Mrs Dalloway And The Hours
Wolf and Daldry’s respective texts are connected through underlying social values, despite their differing contexts. Daldry portrays the representation of women over time, and the social isolation faced by those with relatively unknown diseases, to highlight his concerns in a
21st century society. Virginia Woolf’s text portrays similar concerns over repression of women and isolation of the sufferers, even though it was composed in a vastly different, post war society.
Woolf criticises the social repression of women through a stream of consciousness mode and language in her novel. This value is a reflection of the post-war, androcentric society in which the book was written. This context is mirrored in Mrs Dalloway through the character
Clarissa Dalloway. Her quote “...not being Clarissa anymore; this being
Mrs Richard Dalloway.” conveys the loss of identity felt by repressed women. Woolf’s stream of consciousness mode highlights the dichotomy between Clarissa’s public and personal life, condemning the repression of women. The text begins with “Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself”, which indicates Clarissa’s desire for independence, and reflects Woolf’s views against repression. Clarissa is referred to as “Mrs Dalloway” in this first quote, illustrating the expectation of women to present well in public. Through Woolf’s careful weaving of language and use of modernist conventions, she reveals her critical views on the treatment of women in her era.
Similarity to Woolf, Richard Daldry scrutinises the lack of change for women’s rights in The Hours. Composed in 2000, Daldry’s context allows him to compare different eras and reveal underlying issues.
Cross-cutting between the three women as they wake up for their respective days, each framed similarly at home, Daldry challenges the assumption that women’s rights have changed. Daldry also fragments time throughout The Hours to indicate social confusion. This lack of direction in society is a powerful
21st century society. Virginia Woolf’s text portrays similar concerns over repression of women and isolation of the sufferers, even though it was composed in a vastly different, post war society.
Woolf criticises the social repression of women through a stream of consciousness mode and language in her novel. This value is a reflection of the post-war, androcentric society in which the book was written. This context is mirrored in Mrs Dalloway through the character
Clarissa Dalloway. Her quote “...not being Clarissa anymore; this being
Mrs Richard Dalloway.” conveys the loss of identity felt by repressed women. Woolf’s stream of consciousness mode highlights the dichotomy between Clarissa’s public and personal life, condemning the repression of women. The text begins with “Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself”, which indicates Clarissa’s desire for independence, and reflects Woolf’s views against repression. Clarissa is referred to as “Mrs Dalloway” in this first quote, illustrating the expectation of women to present well in public. Through Woolf’s careful weaving of language and use of modernist conventions, she reveals her critical views on the treatment of women in her era.
Similarity to Woolf, Richard Daldry scrutinises the lack of change for women’s rights in The Hours. Composed in 2000, Daldry’s context allows him to compare different eras and reveal underlying issues.
Cross-cutting between the three women as they wake up for their respective days, each framed similarly at home, Daldry challenges the assumption that women’s rights have changed. Daldry also fragments time throughout The Hours to indicate social confusion. This lack of direction in society is a powerful