One of Virginia Woolf’s key points in ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ is the concept of genuineness and freedom of spirit, which is primarily projected by the character, Peter Walsh. Peter Walsh is still in love with Clarissa and the thing that tortures him most is her loss of genuineness. Never is this more apparent than on page 49 when he expresses frustration at the way Clarissa introduces her daughter to him. She says, “Here is my Elizabeth” instead of simply, “Here is Elizabeth.” He claims, “It was insincere.” Walsh believes she has become conventional where she once was timid. Peter Walsh appears to be the personification of sincerity, which may account for his interest in young adults. “For he understood young people; he liked them (pg. 49).” It is Ironic that Elizabeth is referred to as “His Clarissa,” on page 118. However it can also be said, Peter’s criticisms of Clarissa are merely a defense mechanism to prevent getting hurt by her. As written on page 48, “Only one person in the world could be as he was, in love.”
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Genuine Peter Walsh
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I think one of the things that makes the character of Peter Walsh so critical to the dynamic of the novel is his raw, genuine and sometimes even brutally honest analysis of the individuals with whom he interacts. He is very in tune with certain aspects about certain people, such as Clarissa, to whom he pays very close attention. On the other hand, there are times when he is completely oblivious, which makes him both charming and frustrating at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anne's comment, although I'd love to talk a little more about this stressed relationship between Clarissa and Peter. It's as if they are in love with the memory of the other person, more so than what that person has become. At one point she is irritated that he still plays with that pocket knife, and he's irritated that she's still fixing dinner gowns and throwing parties. It's like that time apart did not allow them to treasure what they once had and move on; it's as if they felt better about themselves when they saw their other lover unchanged. They just missed each other completely.
ReplyDelete"Peter always in love, always in love with the wrong woman? What's your love? she might say to him. And she knew his answer; how it is the most important thing in the world and no woman possibly understood it. Very well. But could any man understand what she meant either? about life?" (119)
Just my two cents. Kudos.