TIME AND NARRATIVE IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S " MRS. DALLOWAY" Cover Image
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TIME AND NARRATIVE IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S "MRS. DALLOWAY"
TIME AND NARRATIVE IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S " MRS. DALLOWAY"

Author(s): Adina Bandici
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Editura Universitatii din Oradea
Keywords: Mrs. Dalloway; external time; internal time; narrative; Big Ben; memory; past; present

Summary/Abstract: In “Mrs. Dalloway”, Virginia Woolf uses the stream of consciousness technique to create a one-day novel in which time becomes the central character that unites the past and present experiences, feelings and thoughts of the human characters. This article examines how the revival of the past and the events of the present are comprised in a single day. Big Ben is a central temporal symbol in the novel which keeps reminding the characters that their physical life on Earth is limited. All characters are afraid of the passing of external time and feel unable to prevent their lives from going by rapidly without having accomplished all their personal and/ or professional goals. This leads to frustrations, dark thoughts, depression and even suicide. The characters are overwhelmed by past memories with which they have to cope in order to find their inner peace and pace. Some manage to do so, others are weak and fail in their attempt to leave the past behind and to begin a new life.

  • Issue Year: 19/2012
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 68-81
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: English