Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf is a novel written in what seems to be post-war Brittain. This novel was published in 1925 and World War One ended in 1918 which leads us to believe that it was based on the after-effects of WWI. Woolf writes, “Fear no more the heat o’ the sun/ Nor the furious winter’s rages./ This late age of the world’s experience had bred in them all, all men and women, a well of tears.” (Woolf). Reading these lines you can sense a bit of irony. Woolf is bringing to attention what the citizens are being told post-war such as fear no more but yet she ends these lines by saying everyone, no matter who formed a well of tears. After reading the first two chapters, the readers get a sense of what life might be like for Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway and others around her. Woolf writes in a way that may be confusing to some but is actually quite interesting. The story of Mrs. Dalloway is not a start to finish one. It begins with her looking out the window at the flowers and in time, goes through her day and the past as well. Each of these details and twists in the story allows the readers to learn more information but not in the typical sequence. Not only is the novel following Mrs. Dalloway, but it is also following Septimus Smith. Septimus Smith is a veteran of the war and is struggling with his mental health because of it. “And it was cowardly for a man to say he would kill himself, but Septimus had fought; he was brave; he was not Septimus now.” (Woolf). This line is so powerful. Saying “He was not Septimus now,” tells the readers how much he has changed since leaving for war. He seemed to not even be Septimus Smith but a whole different person. In the US, veteran suicides are unfortunately very common. According to an article written in 2019, the rates are anywhere between 17 to 20 deaths per day. “However, the new report lists the daily average of veteran suicides at 17, down from the 20 per day reported in previous years.” (Wentling). War changes people. It has many negative effects on the soldier’s mental health. This novel was written in 1925. The article was written in 2019. Veterans are still struggling post-war. It is time to help our veterans who sacrifice their lives for us. Wentling, Nikki. “VA Says Veteran Suicide Rate Is 17 per Day after Change in Calculation.” Stars and Stripes, 2019, www.stripes.com/news/us/va-says-veteran-suicide-rate-is-17-per-day-after-change-in-calculation-1.599857. Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. Harcourt, 2003.
1 Comment
David Barnett
5/31/2020 08:12:26 pm
The idea that there's no reason to fear is very appropriate for the current events, not so much fear, but the misleading rhetoric from those in charge. The narrative of the day is that the "riots" are from outsiders, various different scapegoats to convince the average American that there is no uprising, it's all fake. It's not people just begging for justice, it's a terrorist organization. Thankfully, we live in the age of the internet, we're not as susceptible as we once were to deception.
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