Grin logo
en de es fr
Shop
GRIN Website
Publish your texts - enjoy our full service for authors
Go to shop › English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

The Concepts of Identity in Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". A Comparison of the Personal and Public Identity Regarding Women during the Victorian Time

Title: The Concepts of Identity in Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". A Comparison of the Personal and Public Identity Regarding Women during the Victorian Time

Essay , 2018 , 8 Pages , Grade: A

Autor:in: Elena Agathokleous (Author)

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature
Excerpt & Details   Look inside the ebook
Summary Excerpt Details

This essay deals with the personal and public identity in Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway".

The concept of identity is one that can be given many interpretations and meanings according to relevant components and aspects taken into consideration. In this frame a severance between personal and social identity can be made, referring both to the individual’s self but also the individual’s social identity related to social conduct and aiming toward an accepted and well projected social self.

Clarissa Dalloway serves as a very clear example of that struggle between personal and public identity and especially regarding women of the Victorian time, who by oppressing their true self, aspirations, feelings and wits were allowed to fit in the stereotypical role that society assigned to women.

Excerpt


Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

  • Dissolution of Personal Identity VS Construction of Public Identity
  • Clarissa Dalloway: A Struggle for Identity
  • The Impact of Historical Context
  • The Choice of Marriage and the Formation of Public Identity
  • Clarissa's Choice and its Consequences
  • The Devastating Consequences of Non-Conformity

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the complex interplay between personal and public identity in Virginia Woolf's novel, *Mrs. Dalloway*. It examines how societal pressures, particularly during the Victorian era, can lead to the dissolution of individual identity in favor of a constructed, socially acceptable persona.

  • The impact of societal expectations on individual identity
  • The struggle between personal desires and societal norms
  • The consequences of conformity and non-conformity
  • The role of gender and marriage in shaping identity
  • The influence of historical and political context on individual experience

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The essay begins by introducing the concept of identity as a complex and multifaceted construct, highlighting the tension between personal and social identity. It then uses the character of Clarissa Dalloway to illustrate this struggle, examining how her desire to conform to societal expectations leads to the suppression of her true self.

The essay then delves into the historical context of the novel, focusing on the impact of the First World War and the changing social landscape of Victorian England. It explores how societal pressures, including the emphasis on class, gender roles, and the need for stability, contributed to the construction of public identities.

The essay further examines Clarissa's decision to marry Richard Dalloway, analyzing her motivations and the consequences of this choice for her personal identity. It highlights her internal conflicts and doubts, as well as the societal pressures that shaped her decision.

Finally, the essay explores the fate of Septimus Smith, a character who represents the extreme consequences of non-conformity. Septimus's inability to conform to societal norms leads to his mental breakdown, demonstrating the dangers of suppressing one's true self.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The essay focuses on the keywords and concepts of identity, personal identity, public identity, societal pressures, conformity, non-conformity, gender roles, marriage, historical context, and Victorian era. The analysis delves into the intersection of these themes as they shape the individual experiences of Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Smith in *Mrs. Dalloway*.

Excerpt out of 8 pages  - scroll top

Details

Title
The Concepts of Identity in Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". A Comparison of the Personal and Public Identity Regarding Women during the Victorian Time
Grade
A
Author
Elena Agathokleous (Author)
Publication Year
2018
Pages
8
Catalog Number
V995909
ISBN (eBook)
9783346370440
Language
English
Tags
concepts identity virginia woolf dalloway comparison personal public regarding women victorian time
Product Safety
GRIN Publishing GmbH
Quote paper
Elena Agathokleous (Author), 2018, The Concepts of Identity in Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". A Comparison of the Personal and Public Identity Regarding Women during the Victorian Time, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/995909
Look inside the ebook
  • Depending on your browser, you might see this message in place of the failed image.
  • https://cdn.openpublishing.com/images/brand/1/preview_popup_advertising.jpg
  • Depending on your browser, you might see this message in place of the failed image.
  • Depending on your browser, you might see this message in place of the failed image.
  • Depending on your browser, you might see this message in place of the failed image.
  • Depending on your browser, you might see this message in place of the failed image.
  • Depending on your browser, you might see this message in place of the failed image.
Excerpt from  8  pages
Grin logo
  • Grin.com
  • Payment & Shipping
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Imprint