Examining the Depiction of Loneliness in Virginia Woolf’s, ‘Mrs Dalloway’

This research paper looks into the world of an upper-class woman from the 1920s, Mrs Dalloway, based on the book by Virginia Woolf. A single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway reveals the underlying themes of loneliness, fear of death, communication and more. This paper deals especially with the theme of loneliness and how it is portrayed in the main characters. The story of Mrs Dalloway revolves around Clarissa Dalloway and her past as well as the story of Septimus Warren Smith. Septimus is a war veteran, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His struggle with his mental disorder and how it affects his family is crucial to the story. The essence of the novel is about how connected these two individuals are having never met one another. Mrs Dalloway's psyche is on full display every time she has a flashback into her past. Her memories reveal a lot about her lifestyle and personality. Even though the story revolves around the happenings of a solitary day, through time jumps and different perspectives, more of the narrative is revealed. This paper thoroughly investigates the minds of these characters and how they interact. The constant but subtle notion of loneliness within these characters is brought to light in this research paper.