Mrs.Dalloway Rhetorical Analysis
Law 1
Tyler Law
Mr. Gutmann
AP Literature
9 February 2015
Mrs.Dalloway Essay
The fragmentation of modern, intimate relationships both defines the post World War I,
English society and drives Virginia Woolf’s Mrs.Dalloway . Woolf’s chromatic imagery conveys the lively mood of modern London, while the gloomy tones of Clarissa reveals a severe emptiness in their lives. Furthermore, the author employs an inner monologue throughout the novel in order to emphasize the lack of true communication during the 1920’s. Finally the motif of time relates to the modernist obsession with time resulting in the failure to create intimate relationships. Throughout the novel, Woolf employs chromatic imagery whilst describing the advancing society of modern London, portraying the lively mood of its citizens. During World
War I, England faces a very dark time in its history. However after Armistice Day, England goes through a very joyous time period full of life and technological advances. Woolf’s chromatic imagery includes the recurring image of the “red carnation”(15), as well as many other color, including “white, violet, red, deep orange”(15), to describe the flowers of the store that Clarissa visited in the beginning of the book. Later, Woolf employs a plethora of “silver”(43) images to accentuate Clarissa’s home, along with Clarissa’s “green dress” and “yellow hat” to accentuate her style. With all of these colors brightening up Clarissa’s life, the read easily assumes that
Clarissa lives a joyous life brought on by her affluent life.
Law 2
Ironically enough, Clarissa’s apparently vivid life actually possesses a very gloomy side as expressed in Clarissa’s gloomy tone. While Clarissa walks through her lively neighborhood to go buy her beautiful flowers, dark thoughts cloud her mind. She realizes her loss of identity brought upon by her marriage which will result in her “being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any more; being Mrs. Richard
Tyler Law
Mr. Gutmann
AP Literature
9 February 2015
Mrs.Dalloway Essay
The fragmentation of modern, intimate relationships both defines the post World War I,
English society and drives Virginia Woolf’s Mrs.Dalloway . Woolf’s chromatic imagery conveys the lively mood of modern London, while the gloomy tones of Clarissa reveals a severe emptiness in their lives. Furthermore, the author employs an inner monologue throughout the novel in order to emphasize the lack of true communication during the 1920’s. Finally the motif of time relates to the modernist obsession with time resulting in the failure to create intimate relationships. Throughout the novel, Woolf employs chromatic imagery whilst describing the advancing society of modern London, portraying the lively mood of its citizens. During World
War I, England faces a very dark time in its history. However after Armistice Day, England goes through a very joyous time period full of life and technological advances. Woolf’s chromatic imagery includes the recurring image of the “red carnation”(15), as well as many other color, including “white, violet, red, deep orange”(15), to describe the flowers of the store that Clarissa visited in the beginning of the book. Later, Woolf employs a plethora of “silver”(43) images to accentuate Clarissa’s home, along with Clarissa’s “green dress” and “yellow hat” to accentuate her style. With all of these colors brightening up Clarissa’s life, the read easily assumes that
Clarissa lives a joyous life brought on by her affluent life.
Law 2
Ironically enough, Clarissa’s apparently vivid life actually possesses a very gloomy side as expressed in Clarissa’s gloomy tone. While Clarissa walks through her lively neighborhood to go buy her beautiful flowers, dark thoughts cloud her mind. She realizes her loss of identity brought upon by her marriage which will result in her “being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any more; being Mrs. Richard