In Virginia Woolf's book Mrs. Dalloway, a variety of characters with complex and unique personalities come to life. Woolf uses vivid imagery and poignant monologues to highlight and simultaneously criticize the social structure, political affairs, and economic state of post-war England. Many themes, such as those mentioned above, are displayed within the elaborate rhetoric that Woolf uses to construct both the outward appearances and internal thoughts of the characters, which often contradict each other. Woolf's intricate blending of each character's juxtaposing identities offers readers a deep connection to the personal struggles of each character's past and present. Although many central issues are accentuated throughout the book, gender norms are strongly enforced. The main protagonist of the book, Clarissa Dalloway, is very aware of the gender stereotypes that exist in her society. Although she is a very powerful and elite figure, her thoughts are focused on being a perfect party hostess and making sure she stays within the confines of her society's gender norms. However, it is interesting to highlight that as Woolf elaborates social stereotypes surrounding femininity, particularly how women should behave in particular situations, such beliefs are constantly challenged in the characters' internal monologues. Although Clarissa succumbs to a number of negative stereotypes, she is able to transcend those positions prescribed for women. During our journey with Clarissa Dalloway, we encounter many of her relationships, each of which serves to contradict the rigid gender norms of the patriarchal society in which she lives. Through her relationship with herself, Sally, and Septimus, we see that gender norms and the fluidity of femininity are the product of the ongoing social interactions and relationships encountered throughout the show, rather than a set of concrete, defined principles. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Before delving into Clarissa's relationships and their impact on gender stereotypes, her character must be analyzed from the perspective of how Clarissa sees herself. In the introductory chapters we are given little pieces of information about Clarissa that help us form an identity about who Clarissa imagines herself to be. The first sentence of the book states: “Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself” (3). This phrase is a crucial and noteworthy moment of foreshadowing of Clarissa's independent and emancipated personality. Clarissa is willing to go into town and buy the flowers herself, rather than send her servant to do the deed. This is especially significant because Clarissa can afford servants but instead chooses to purchase the flowers for her party herself, a bold move for a woman of Clarissa's status and abundance of resources. Woolf's use of this phrase as the opening line of the book highlights the key qualities of Clarissa's character: independent, strong-willed, and fearless. However, as Clarissa is walking through London on her way to the flower shop, we begin to embark on her first internal monologue. This is a turning point where we see a very multifaceted Clarissa, who strives to be an independent woman but is confined to society's gender norms. Woolf says, “She might have been… interested in politics like a man… Instead she had a slender figure… But often now this body she wore, this body, with all its capabilities, seemed like nothing, nothing at all ” (10). Clarissa understands that herIdentity as a woman prevented her from openly engaging in academic pursuits such as politics, and had she been a man, she would have been able to immerse herself in academia. In essence, Clarissa examines herself when she talks about her potential and then refers to her body as the only component of her identity that society values. According to Bordo, “The body – what we eat, how we dress and the daily rituals through which we take care of the body – is a means of culture” (1990). From this unique definition by a feminist writer, we can see that the body does not just refer to a physical being, but to a melting pot of ideas, culture, and clothing. Seeing her body as “nothing,” Clarissa feels devalued about her culture, her appearance, and the way she chooses to express herself through clothing. For many women, body image is highly valued and respected, but for Clarissa it makes her feel even more isolated from society. Basically, he sees this large part of his identity as insignificant when he refers to his body as "nothing." As we begin to delve deeper into Clarissa's monologue, we can see that Clarissa understands that society does not see her as an individual. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “individual” is an adjective meaning “One in substance or essence; forming an indivisible entity”. Woolf says: “Not even Clarissa anymore; this is Mrs. Richard Dalloway” (11). When Clarissa sees herself as Richard Dalloway's wife, she is not an "indivisible entity" with her own "substance." Rather, she is a woman confined within the barriers set by her husband. Therefore, examining the language in the context of the definition, we can see that Clarissa does not consider herself an individual human being. Rather, she is acutely aware of her role as her husband's property. Clarissa is clearly uncomfortable with the animosity towards women in society, but succumbs to negative stereotypes because she feels trapped in her inability to express her true opinions. She uses the words “no more,” which may imply that at some point in time Clarissa was an individual with her own beliefs, values, and opinions. As she grew up and was exposed to the more oppressive environments of high society, she was slowly stripped of her individuality. Although Clarissa succumbs to many of the gender norms present in Mrs. Dalloway, she appears to possess a rare knowledge and understanding of female oppression in society. She is able to thoroughly criticize and confront sexist ideologies head-on and visualize her potential if the “glass ceiling” had not been heavily implanted in society. Although negative stereotypes indicate that women take pleasure in being oppressed, Clarissa's ability to understand the limitations of the "glass ceiling" shows the intellectual capabilities of women in this era. The way this oppressive society makes Clarissa see herself drives her lesbian desires for Sally Seton. From the beginning of the book, we are told that Clarissa does not consider herself physically beautiful. Woolf says: “How many millions of times had she seen his face, and always with the same imperceptible contraction! He pursed his lips…it was to give meaning to his face” (37). We can see that Clarissa does not consider herself physically attractive, as she has to purse her lips and manipulate her face to look "pretty". She thinks her face is too small for society's beauty standards and so shapes her face by pursing her lips so she can look at herself more easily in the mirror. Clarissa's battle with her physical characteristics leaves her constantly oscillating between the physicality of her female body and the repressive demands of society. He strongly envies Sally, who has a “beautyextraordinary, the type he admired most, dark, with big eyes. With that quality which, not having obtained it on her own, she has always envied” (33). Here we see Clarissa's true admiration for Sally's beauty and aura, seen as an untouchable object that Clarissa wishes to have but will never be able to obtain. She has large, dark eyes while Clarissa has a small, pointed face. Sally embodies rebellion and free will, while Clarissa desperately tries to fit into preconceived notions of femininity. In essence, Sally personifies the beauty, energy, and confidence that Clarissa craves. Shortly into the book, we are introduced to Clarissa's unusual and complicated love for Sally. Woolf says: “Then came the most exquisite moment of her entire life as she passed a stone urn with flowers in it. Sally stopped; plucked a flower; he kissed her on the lips. The whole world could have been turned upside down!” (35). When Sally kissed Clarissa, she felt the most euphoric she had ever felt in her entire life. This is interesting because in the 1920s lesbian desires were not socially acceptable and therefore Clarissa's deep love for Sally has symbolic meaning. Sally is everything Clarissa is not: beautiful, open-minded, rebellious, and free-spirited. By loving Sally, Clarissa is able to expose herself to the qualities she has always wanted and, primarily, to live vicariously through Sally. Her sexual desires may be one way Clarissa fights against gender norms; she must choose between being a masculine woman to survive in this patriarchal society, or otherwise joining the majority of women who are silenced and oppressed in their behaviors. Therefore, Clarissa's love for Sally in an age where lesbian desires are condemned may be a sign that she is choosing to engage in her “masculine” side by being attracted to women. Clarissa's relationship with Sally can be interpreted as her embracing the more "masculine" side of her femininity rather than the "femininity" defined and supported by society. The varying degrees of femininity, and Clarissa's ability to perform both with precise accuracy, show the varying structure of femininity in society. Another important relationship in the book is the contrast between Clarissa and Septimus Warren Smith. Although these characters never meet in the novel, they are linked together by intense emotional experiences. Their internal monologues seem at odds with each other, yet they are placed so strategically within the text that it is crucial to discuss the discourse of their relationship, even if they never actually meet. They can be seen as the opposite of each other and at the same time as doubles of each other. The character of Septimus suffers from severe PTSD after seeing his friend Evans die in the war. In one part of the book, we are taken on an intense emotional journey with Septimus as he thinks about his experience in the war. Woolf says: “The flesh of the world has melted. His body was macerated until only nerve fibers remained. It was spread like a veil on a rock. It lay very high, at the back of the world. The Earth trembled beneath him” (68). This powerful paragraph shows how Septimus sees his body vanish before his eyes, a symbol that he has been torn from this world where he does not belong. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "macerated" is a verb meaning "To grow thinner or wasted. In essence, Septimus sees himself as not belonging to the world and so his skin grows thinner and he fades away. He does not want to be present in this world, which can be interpreted as a powerful foreshadowing of his suicide later in the book Look at the “shiver of the Earth.