Mrs. Dalloway Flashcards
Septimus Warren Smith
WWI vet and married to Lucrezia
He’s insane and feels need to communicate and maintain privacy
Very similar to Clarissa
Before war, he was a poet and after human nature is evil
Guilty of not being able to feel, commits suicide
Clarissa Dalloway
Protagonist
Very animated and cares a lot about what people think of her and self reflective, need to communicate
Questions life’s true meaning and happiness truly possible?
Marries Richard over Peter Walsh and thinks about Sally Seton whom she loved
Peter Walsh
Close friend of Clarissa and once in love with her
She rejected his proposal so he moved to India for five years
Highly critical and conflicted on everything in his life
Plays with his pocket knife and has romantic problems and is in love with a married woman in India
Sally Seton
Close friend of Peter and Clarissa
Wild and did anything and was in love with Clarissa as teenagers (both of them)
Has 5 boys and is Lady Rosseter
Richard Dalloway
Clarissa’s husband and a member of parliament in the conservative government
Write a history of the Britons when the Labour Party comes to power
Outdoorsman and loving father and husband
Reformist but appreciates tradition
Failed to make into main government
Hugh Whitbread
Clarissa’s friend, married to Evelyn Whitbread
Upholder of tradition
Vain, pompous, and gluttonous
Makes Clarissa feel insecure
Lucrezia Smith
Septimus’ wife
Bear his mental illness
Usually lively and wants to share unhappiness
Elizabeth Dalloway
Clarissa’s kid
Gentle, considerate, passive
Age 17, likes to be outdoor with dad and spends time with religious history teacher Miss Kilman
Doris Kilman
Elizabeth’s history teacher from Germany
Fired for anti-German prejudice
Dress how she wants, homely, dislikes Clarissa but like Elizabeth
Born again Christian
Sir William Bradshaw
Famed psychiatrist who is sought by Lucrezia for husband and recommended by dr. Holmes
Sends Septimus away from wife because thinks has nervous breakdown
Crazes power and recognition in field
Dr. Holmes
Septimus’ doctor and says nothing is wrong, sends to Bradshaw
Hosted by Septimus
Lady Millicent Bruton
High society and friend of dalloways, promote emigration to canada
62, magisterial, needs help from Richard and Hugh to write letter to editor
Melina Parry (aunt)
Clarissa’s aunt
Relic of strict society that Clarissa hates
Botanist, talks about orchids and Burma
Age 80+
Ellie Henderson
Clarissa’s drab cousin
No career, small income, subject to chills
Found dull by Clarissa and stands alone at party
Evans
Septimus’s wartime officer and close friend
Died in war but is seen by Septimus
Mrs. Filmer
Smith’s neighbor, finds Septimus odd
Reiza’s only friend
Daughter is mrs. Peters
Daisy Simmons
Peter Walsh’s lover in India
Married to major in Indian army
Peter arrange her divorce
Evelyn Whitbread
Hugh’s wife, suffers from unspecified internal ailment, spends time in nursing home
Peter describes her as mousy and negligible but sometimes says something sharp
Mr. Brewer
Septimus’s boss at Sibleys and Arrowsmith
Paternal and sees promise in Septimus, he volunteers for war before he can advance
Promoted when he gets back
Jim Hutton
Terrible poet at Dalloway’s Party
Badly dressed, loner, shares Clarissa’s love of Bach
Plot Overview
Covers one day to night in Clarissa’s life, Walsh drops by, goes to Septimus waiting at park for doctor, Sir William diagnoses Septimus as lack of proportions and is going to institutionalize him, Richard eats lunch with Hugh and Bruton, Richard can’t tell Clarissa he loves her, Elizabeth and teacher go shopping, people come with Holmes to take Septimus to asylum but he jumps from a window, Peter goes to the party, William shows up and announces Septimus is dead, Clarissa leaves to contemplate, admires Septimus for doing it
