IB Prized Writing Sevenoaks School IB Prized Writing 2014 | Page 146

Hanna Jay - English Contents Introduction 146 Fear of Sexuality - “The Heat of the Sun” 147 Suicide and Death - “The harsh winter’s rages” 149 Regeneration - “Fear no more” 152 Conclusion 155 Bibliography 157 Abstract In this Extended Essay I attempt to answer the question: “How Virginia Woolf’s understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare combine with her individual talent in Mrs Dalloway.” T.S Eliot’s essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent” argues that an awareness of past literature is crucial for any writer and Mrs Dalloway provides evidence of Virginia Woolf’s appreciation of William Shakespeare. Prompted by Eliot’s essay, I consider the evidence of the playwright’s influence both thematically and formally in Woolf’s novel. I found similarities in the use of doubles, the use of multi- viewpoint perspective and the use of flower imagery. The idea that a deathlike experience leads to new life is an idea clearly shared by Woolf and Shakespeare and Mrs Dalloway puts forward the view that beauty inevitably comes from death. Virginia Woolf sets her tragedy of life against a backdrop of a comforting regeneration in nature, as Shakespeare does this also. Nature is central to the works of both writers, acting as a comfort. I conclude in my essay that Woolf was herself consoled by the words of Shakespeare, and her novel offers a reassurance of rebirth and renewal. Virginia Woolf builds on tradition, using the words of William Shakespeare for her own purpose: to create solace where tragedy seems imminent. 145