's Park is a royal park that can be found in London. Henry VIII initiated the production, and it was designed by John Nash. Virginia Woolf included Regent's Park in her novel to add the touch of Royalty into her plot line. Throughout the entire story she speaks of the higher class and she portrays herself as someone who would fully enjoy everyone staring at her as she walks by. Regent Park is a place that was created by royalty for hunting and enjoying nature. At first it was privately owned, but later opened up to the public. Virginia Woolf is describing how Clarissa Dalloway would love to live her life like the upper class and wealthy citizens. She also may have used Regent's Park as a setting in her story because it is a real place, which connects the reader to reality and makes the story more believable.
"The Regent's Park." The Royal Parks. 26 September 2009. 2009.
http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/regents_park/history.cfm
1. Mrs. Dalloway
"Fear no more..furious winter's rages" (9).William Shakespeare originally wrote his poem "Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun" sometime between 1564 and 1616. Embedded within this text Shakespeare emphasizes the non-importance of trivial matters and understands that human life does not last long. He tries to get the message out to the reader that one should not worry so much about the little things because there is not much time to enjoy life. Virginia Woolf uses William Shakespeare's work in her book to illustrate a strong concept. Woolf's character, Clarissa Dalloway, is looking around her town and thinking about the choices she has made. While she is remembering her past, she sees all of the action occurring in town and starts to understand that she is so small compared to all the people, and that one day the world will go on without her. Virginia Woolf uses the theme from Shakespeare's poem to get her point across that life is short and one should not waste a moment of it.
"Fear No More." Suite 101. 26 September 2009. 2003.
http://www.suite101.com/discussion.cfm/performance_poetry/92093/796749
Photo Credit: http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/images/2007/08/29/shakespeare.jpg
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