WHY VIRGINIA WOOLF WAS ISOLATED ?

"Isolation" (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Pulpolux !!!

INTRODUCTION

Woolf never found her safe and secured since her childhood reasons may be many, sometimes the serial deaths sexual abuse by her step brother, depression, mood swings, and fear of death. There can be endless reasons to proof her madness and insecurity and the effect of all these traumas can be seen in her literary works too.

ISOLATION AND MRS DALLOWAY

Likewise the Theme of Isolation can be seen in her major novels, whether it’s Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse or any other novel of her. For example in Mrs. Dalloway it can be seen from the start that she always found her Isolated, when she said that it is very, very difficult to live even one day. She expresses her inner consciousness which was full of insecurities she considers her old friend Peter, who has failed to fulfill the dreams of her youth.

As Clarissa ages, she finds it more difficult to know everybody, which makes her feel solitary; she hesitates to define even herself. For her failing becoming overwhelming by the pressures of life, and drawing are far too easy. She was fifty two she witnessed the terrible period of war and her experiences amplify the dangers of living and facing the world and other people.

"Richard has said he would be launching Mrs. Bruton and won’t come for lunch today."

(Mrs. Dalloway)

Lady Bruton a good friend of Richard Dalloway invited him for a lunch in which Mrs. Dalloway was not invited. When Mrs. Dalloway came after buying flowers from the market she was informed by the maid called Lucy that he won’t be lunching home today because his best friend Lady Bruton has invited him for lunch. After getting this information Mrs. Dalloway goes back in her stream of consciousness and regretting on not getting married to her boyfriend Peter Walsh. Later she found herself the most isolated person, who has no one to share with. She feels lonely, isolated and consequently she victimized herself.

There are moments in her life when the thought of death makes her despondent. Lady Bruton's failure to invite her to lunch has a depressing effect on Clarissa because this omission on Lady Bruton's part makes her think that her life is declining because of all these depressive moments which she has faced in her life, she thought of a death, she has evolved of theory that a human being continues to live even after death in the memories of other people, although this theory does not imply happiness in her life.

Clarissa burns with hatred for Miss Kilman who seems to be a most contemptible person, and she also hates men like Sir William Bradshaw who makes other people's lives intolerable. After her sister Sylvia's premature death, Clarissa had begun to think that human beings were a doomed race, chained to a sinking ship. Clarissa had felt very bitter about this tragedy in her family.

Consequently, she converted her mind and thoughts to social triviality and frivolity. She gives incessant parties in order to forget here spiritual emptiness for the time being. Thus she is painfully conscious of her own spiritual sterility of the level of purpose and direction in her life.

ISOLATION AND TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

Woolf once again beautifully expressed the theme of Isolation in her most renowned novel called To the Lighthouse. A number of devices have been used to impart structural unity to the novel. She has used a very limited number of characters in her novel and then made them isolated in a remote island away from society. Further out of this isolated group, she has focused attention only on two or three personalities and exploited their stream of consciousness alone. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay, and lily Briscoe are the main figures; other is only of a secondary importance.

There are so many scenes in which it can be seen that Mrs. Ramsay is surrounded by so many house members, kids but from her inner self there is no one to share with. She is all alone and aloof. she always wanted to be a good wife who shares both happiness and sorrow with her husband but in revert she never get any polite response from her husband, he always used to scold her, dominate her.

It can also be seen in a section 'The Window' Mrs. Ramsay was having discussion with Lily Briscoe regarding her loneliness, she believed a woman cannot live and survive in her life without man. She needs a man in each and every step of her life. Although Lily is having contradictory views on marriage she believes in female power entirely.

Consequently it can be said that Virginia's solitude and loneliness in their personal life can be easily, seen in her novels.

Bibliography :

“Mrs Dalloway”. Dir. Marleen Gorris. You Tube. 1997. Web.8 Arp. 2015

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