Hanna Jay - English
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Hanna Jay
Sevenoaks School
dym346 (000102 -0103)
wonders the natural space. Here, Woolf uses Shakespeare‟s Green World in her own
individual way:
“(...) „if it were now to die, „twere now to be most happy.‟” 13
That was her feeling - Othello‟s feeling, and she felt it, she
was convinced, as strongly as Shakespeare meant Othello to
feel it, all because she was coming down to dinner in a white
frock to meet Sally Seton.” (p. 38)
Woolf uses Shakespeare‟s words - “if it were now to die, „twere now to be most happy” -
to her own purpose. Whilst the feeling is meant very much the same - so contented she
feels ready to die for no feeling could be greater - Woolf uses his words to divulge her
own ideas. Clarissa‟s love for a woman means she needn't fear the process of
regeneration, her emotions are spiritual, and the lack of physicality becomes a comfort.
Her homosexual feelings are made quite clear “(she) could not resist sometimes
yielding to the charm of a woman...she did then undoubtedly feel what men felt”. (p. 34)
The white dress which she wears symbolizes innocence, as the love between two
women may continue without the necessity of troublesome sexual reproduction. So
whilst Bourton is a natural setting where the cycle of life is evident all around, somewhat
ironically Clarissa is released from her fears of sexuality and regeneration.
Conclusion:
To answering the question “How does Virginia Woolf’s understanding and
appreciation of Shakespeare combine with her individual talent in Mrs Dalloway”,
I propose that ultimately Woolf‟s talent is her ability to take Shakespeare‟s words and
use them to her own purpose. Ultimately, Shakespeare‟s words are used by Woolf to
provide comfort, arguably for herself as well as the reader. Although Woolf‟s novel
explores the life of the middle-aged woman Clarissa Dalloway, it is possible that there is
an autobiographical element to her work. The promise of regeneration reverberates
throughout the novel, to provide solace where tragedy seems imminent, and this
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Othello Act II, Scene I, Othello is reunited with Desdemona his great love, and expresses his thoughts
that he could die right then, for he would never again feel as happy as he is at this moment.
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